Reviews - The Castle of Otranto Illustrated

1.82k reviews for:

The Castle of Otranto Illustrated

Horace Walpole

3.06 AVERAGE

ajax's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

urfavfinalgirl's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is a fascinating exploration of deeply flawed characters. While this book explores a seemingly haunted castle, it also explores the idea of an unreliable narrator. There's also the comparison between ghosts and humans, and which we find scarier is up to us to decide. The paranormal activity may not be the scariest thing in this castle. Walpole writes in a poetic and deeply Gothic manner. If you are starting Gothic literature, this is a great place to start. This short, fast-paced novel will make you fall in love with Gothic literature. I was lucky enough to read the Oxford World Classics edition, with entries from the ingenious Nick Groom. He writes insightful words on Gothic literature, its inspiration and correlation to Gothic architecture, important historical facts, and more. I highly recommend that version. But if you are unable to attain this version, I urge you to research Gothic literature, Gothic architecture, and the history of Italy during this time period. It will only make the book all the more enjoyable. This is a great, underrated classic that more people should read. Very solid read 3.75/5.

prcle's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

minasarchive's review against another edition

2.25

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

kathrine_v's review against another edition

3.0

The first chapter was genuinely great, it gained momentum and then it just kinda... stopped?

The following chapters continued in very strangely narrated dialogues. And the fact that quite often it felt really cartoony, like something straight out of Scooby Doo, didn't help... Come on, he even included a meddling priest / Friar :D

But it's the first gothic novel and its impact is incredible so that has to be appreciated!