The First Gothic Novel

Send us Fan MailWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 337, The First Gothic NovelI’d like to begin this podcast episode with an excerpt from the opening chapter of The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole - an excerpt which captures the dramatic and supernatural tone of the novel. This passage describes the event that sets the story in motion: the mysterious death of Conrad, Manfred’s son, on his wedding day."Manfred, Prince of Otranto, had one son and one daughter: the latter, a most beautiful virgin, aged eighteen, was called Matilda. Conrad, the son, was three years younger, a homely youth, sickly, and of no promising disposition; yet he was the darling of his father, who never showed any symptoms of affection to Matilda. Manfred had contracted a marriage for his son with the Marquis of Vicenza's daughter, Isabella; and she had already been delivered by her guardians into the hands of Manfred, that he might celebrate the wedding as soon as Conrad's infirm state of health would permit.Support the showThank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.