The Castle of Otranto

Jan 18, 2026 9:06 AM

Author:Horace Walpole,Esh Alladi

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Esh Alladi.

On 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, The Castle of Otranto 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.

Reviews

Riveting storytelling. This incandescent work speaks not just to the moment, but to history

—— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A badass debut by any measure - nimble, knowing, and electrifying

—— Colson Whitehead, twice-Pulitzer Prize winning author of THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD and THE NICKEL BOYS

An electric new literary voice

—— Esquire

Absolutely unforgettable. Johnson's prose soars to remarkable heights

—— Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author of HUNGER and AYITI

Unputdownable... Extraordinarily powerful... One of the finest books of 2021 and a future classic

—— The Bookseller, Book of the Month

My Monticello is a magnificent debut that holds so much in its gaze. This breathtaking, artful book is a gift

—— Megha Majumdar, New York Times bestselling author of A BURNING

I was enthralled from the opening lines of this book. Stunning

—— Charles Yu, National Book Award-winning author of INTERIOR CHINATOWN

This is a stunning debut by a brilliant and original new voice

—— Danielle Evans, award-winning author of THE OFFICE OF HISTORICAL CORRECTIONS

Johnson's debut book is stellar

—— Kirkus (starred review)

A powerful and beautiful read

—— Nina Pottell , Prima

An extraordinary debut from a gifted writer with an unflinching view of history and what may come of it.

—— Washington Post

Johnson is a great observer. The novel is full of stunningly precise figurative language... [it's] utterly absorbing...a meditation of how the brutal past of slavery still has a potent legacy in contemporary America; it also portrays the redemptive powers of love and care

—— Tomiwa Owolade , Daily Telegraph

This powerful and memorable book is a must-read

—— Joanne Finney , Good Housekeeping

A powerful, thought-provoking novel

—— Sarra Manning , Red

[A] tenderly rendered apocalyptic novella... Johnson is an unusually sensitive writer, combining a mood of impending doom with language of soulful beauty

—— Claire Allfree , Daily Mail

This brief, brilliant gut-punch of a novel is frighteningly plausible... Lush, harrowing, and entirely believable - a marvel of economy

—— Paul Connolly , Metro

My Monticello is short, satisfying and punchy: more debuts should be like this

—— John Self , The Times

Stunning

—— Eithne Farry , Mail on Sunday

Chilling, affecting and intelligent

—— Stuart Kelly , Scotland on Sunday

This brief, brilliant gut-punch of a novel is frighteningly plausible

—— Paul Connolly , Metro, *Christmas Gift Guide 2021*

My Monticello is a bleak story but reading it elicits the same kind of sensation that comes from listening to a poignant blues song: there is pleasure in its creation without denying the pain of the subject

—— Colin Grant , Guardian

A history lesson, a fable, an inquiry into the nature of historic monuments, a heartfelt tale of community and above all a nail-biting story.

—— Guardian

Beautifully written with unforgettable characters... My Monticello is an unforgettable and thought-provoking novella that will unsettle you to your core.

—— Voice

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