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The Castle of Otranto
The Castle of Otranto
Nov 9, 2025 2:09 AM

Author:Horace Walpole,Michael Gamer,Michael Gamer

The Castle of Otranto

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

A riveting read - big, bold, rambunctious and very rewarding

—— Richard Russo, author of EMPIRE FALLS

Griesemer's energetic plotting and prose mirror the vigour of the age he describes

—— New York Times

Ambition, failure, triumph, love, betrayal, farce, and spirt-conjuring - these are some of the subjects powerfully animated in this grand novel. John Griesemer is a masterful writer

—— Joanna Scott, author of ARROGANCE

Griesemer's novel has the courage of ambition and deserves serious praise for that alone

—— Time Out

Capacious, gutsy and gratifying

—— Joseph O'Connor, author of STAR OF THE SEA

Pick up Niffenegger's book and you'll experience a visceral thrill that only a few novels provide. An elegy to love and loss

—— Independent on Sunday

Truly original

—— Vogue

Magical - memorable...poignant, amusing and intensely moving portrait of a unique relationship - quirky, romantic, and kept the right side of cute

—— Mail on Sunday

The central story is so strong and touching...ingenious... A rare book

—— Evening Standard

A sweet, original fantasy - its flights of authorial fancy balanced by down-to-earth characters and the matter-of-fact language

—— Sunday Telegraph

Henry's journeys back and forth are by turns slapstick noir and unbearably poignant, and Clare's child and teen narrations disturbingly pitch-perfect. Philosophical speculation occurs in the most unlikely devices and morality, despite the temptations of plot, remains intact. This is alarmingly close to perfection, and balm to the jaded

—— Scotland on Sunday

One of those books where you read the first paragraph and you're hooked... Unmissable

—— Irish Independent

From the first page to the last, The Time Traveler's Wife works its unique magic... A beautiful, lyrical book

—— Tony Parsons , The Times

After I read it I wanted to share it with everybody, and even gave a copy to Madonna when she co-presented my show

—— Jo Whiley , Easy Living

Dark, unpredictable, incredibly clever and a modern romance

—— Cecelia Ahern , Grazia

A delight

—— Bookseller

A love affair that will totally capture your heart

—— Glamour Magazine

An irrestible romance

—— InStyle

A beautifully written, compulsive look at a couple trying to live an ordinary life in extraordinary circumstances

—— Image

An intriguing, often funny love story

—— Eve
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