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The Shadow of Otranto: The Birth of Gothic Literature in 1764 Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto, published in 1764, is Britain's earliest Gothic novel and a seminal work that shaped the prototype for later horror literature. Set in a medieval Italian castle, the story begins with a supernatural event: on the wedding day, a giant helmet falls, killing the son of Lord Manfred, who had arranged the marriage to preserve his family line. Seeking an heir, Manfred attempts to wed the young Isabella, but she escapes and meets the young Theodore. At the castle, monstrous armor parts—a helmet, gloves—suddenly appear, and ghostly shadows are sighted, heralding the fulfillment of the prophecy through a series of supernatural occurrences. These events represent the destiny of the stolen bloodline seeking to return to its rightful heir. As the secret of Theodore's origins is revealed, the story converges, intertwining tragedy and redemption. The work immediately presents the image
ry of later Gothic literature—a ruined castle, secret passages, a cursed lineage—and remains a crucial source of modern horror to this day.