The Castle of Otranto Horace Walpole is one of the most influential Gothic novels that definitively shaped the genre. This classic introduced elements such as an ancient castle, dark secrets, supernatural occurrences, and thrilling revelations.
The story follows Prince Manfred of Otranto, whose fear of an ancient prophecy leads to tragedy and unrest within his castle. In addition to intense threat and sudden twists, the novel includes mysterious passages and ghostly apparitions that contribute to its unique atmosphere. This edition explores why The Castle of Otranto was—and still is—so significant within the Gothic tradition.
Product specifications
- Author: Horace Walpole
- Series: Oxford World's Classics
- Publisher: Oxford University Press
- Publication date: 2014-10-09
- Number of pages: 192
- ISBN: 9780198704447
- Theme: Classic fiction: literary and general
- BISAC: FICTION / Classics
About the author
In this edition, Nick Groom analyzes the remarkable impact of this novel and the culture from which it emerged. He has published extensively on authenticity and identity, and is the author of, among other works, The Gothic (2012) and The Union Jack: the Story of the British Flag.