Recognized as the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto establishes the foundations of a genre defined by mystery, terror, and the supernatural. Set within the shadowed halls of an ancient and ominous castle, the narrative follows the tyrannical Manfred, whose obsession with securing his lineage leads to a series of catastrophic events. When his son is crushed by a mysterious, gigantic helmet, Manfred’s desperation intensifies, driving him toward acts of tyranny, transgression, and moral dec ...