Horace Walpole lived and breathed the Gothic. His novel, The Castle of Otranto, is considered the first English Gothic novel, earning him the title of ‘father of Gothic’. In this episode, we’ll look at his biography, his inspiration for his “Gothic story”, and his legacy.
[1:15] “For the man who began the English Gothic novel era, he isn’t exactly what you’d expect.”
[12:48] “If you’ve read Shakespeare’s Hamlet, you’ll get a very similar vibe to Otranto.”
[15:59] “Let the critics have their say: I shall not be vexed: it was not written for their age which wants nothing but cold reason. I own to you, and you will think me madder than ever, that of all my works it is the only one in which I pleased myself.”
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