The Castle of Otranto

Contains 36 illustrations by Babette van den Berg. The Castle of Otranto is a 1764 novel by Horace Walpole.The Castle of Otranto tells the story of Manfred, lord of the castle, and his family. The book begins on the wedding-day of his sickly son Conrad and princess Isabella. Shortly before the wedding, however, Conrad is crushed to death by a gigantic helmet that falls on him from above. This inexplicable event is particularly ominous in light of an ancient prophecy "That the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be grown too large to inhabit it." Manfred, terrified that Conrad's death signals the beginning of the end for his line. He becomes obsessed with the idea of ending his marriage with Hippolita in pursuit of the much younger Isabella....