The Castle of Otranto (1764) is the first supernatural English novel and one of
the most influential works of Gothic fiction. It inaugurated a literary genre th
at will be forever associated with the effects that Walpole pioneered. Professin
g to be a translation of a mysterious Italian tale from the darkest Middle Ages,
the novel tells of Manfred, prince of Otranto, whose fear of an ancient prophec
y sets him on a course of destruction. After the grotesque death of his only son
, Conrad, on his wedding day, Manfred determines to marry the bride-to-be. The v
irgin Isabella flees through a castle riddled with secret passages. Chilling coi
ncidences, ghostly visitations, arcane revelations, and violent combat combine i
n a heady mix that is both chilling and terrifying.
