"The Castle of Otranto" is a novel written by Horace Walpole, first published in 1764. It is often considered the first Gothic novel, setting the stage for a genre that would become popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The novel tells the story of the Prince of Otranto, Manfred, who seeks to marry Isabella, the daughter of a marquis, in order to secure his family's lineage. However, on the day of his wedding, a mysterious helmet falls from the sky and crushes his son, Conrad, to death. Manfred becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea that his family's line is cursed and that his reign is threatened. He tries to divorce his wife, Hippolita, in order to marry Isabella himself, but Isabella escapes with the help of Theodore, a peasant who is revealed to be of noble birth. The novel is filled with melodramatic and supernatural elements, including ghosts, prophecies, and secret passages within the castle. "The Castle of Otranto" was originally presented by Walpole as a translation of an Italian manuscript found in a monastery, lending an air of authenticity to the story. It was immensely popular upon its publication and inspired numerous imitations and adaptations in literature and drama. Walpole's novel is considered a classic of Gothic literature and continues to be studied and appreciated for its contributions to the genre.
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