Book Review: The Castle of Otranto

This book is about the inhabitants of the castle of Otranto, and was written by Earl Horace Wadpole in 1764.

The household consists of Manfred, the owner, who is also called the Prince of Otranto, his wife Hippilota, and his children, Conrad who is 15, and Matilda who is 18. The story starts when Conrad, on the day of his wedding with the princess Isabella, is found dead mysteriously in the courtyard, crushed under a gigantic helmet. Manfred then thinks that this is caused by a curse that had been made years before. He then wishes Isabella to be his bride instead of Hippilota to have a male heir again. Isabella is horrified at the proposal, and manages to escape but Manfred searches for her. Hippilota is deeply religious, so Manfred tells Jerome the priest to encourage her to agree to the divorce, but Jerome secretly abhors the plan. Matilda and Isabella become great friends, but that friendship becomes strained when they both fall in love with a handsome, brave young peasant man named Theodore, who is not who he seems to be.

I liked Hippilota, she was a very sweet character, with a deep religious aspect. I also liked Isabella and Matilda, they were nice girls, respectful to their elders yet firm in their beliefs. Theodore was in every way a medieval knight, chivalrous, gentle, brave, and gallant. I also liked that, although a gothic novel, there was not much of the usual fainting, weakness, terror, etc... that is so common in this genre. The characters were, even though occasionally overcome, strong willed and strong minded.

I disliked Manfred, he was evil minded, selfish, and uncaring, but that was how he was supposed to be portrayed, so his character was very well written.

This book I would recommend to readers who like medieval romances or stories of the supernatural, as in ghosts, curses, visions, and omens. Over all I would give The Castle of Otranto a 7/10.