The Castle of Otranto

by Horace Walpole

Overview

In a faraway medieval realm, Manfred, an arrogant and evil prince, rules with an iron fist. Banishing his wife to the castle dungeon, he confines -- and plans to wed -- the lovely Isabella, fiancee of his recently deceased son. The prince's plans are foiled, however, when a well-meaning peasant helps the young woman escape through the castle's underground passages. Grisly, supernatural events further aid in fulfilling a prophecy that spells doom for the prince and justice for Isabella's rescuer and rightful heir to the throne. One of the first and greatest of Gothic novels, this thrilling tale ranks among the most influential books in literary history. Serving as the model for plots, characterizations, settings, and tone for hundreds of successors, The Castle of Otranto abounds with colorful scenes, adventure, suspense, and inexplicable phenomena.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781512008722
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	05/02/2015
Pages:	74
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.15(d)

About the Author

Horace Walpole (1717-97) was born in an aristocratic family – in fact, his father became the first Prime Minister of Britain. Walpole was primarily known for his Gothic extravaganza. Strawberry Hill was a place he owned and redesigned over a period of time to resemble a medieval fortress. He also established a printing press on the grounds where his most acclaimed work and the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, was printed in 1764. Walpole's style combined medieval tradition with the elements of supernatural and romantic as well as featured significant plot borrowings from Shakespeare. The writer was also known for his prolific correspondence multivolume editions of which were printed in the twentieth century.

Table of Contents

	Introduction: Horace Walpole and The Castle of Otranto	vii
	The Castle of Otranto
	Sir Walter Scott's Introduction	3
	Preface to the First Edition	17
	Preface to the Second Edition	21
	The Castle of Otranto	27

Editorial Reviews

"Containing a Harry Potter-like array of animated portraits, supernatural adventures in vaults and cellars and astonishing, inexplicable events."  —Telegraph

From the Publisher

If you’ve never read or listened to THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO, you’ve almost certainly encountered dozens of works that were influenced by it. First published in 1764 and considered the granddaddy of gothic fiction, it’s the story of the impetuous Manfred, Prince of Otranto, and the curse on his ancestral line. Narrator Tony Jay’s deep, resonant voice is perfectly suited to the gothic trappings of this romance. His subtle characterizations, including a deft handling of the three women at the heart of the story, make the dialogue easy to follow. For best results, listen to this recording in a cold, damp dungeon. D.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

DEC 06/JAN 07 - AudioFile