The Castle of Otranto is a 1764 novel by Horace Walpole. It is generally regarded as the first Gothic romance, initiating a literary genre which would become extremely popular in the later 18th century and 19th century. Walpole, publishing under a pseudonym, claimed the novel was a translation of an Italian romance dating back to the time of the Crusades.
The premise of The Castle or Otranto is deliciously fun. A gigantic helmet falls from the sky, and squashes an unsuspecting prince. This sets off a chain of events surrounding two young maidens, a tyrannical father, and several revelations of convoluted heritage. The supernatural elements of the story was great, as was some of the banter between characters. The characterization itself, however, is lacking, and the plot occasionally gets caught up within itself.
