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The Castle of Otranto - Community Reviews back

by Horace Walpole
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The better to see you, my dear
The better to see you, my dear rated it 6 years ago
I don't know whether I read a satire written as a self-challenge to pack as much over-the-top drama in as few pages as possible, or an over-the-top dramatic tragedy on rocket fuel. I feel a bit like when I watched Venezuelan TV novelas, only those tend to stretch, and barely come to the ankles of ...
Themis-Athena's Garden of Books
Themis-Athena's Garden of Books rated it 8 years ago
So, after having spent the past weekend and the better part of last night and today tying up half a dozen half-finished bingo reads that, naturally, hadn't shown any progress whatsoever while I was exiled on planet work overload, for the time being I'm back on track. And thus I am happy to finally ...
Emad Attely [The Book Nerd]
Emad Attely [The Book Nerd] rated it 9 years ago

The Castle of Oh-my-God-what-a-boring-book!!Well, is this really supposed to scare me?! This is supposedly the first Gothic novel. Maybe it scared the shit out of the 18th century readers, but now I guess modern readers will probably think it's a comedy!! Because, you know, I laughed! A lot!! But, ...
Julian Meynell's Books
Julian Meynell's Books rated it 9 years ago
This is the book that began Gothic literature. Its interesting to see where it all began, but I can't say that it is exactly a good read. There is little by the way of characterization. There is both too much that is spooky in it and not enough. It feels a bit haphazard. Its very rooted in folk...
Witty Little Knitter
Witty Little Knitter rated it 10 years ago
I while ago I read Northanger Abbey and while I enjoyed it I also felt like missing out on half of the jokes because while was vaguely aware that Gothic novels meant scary old castles, fair maidens and old curses I had never read one of them. So I eventually decided to read one (after buying it, put...
The English Student
The English Student rated it 11 years ago
Well, now I know why the Victorians looked down on Gothic fiction so. The Castle of Otranto is a frankly bizarre tale from 1764 about Manfred, prince of Otranto, whose son Conrad is crushed on his wedding-night by - get this - a massive, mysterious helmet. This sparks a crisis in the castle as Man...
globulon
globulon rated it 12 years ago
Not sure what to say about it. It is an interesting book in that it is very different from most of what I read and it was reasonably entertaining. I know it has some literary historical significance which was one of the reasons I read it. So on the whole it was worth my while I felt. On the othe...
JulieM
JulieM rated it 12 years ago
The Castle of Otranto is one of those must-read noteworthy books, but heck if I know why. It is listed as the first gothic novel and has those elements of romance and horror. But, I must say, gothic novels have come a looong way. This had many elements that we stereotype and mock - the fair maide...
Bibliopunkk
Bibliopunkk rated it 12 years ago
I took time away from the stack of ARCs to read a short classic, The Castle of Otranto, by Horace Walpole. Otranto is the original Gothic story... as in the first... as in a template for all others to come afterwards. As a fan of the genre I thought I should sneak the origin point in. And, as a fan ...
ѦѺ
ѦѺ rated it 12 years ago
“The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?” - Edgar Allan Poegenerally regarded as the first Gothic novel, Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto is about a series of unusual occurrences and ghostly manife...
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