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The Castle of Otranto

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The Castle of Otranto

By: Horace Walpole
Narrated by: Tony Jay
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About this listen

 On the day of his wedding, Conrad, heir to the house of Otranto, is killed under mysterious circumstances. His calculating father, Manfred, fears that his dynasty will now come to an end and determines to marry his son's bride himself, despite the fact he is already married. But a series of terrifying supernatural omens soon threaten this unlawful union, as the curse placed on Manfred's ancestor, who usurped the lawful Prince of Otranto, begins to unfold.

First published pseudonymously in 1764, The Castle of Otranto is purported to be an ancient Italian text from the time of the crusades and is a founding work of Gothic fiction. With its compelling blend of sinister portents, tempestuous passions, and ghostly visitations, it spawned an entire literary tradition and influenced such writers as Ann Radcliffe and Bram Stoker.

(P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc. Classics European Fiction Genre Fiction Gothic Horror Literary Fiction Literary History & Criticism World Literature Scary

Critic Reviews

"[Walpole] is the father of the first romance and surely worthy of a higher place than any living writer." (Lord Byron)

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as it's an old story and I dont have a degree in classical literature I found it hard to follow. what little plot I could keep track of was pretty interesting though. Also the reader has a really nice voice so even though I couldn't really understand what he was saying, it certainly sounded nice.
I believe that it's a good story but it probably requires research and effort to appreciate (something that I cant be arsed to do).

ok I guess

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This is the grandfather of gothic horror. I found the story a little melodramatic but good fun, the narrator's depiction of Manfred had me laughing. Would recommend for anyone who likes stories about relationships or enjoys stories set in the medieval era.

Very fun melodrama

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I really enjoyed this. The narrator is fantastic and adds flavour to the story throughout.

Excellent vocal performance

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I really liked this book. The combination of mystery, poetic dialogue, and Gothic elements made it very easy to finish. Very reminiscent of Hamlet.

Classic

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