The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

Back Cover: First published pseudonymously in 1764, The Castle of Otranto purported to be a translation of an Italian story of the time of the crusades. In it Walpole attempted, as he declared in the Preface to the second edition, 'to blend the two kinds of romance: the ancient and the modern'. He gives us a series of catastrophes, ghostly interventions, revelations of identity, and exciting contests. Crammed with invention, entertainment, terror, and pathos, the novel was an immediate success and Walpole's favourite among his numerous works. His friend, the power Thomas Gray, wrote that he and his family, having read Otranto, were now 'afraid to go to bed o' nights'. So, I had to read this book for Women's Lit. I must say it was actually good! Not that I doubted it would be, but ya know, it's a class! It is kinda weird how there aren't any quotation marks, but after a while I got used to it. Most of the times I could see who was saying what, but the way the book is layed out, it's supposed to be like small events being big and hectic and lots of action. Basically, it's kinda like an old school type of drama or soap opera! Manfred's son, Conrad, dies by a gaint helmet. His fiancee, Isabella, is who Manfred wants. Isabella then escapes with help from Theodore. Matilda, Manfred's daughter, also meets Theodore. Theodore then falls in love with Matilda, but Manfred think Isabella and Theodore are an item. And etc, haha. But it was good and very short!