#horacewalpole

[generallygothic]

Born this day, 1717: Horace Walpole (d. 1797), the progenitor of the Gothic literary tradition. Walpole wrote in his letters that “a god, at least a ghost, was absolutely necessary to frighten us out of too much senses" (Vol. 3, 381). His ghost came to him in a dream - a giant armoured hand - and was the source of his work of fiction, the very first gothic novel, 'The Castle of Ortanto' (1764). The novel, which took just two months to write, was criticised for its flat characters and its return to barbaric (true, historical 'gothic') sensibilities. The reliance of the plot upon superstition contradicted the efforts of the Enlightenment - an intellectual movement which confined unfounded beliefs within contemporary religion. Walpole cared not for his critics; his public were captivated by his crazy tale, which influenced the direction of literature to follow. Writing from his homemade, pseudo-gothic castle, Strawberry Hill House (see stories), the tale looks back to medieval times and is set in the real, historical castle of Otranto (again, see stories). To this day, the absolute OG of the gothic canon is often overlooked. Why not celebrate his birthday by reading 'The Castle of Otranto (it's available to download free online)? If you do, let me know what you think! 📸: 1. Manfred's servants vs "the ghost's gigantic foot," Bertie Greathead. 2. The hand of the ghost, unknown. Anyone else getting major Monty Python vibes from these 2 illustrations?! . #generallygothic #gothic #glimpsesofghosts #ghost #haunting #haunted #spirits #thecastleofotranto #horacewalpole #gothicnovel #gothicfiction #progenitor #englishliterature #gothicliterature #literary #literarygenre #spookynerd #booknerd #academic #bornonthisday #bookish #bookstagram #illustration #religion #theenlightenment #giantghost #gothicghost #strawberryhillhouse #literaryhistory #politics https://www.instagram.com/p/B20Ock2A4mr/?igshid=1578apvubevio

[psic0-arte]

#HoraceWalpole 📖❤

[clubdelecturagto]

🏰 **¡El viaje hacia el terror clásico comienza aquí!** ¿Sabías que la literatura gótica que tanto nos fascina nació con una sola novela? Antes de Drácula y antes de Frankenstein, existió un castillo que lo cambió todo. En el *Club de Lectura Guanajuato* empezamos a calentar motores. Este espacio no es solo para disfrutar de grandes historias, sino que es el primer paso de nuestra preparación para el gran *Tour Gótico de 2028*, en el cual recorreremos los rincones más oscuros, misteriosos e históricos de *Inglaterra, Edimburgo y Dublín*. ¡Qué mejor manera de prepararnos para pisar esos escenarios que desentrañando sus orígenes literarios desde ahora! *El castillo de Otranto* de Horace Walpole, una obra repleta de profecías ancestrales, pasadizos secretos y esa atmósfera sombría que definió al género para siempre.

📅 Detalles de nuestra 1ra Sesión: Capítulos 1 y 2 Lunes 18 de mayo. 6:00 pm Por Zoom (para que te conectes desde la comodidad de tu propio castillo). Destino final: Inspirarnos para nuestra gran aventura gótica de 2028.

Prepara tu café (o una copa de vino), enciende una vela y acompáñanos a debatir los secretos de esta pieza clave de la literatura.

¿Te unes al origen del mito? Déjanos un comentario abajo o envíanos un DM para pasarte el enlace directo de Zoom. ¡Te esperamos! 😈

[harlequinartiste]

Harlequin and the Giant Helmet, or The Castle of Otranto.

[paradiselostix]

«A by-stander often sees more of the game than those that play.» (Chapter II) ~ «But alas! my Lord, what is blood? what is nobility? We are all reptiles, miserable, sinful creatures. It is piety alone that can distinguish us from the dust whence we sprung, and whither we must return.» (Ch. II) ~ «... I can forget injuries, but never benefits.» (Ch. IV) ~ #Finished: #TheCastleOfOtranto by #HoraceWalpole. • Rating: 6/10 • *spoiler alert* The #novel, in short, tells the hot-tempered and selfish tyrant prince #Manfred, having caused many troubles to his family and some other people, is revealed to be the grandson of an usurper, a giant helmet falls from nowhere and a gigantic sabre appears, and a dark prophecy related to the usurpation is fulfilled. Because this book is considered by many the very first #gothic novel and #Walpole himself claims in the preface to the second edition that he had attempted something new, "to blend the two kinds of romance, the ancient and the modern", it's normal it doesn't feel like a gothic novel and it lacks some technicality of the genre, though surely contributing to the genre. But it also lacks a decent plot, which even many earlier, non-Gothic novels had. Some parts move very fast while some dull parts too slowly. A few weird coincidences, plain and uninteresting plot twists, characters' sudden changes of mind, and the hurried ending make it feel amateurish. Though I can say that some parts of the novel were gripping, and I liked the comic reliefs and some of the supernatural symbols and elements, the ending was anticlimactic and the falling actions were ridiculous. ~ «Do I dream? cried Manfred returning, or are the devils themselves in league against me? Speak, internal spectre!» (Ch. I) ~ «It is sinful . . . to cherish those whom heaven has doomed to destruction. A tyrant's race must be swept from the earth to the third and fourth generation...» (Ch. IV) ~ #CastleOfOtranto #PrinceManfred #Isabella #Theodore #Hippolita #Matilda #Jerome #LordFrederic #AlfonsoTheGood #englishnovel #gothicnovel #horror #book #books #bookstagram #literature #bibliophile #reading #read #instabook #bookworm #booknerd #classics https://www.instagram.com/p/CG_6bbHgo3I/?igshid=1ubkezrr9acwx

[ofgraveconcern]

The Literary Gothic 21st September 1832, death of Scottish historical novelist, poet and playwright Walter Scott, a key figure in both the Romanticism movement, and the establishment of the historical novel as a literary genre. Influenced by folklore, and gothic and supernatural themes, Scott’s novels and works are a link from the early pioneering gothic exploration of Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe, and Matthew Gregory Lewis, to the gothic victorian of Bram Stoker's Dracula. On the 14th September 1830, Scott’s non fiction work ‘Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft’, was published, detailing a history of the subject which reignited the public imagination for the themes of phantasmagoria. The work was illustrated by George Cruikshank, who we will meet again this week. 24th September 1717, birth of English art historian, antiquarian and politician Horace Walpole, author of the first gothic novel ‘The Castle of Otranto’; published in 1764. By combining fiction, horror, medievalism and romanticism, Walpole initiated the gothic literary genre that would influence later gothic writers and poets such as the Romantic poets, and Edgar Allen Poe. In the first edition, Walpole erroneously claimed the work to be from a manuscript printed in Naples, Italy in 1529. 25th September 1782 , birth of Irish clergyman and writer of Gothic plays and novels, Charles Robert Maturin, best known for the gothic novel Melmoth the Wanderer, published in 1820. The story tells of a scholar who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for 150 extra years of life, and searches the world for someone who will take over the pact for him. The novel consists of several stories embedded within each other, all related by different characters. The dark psychology of the novels combines intense paranoia, claustrophobic desolate dungeons and storm-wracked graveyards; offering social commentary on early-19th-century England. Continued on the comments. #sirwalterscott #horacewalpole #gothic #gothicstyle #18thcenturybooks #19thcenturybooks #romanticism #gothicart #supernatural #phantasmagoria #gothicliterature #macabreart #reproduction #macabreartist #dark #darkhistory #history #histology #historynerd https://www.instagram.com/p/CFpCHBFA_Z5/?igshid=1r9108236oxy5

[rmdreier]

1963 SC The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole. Introduction by Sir Walter Scott. This is generally regarded as the first Gothic novel inspiring an entire genre. There is a repaired tear to front cover and a small chip to the bottom corner as shown. 📦$4 shipped in the US. Link in bio, claim in comments or DM to purchase. 📚🏰🕸️🕷️🦇👻 #horacewalpole #gothic #gothichorror #thecastleofotranto #sirwalterscott #gothiccastle #otranto #manfredofsicily #vintagebookseller #vintagebooks #bookstore #bookstsgram #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bibliophile #bookaneer #bookaneer4sale (at Dodge Center, Minnesota) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-ay9IgvzU/?igshid=1i8q5ym80b3b0

[shelbys-commonplace]

The Castle of Otranto

“Every suggestion that horror could inspire rushed into her mind.”

Within the first chapter of The Castle of Otranto there is certainly an ominous presence. This line particularly stood out to me while reading, because of the conclusions it asks the reader to draw. This line also brings to light the role of dreams within the text. I believe this quote captures a great essence of this story.