{"title":"Horace Walpole","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHorace Walpole's\u003c\/strong\u003e works pioneer the Gothic genre, inviting readers into eerie settings filled with mystery, supernatural elements, and dark romance. His novels, such as \u003cem\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/em\u003e, blend historical atmosphere with imaginative storytelling, setting the tone for centuries of Gothic fiction to follow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFans of Gothic classics will appreciate Walpole's blend of suspense and the uncanny, where ancient castles and shadowy secrets create a haunting backdrop. These tales explore themes of power, fear, and the unknown, offering a timeless journey into the darker corners of the human experience.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-castle-of-otranto-by-horace-walpole-9780140437676","title":"The Castle of Otranto","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the day of his wedding, Conrad, heir to the house of Otranto, is killed in mysterious circumstances. His calculating father, Manfred, fears that his dynasty will now come to an end and determines to marry his son's bride himself, despite the fact he is already married.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut a series of terrifying supernatural omens soon threaten this unlawful union, as the curse placed on Manfred's ancestor, who usurped the lawful Prince of Otranto, begins to unfold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFirst published pseudonymously in 1764, purporting to be an ancient Italian text from the time of the crusades, \u003cem\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/em\u003e is a founding work of Gothic fiction. With its compelling blend of sinister portents, tempestuous passions, and ghostly visitations, it spawned an entire literary tradition and influenced such writers as Ann Radcliffe and Bram Stoker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46495766020332,"sku":"9780140437676","price":17.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/27264533482237.jpg?v=1748484622"},{"product_id":"gothic-classics-the-castle-of-otranto-and-the-old-english-baron-by-horace-walpole-9781464215377","title":"Gothic Classics: The Castle of Otranto and The Old English Baron","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe newest addition to the highly acclaimed Haunted Library of Horror Classics series—something haunts this castle, and it won't stop until justice is served...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eManfred, the lord of \u003cem\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/em\u003e, has long lived in dread of an ancient prophecy—it's foretold that when his family line ends, the true owner of the castle will appear and claim it. In a desperate bid to keep the castle, Manfred plans to coerce a young woman named Isabella into marrying him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIsabella refuses to yield to Manfred's reprehensible plan. But once she escapes into the depths of the castle, it becomes clear that Manfred isn't the only threat. As Isabella loses herself in the seemingly endless hallways below, voices reverberate from the walls and spectres wander through the dungeons. Otranto appears to be alive, and it's seeking revenge for the sins of the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46670670102764,"sku":"9781464215377","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/8548663482709.jpg?v=1752778940"},{"product_id":"three-gothic-novels-by-mary-shelley-9780140430363","title":"Three Gothic Novels","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Gothic novel, which flourished from about 1765 until 1825, revels in the horrible and the supernatural, in suspense and exotic settings. This volume, with its erudite introduction by Mario Praz, presents three of the most celebrated Gothic novels:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/em\u003e, published pseudonymously in 1765, is one of the first of the genre and the most truly Gothic of the three.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eVathek\u003c\/em\u003e (1786), an oriental tale by an eccentric millionaire, exotically combines Gothic romanticism with the vivacity of \u003cem\u003eThe Arabian Nights\u003c\/em\u003e and is a narrative tour de force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe story of \u003cem\u003eFrankenstein\u003c\/em\u003e (1818) and the monster he created is as spine-chilling today as it ever was; as in all Gothic novels, horror is the keynote.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46672497574124,"sku":"9780140430363","price":29.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780140430363.jpg?v=1778454530"},{"product_id":"the-castle-of-otranto-by-horace-walpole-9780198704447","title":"The Castle of Otranto","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLook, my lord! See heaven itself declares against your impious intentions!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/em\u003e (1764) is the first supernatural English novel and one of the most influential works of Gothic fiction. It inaugurated a literary genre that will be forever associated with the effects that Walpole pioneered. Professing to be a translation of a mysterious Italian tale from the darkest Middle Ages, the novel tells of Manfred, prince of Otranto, whose fear of an ancient prophecy sets him on a course of destruction. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the grotesque death of his only son, Conrad, on his wedding day, Manfred determines to marry the bride-to-be. The virgin Isabella flees through a castle riddled with secret passages. Chilling coincidences, ghostly visitations, arcane revelations, and violent combat combine in a heady mix that terrified the novel's first readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this new edition Nick Groom examines the reasons for its extraordinary impact and the Gothic culture from which it sprang. \u003cem\u003eThe Castle of Otranto\u003c\/em\u003e was a game-changer, and Walpole the writer who paved the way for modern horror exponents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABOUT THE SERIES:\u003c\/strong\u003e For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47643275493612,"sku":"9780198704447","price":37.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780198704447-the-castle-of-otranto.jpg?v=1779167354"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/horace-walpole.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}