{"title":"Books by Horace Walpole","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781915054906","title":"The Castle of Otranto","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e“He was persuaded he could know no happiness but in the society of one with whom he could for ever indulge the melancholy that had taken possession of his soul.”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/i\u003e is a macabre tale that revolves around a haunted castle. Manfred, the lord of Otranto, finds his son, Conrad, smashed by an enormous helmet on his wedding day. It is soon revealed that according to an ancient ambiguous prophecy Conrad's death might have been an ominous event that signifies the end of his lordship. To rectify the situation Manfred decides to marry his son's bride despite having a wife. Will Manfred plot succeed? Is he indeed a true prince of the castle?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWalpole got the inspiration for this bizarre story from a dream. He gave his novel a very authentic embellishment using the plan of Strawberry Hill castle for the set in the novel. He also went as far as to make a believable spoof in the Preface to the first edition that the novel was recovered and translated from an old Italian manuscript. Not as culturally present and talked about a title as other Gothic classics like \u003ci\u003eFrankenstein\u003c\/i\u003e or \u003ci\u003eDracula\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eOtranto\u003c\/i\u003e became the cornerstone text of the genre. The echoings of \u003ci\u003eOtranto\u003c\/i\u003e are even noticeable in more contemporary gothic tales such as Toni Morrison's \u003ci\u003eBeloved\u003c\/i\u003e where a building is more than a location but an entire mysterious entity in itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ci\u003eLegend Classics\u003c\/i\u003e series:\u003cbr\u003e Around the World in Eighty Days\u003cbr\u003e The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn\u003cbr\u003e The Importance of Being Earnest\u003cbr\u003e Alice's Adventures in Wonderland\u003cbr\u003e The Metamorphosis\u003cbr\u003e The Railway Children\u003cbr\u003e The Hound of the Baskervilles\u003cbr\u003e Frankenstein\u003cbr\u003e Wuthering Heights\u003cbr\u003e Three Men in a Boat\u003cbr\u003e The Time Machine\u003cbr\u003e Little Women\u003cbr\u003e Anne of Green Gables\u003cbr\u003e The Jungle Book\u003cbr\u003e The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories\u003cbr\u003e Dracula\u003cbr\u003e A Study in Scarlet\u003cbr\u003e Leaves of Grass\u003cbr\u003e The Secret Garden\u003cbr\u003e The War of the Worlds\u003cbr\u003e A Christmas Carol\u003cbr\u003e Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde\u003cbr\u003e Heart of Darkness\u003cbr\u003e The Scarlet Letter\u003cbr\u003e This Side of Paradise\u003cbr\u003e Oliver Twist\u003cbr\u003e The Picture of Dorian Gray\u003cbr\u003e Treasure Island\u003cbr\u003e The Turn of the Screw\u003cbr\u003e The Adventures of Tom Sawyer\u003cbr\u003e Emma\u003cbr\u003e The Trial\u003cbr\u003e A Selection of Short Stories by Edgar Allan Poe\u003cbr\u003e Grimm Fairy Tales\u003cbr\u003e The Awakening\u003cbr\u003e Mrs Dalloway\u003cbr\u003e Gulliver’s Travels\u003cbr\u003e The Castle of Otranto\u003cbr\u003e Silas Marner\u003cbr\u003e Hard Times\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43127984029874,"sku":"9781915054906","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781915054906_52ee00f8-e7a4-4b90-b20a-e2265886ee74.jpg?v=1786030313"},{"product_id":"9780140437676","title":"The Castle of Otranto","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe founding work of Gothic fiction\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn the day of his wedding, Conrad, heir to the house of Otranto, is killed in 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, purporting to be an ancient Italian text from the time of the crusades, \u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43399300251826,"sku":"9780140437676","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780140437676_7de685e5-7bd0-4883-ba34-21beccf42657.jpg?v=1786011601"},{"product_id":"9780140430363","title":"Three Gothic Novels","description":"\u003cb\u003eWalpole's \u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/i\u003e, Beckford's\u003ci\u003e Vathek\u003c\/i\u003e, and Shelley's \u003ci\u003eFrankenstein\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Gothic novel, which flourished from about 1765 until 1825, revels in the horrible and the supernatural, in suspense and exotic settings.  This volume, with its erudite introduction by Mario Praz, presents three of the most celebrated Gothic novels: \u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/i\u003e, published pseudonymously in 1765, is one of the first of the genre and the most truly Gothic of the three. \u003ci\u003eVathek\u003c\/i\u003e (1786), an oriental tale by an eccentric millionaire, exotically combines Gothic romanticism with the vivacity of The Arabian Nights and is a narrative tour de force. The story of \u003ci\u003eFrankenstein\u003c\/i\u003e (1818) and the monster he created is as spine-chilling today as it ever was; as in all Gothic novels, horror is the keynote.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56224256557429,"sku":"9780140430363","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780140430363_bb1e3448-35e1-4f23-abb5-5cfe6a762ab0.jpg?v=1786011428"},{"product_id":"9780192823311","title":"Four Gothic Novels","description":"Macabre and melodramtic, set in haunted castles or fantastic landscapes, Gothic tales became fashionable in the late eighteenth century with the publication of Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto (1764). Crammed with catastrophe, terror, and ghostly interventions, the novel was an immediate success, and influenced numerous followers. These include William Beckford's Vathek (1786), which alternates grotesque comedy with scenes of exotic magnificence in the story of the ruthless Caliph Vathek's journey to damation. The Monk (1796), by Matthew Lewis, is a violent tale of ambition, murder, and incest, set in the sinister monastery of the Capuchins in Madrid. Frankenstein (1818, 1831) is Mary Shelley's disturbing and perennially popular tale of young student who learns the secret of giving life to a creature made from human relics, with horrific consequences.This collection illustrates the range and the attraction of the Gothic novel. Extreme and sensational, each of the four printed here is also a powerful psychological story of isolation and monomania.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56225718239605,"sku":"9780192823311","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780192823311_af5e40f9-f0d2-436e-a933-01a862de96b2.jpg?v=1786010984"},{"product_id":"9780198704447","title":"The Castle of Otranto","description":"'Look, my lord! See heaven itself declares against your impious intentions!' The Castle of Otranto (1764) is the first supernatural English novel and one of the most influential works of Gothic fiction. It inaugurated a literary genre that will be forever associated with the effects that Walpole pioneered. Professing to be a translation of a mysterious Italian tale from the darkest Middle Ages, the novel tells of Manfred, prince of Otranto, whose fear of an ancient prophecy sets him on a course of destruction. After the grotesque death of his only son, Conrad, on his wedding day, Manfred determines to marry the bride-to-be. The virgin Isabella flees through a castle riddled with secret passages. Chilling coincidences, ghostly visitations, arcane revelations, and violent combat combine in a heady mix that terrified the novel's first readers.In this new edition Nick Groom examines the reasons for its extraordinary impact and the Gothic culture from which it sprang. The Castle of Otranto was a game-changer, and Walpole the writer who paved the way for modern horror exponents. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56226457780597,"sku":"9780198704447","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780198704447_b71e12cd-7c19-4eb4-a374-0de8d5e76216.jpg?v=1786011706"},{"product_id":"9781513277691","title":"The Castle of Otranto","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e When tragedy strikes on his son's wedding day, Lord Manfred believes it is a foreboding omen, and will do whatever it takes to stop it-no matter how immoral.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSet in the 18th century, \u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto  begins on the day Manfred's son, Conrad, was meant to be married. Known for his sickly nature, Conrad is the eldest child of two, and is set to marry Princess Isabella, a union that would reap strong benefits for the noble family. However, when tragedy strikes right before the ceremony, Manfred is terrified that it is a premonition of a bad luck curse. Paranoid that the curse would threaten his bloodline, he leaps into action. Determined to strengthen his legacy before it's too late, Manfred decides to divorce his wife so that he can marry Isabella in his son's place. However, when Isabella adamantly refuses, Manfred slips into a manic state of immorality, as he becomes desperate to do whatever it takes to marry Isabella. After Theodore, a brave peasant man with mysterious origins, becomes dedicated to protecting Isabella from Manfred, the lord must outsmart and overpower the couple to get his way. Through coercion, capture, and even murder, Manfred will do anything to avoid the threat of a curse. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst published under a pseudonym in 1764, \u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto  by Horace Walpole is regarded as the first gothic horror novel, a literary genre that later flourished in the 18th and 19th century. Walpole's work has shaped the modern-day gothic aesthetic in literature, film, art, and music. \u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto and the genre it inspired also encouraged many major writers, such as Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, and Edgar Allan Poe. Featuring a dark narrative, twists, tragedy, and elements of surrealism, \u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto  is dramatic and shocking, enthralling from start to finish. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis edition of \u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto  by Horace Walpole features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, \u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation of Horace Walpole's work. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince our inception in 2020, \u003cb\u003eMint Editions\u003c\/b\u003e has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWith thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56302203928949,"sku":"9781513277691","price":4.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781513277691_3bf0f2af-128f-4983-a4e2-2d7e7eaa5640.jpg?v=1786021850"},{"product_id":"9781841593500","title":"Selected Letters","description":"Author of the first gothic novel and son of the first prime minister of Great Britain, Horace Walpole had wide-ranging interests that included literature, politics, world affairs, collecting, antiquities, and architecture, and to his numerous correspondents he wrote on these and other topics in prose that is celebrated for its charm, eloquence, and wit. This new Everyman's edition offers an extensive selection of Walpole's letters, helpfully arranged by subject so the reader can choose from themes including social life, the Court, politics, literature, and the evolution of his Gothic castle and art and book collections at Strawberry Hill. This edition offers new annotations throughout, with introductions to its various sections and a general introduction on Walpole as a letter writer. In addition, the text of the letters has been corrected and previously excised passages have been restored.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307655606645,"sku":"9781841593500","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781841593500_f7e6da5f-ca11-48e4-9e3a-558c14c01aaa.jpg?v=1786027801"},{"product_id":"9781847497598","title":"The Castle of Otranto","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen Conrad, son of Prince Manfred of Otranto, is killed in mysterious circumstances on his wedding day, his father, fearing his line is at an end, declares that he will divorce his wife and marry his late son’s intended bride. Soon, however, this planned union brings about a series of supernatural events, tragic misunderstandings and cold-blooded murder. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePresented as the translation of a medieval Italian text from the time of the crusades, \u003ci\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/i\u003e was the first and most influential novel of the eighteenth-century Gothic revival, and introduced several of what became its most recognizable tropes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307914211701,"sku":"9781847497598","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781847497598_1023d557-179a-43ba-b521-38c1465e45c0.jpg?v=1786029366"},{"product_id":"9781873429839","title":"On Modern Gardening","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"'Walpole's achievement has to be saluted all the more when it is realized that single-handedly he determined (or distorted) the writing of landscape architecture history to this day' John Dixon Hunt in Greater Perfection: the practice of garden theory\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBy a mile, this is the most brilliant and most influential essay ever written on English garden history. For two centuries it mapped the whole landscape of the subject. However, the author was partial in the highest degree. Horace Walpole believed in progress, in modernisation, and the superiority of everything English to almost everything that had gone before. He had a special dislike of Baroque gardens, as exemplified by Versailles, which for him symbolised absolutism, tyranny, and the oppression of nature.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56308672463221,"sku":"9781873429839","price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781873429839_3e3a3cd3-2414-41ed-b248-30f6c72435cb.jpg?v=1791842292"},{"product_id":"9789357312202","title":"The Castle of Otranto","description":"The masterpiece that started the Gothic craze.   The Castle of Otranto by Walpole is believed to have begun the Gothic genre. Dark foreboding castles, ghosts, damsels in distress, murder, intrigue, high melodrama-- this has it all.It purports to be a translation of a work printed in Naples in 1529 that has been newly discovered in the library of 'an ancient Catholic family in the north of England'. The novel tells the story of Manfred, the prince of Otranto, who is keen to secure the castle for his lineage in the face of a terrifying curse. At the beginning of the work Manfred's son, Conrad, is crushed to death by an enormous helmet on the morning of his wedding to the beautiful Princess Isabella. Faced with the extinction of his line, Manfred vows to divorce his wife and marry the terrified Isabella himself.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368308879733,"sku":"9789357312202","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9789357312202_d53a206a-cf52-4ee2-a5d3-4c18b2b595ce.jpg?v=1786031804"},{"product_id":"horace-walpoles-correspondence-with-sir-david-dalyrimple-v15","title":"The Horace Walpoles Correspondence with Sir David Dalyrimple V15","description":null,"brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57466574045557,"sku":"9780300006995","price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780300006995.jpg?v=1785654631"},{"product_id":"the-castle-of-otranto","title":"The Castle of Otranto","description":"\u003cp\u003eMost people agree that The Castle of Otranto was the first gothic fiction. The book, which takes place in a haunted castle, combined medievalism with fear in an ever-enduring manner.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eManfred, the castle's lord, and his family are the subjects of The Castle of Otranto.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe story opens on the day of Conrad's ailing son and princess Isabella's nuptials. A huge helmet descends on Conrad from above, crushing him to death. Manfred divorces his present wife Hippolita and marries Isabella in an effort to stop the catastrophe. The knights from another kingdom want to give Isabella to her father, Fredric, who has a greater claim to the castle. As a result, Isabella flees, forcing Manfred and the knights to search quickly for her.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe prophesy is deemed fulfilled, and a huge ghostly figure comes, declaring the castle walls to be destroyed. Along with Hippolita, Manfred cedes the principality and enters a life of prayer. Theodore marries Isabella, the only person who can genuinely comprehend his anguish, and is made prince of the castle's ruins.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57495255941493,"sku":"9789357270212","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9789357270212.jpg?v=1786617946"},{"product_id":"hieroglyphic-tales-edition2023","title":"Hieroglyphic Tales","description":"\"Hieroglyphic Tales\" by Horace Walpole transports readers into a fantastical realm of gothic literature, blending elements of ancient Egypt with mystical symbolism and Enlightenment satire. Walpole, a master of fiction in the 18th century, presents a collection of short stories that ignite the imagination and challenge conventional storytelling. In these tales, Walpole infuses his narrative with rich symbolism and allegory, drawing inspiration from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics to craft fantastical worlds that reflect the complexities of human nature and society. Through intricate plots and vivid imagery, he explores themes of mysticism and enlightenment, inviting readers to ponder the deeper meanings behind the tales. With literary innovation, Walpole pioneers a unique style of storytelling that captivates audiences with its blend of fantasy, satire, and allegory. Each story is a testament to his imaginative prowess and his ability to push the boundaries of 18th-century literature. \"Hieroglyphic Tales\" stands as a testament to Walpole's enduring legacy as a trailblazer in gothic literature, offering readers a glimpse into a world where imagination reigns supreme and enlightenment is found amidst the shadows of ancient Egypt.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57495462674805,"sku":"9789362769435","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9789362769435.jpg?v=1786618133"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-horace-walpole.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}