The Castle of Otranto

Horace Walpole's 1764 novella invented the Gothic novel—and every haunted castle, mysterious prophecy, and endangered heroine in literature descends from it. When a giant helmet falls from the sky and crushes the heir of Otranto on his wedding day, it sets in motion a tale of usurpation, supernatural terror, and dark family secrets. The tyrant Manfred will stop at nothing to secure his dynasty, pursuing the innocent Isabella through secret passages and underground vaults. Walpole wrote Otranto as a literary experiment, blending medieval romance with modern fiction. The result launched an entire genre. A Raven's Gate Classics edition with atmospheric new cover art.