I read this novel under the pretense it was a “gothic horror novel”, since I only found it by seeking the “first horror novel ever published.” And while THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO has some slight horror elements (gigantic ghostly figures, talking skeletons, paintings that walk around by themselves), the main vibe from this novel was satire, especially in the several scenes Walpole writes conversations that could easily have been the precursor to the Abbott and Costello Who’s On First bit. Mistaking one for the other, Manfred accidentally stabs Matilda, causing Manfred and Hippolita both to give up their titles and retreat to a life of religion, leaving Theodore the true heir to the castle of Otranto. But Manfred thinks Theodore wants Isabella and plans to kill him. Theodore, however, already has his sights on Manfred’s daughter, Matilda. Meanwhile, an armor-clad knight is also seeking Isabella, but when Theodore fights and wounds the knight, the knight is revealed to be Isabella’s father, Frederic.įrederic is coming to lay claim to the castle as its rightful heir, as Manfred’s hold on the title is tenuous at best, but he agrees to a pact with Manfred in which they will wed each other’s daughter. He begs Manfred to spare his life and Manfred agrees, but only if Jerome tells Manfred where Isabella is-Isabella sought refuge in the church. Hijinks ensue and the stranger, Theodore, is taken prisoner and is supposed to be executed, but is saved at the last minute by the local friar, Jerome, when he discovers Theodore to be his own long-lost son.

When he presents his plan to Isabella, she flees his presence and disappears into the bowels of the castle where she is saved by a stranger who impedes Manfred’s search while Isabella escapes. Manfred decides that he will marry Isabella instead and plans to divorce his current wife Hippolita. However, just before the wedding can begin, Conrad is killed when a giant helmet falls on top of him and crushes him. The novel opens on the wedding day of Manfred’s only son Conrad, about to be married to Isabella. Horace Walpole’s THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO was written in 1764 and tells the story of Manfred and his clan.

Or at least the first GOTHIC novel, which was close enough, I figured. What I was able to find, though, was what is considered to be the first horror novel. I haven’t either, although if that information were easier to find online, I absolutely would. But she wasn’t making a list of horror novels… Because it’s something I would do, and I kicked myself for not having thought of it first. Yep, I thought, that sounds exactly like something she would do. My daughter told me one day that she was making a chronological list of all the horror movies ever made.

The castle of otranto book cover