The Castle of Otranto (Deluxe Library Binding)

The Castle of Otranto tells the story of Manfred, lord of the castle, and his family. His son, Conrad, is set to be married to princess Isabella, but dies on the day of the wedding. Manfred believes this event is the beginning of an ancient prophecy coming true - a prophecy telling of Manfred's downfall as lord of the castle. In an attempt to stop the prophecy, Manfred resolves to divorce his wife and marry Isabella. The princess escapes, but Manfred refuses to stop looking for her.

The Castle of Otranto was first published in 1764 and is regarded as the first gothic novel. The story merges medievalism and terror in a style that has endured ever since. The aesthetic of the book has shaped modern-day gothic books, films, art, music and the goth subculture. By combining fantastic situations with supposedly real people acting in a "natural" manner, Walpole created a new and distinct style of literary fiction, which has frequently been cited as a template for all subsequent gothic novels.

Horace Walpole (24 September 1717 - 2 March 1797) was an English writer, art historian, man of letters, antiquarian, and Whig politician. His literary reputation rests on the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto (1764), and his Letters, which are of significant social and political interest. He was the youngest son of British Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole and was educated at Eton College and King's College in Cambridge.Walpole's lasting architectural creation is Strawberry Hill, the home he built in Twickenham, south west of London, which at the time overlooked the Thames. Here he revived the Gothic style many decades before his Victorian successors. This fanciful neo-Gothic concoction began a new architectural trend.