Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts

The Mysteries of Udolpho Summary

The Mysteries of Udolpho Summary
The Mysteries of Udolpho

Published: 8, May 1794

Author: Ann Ward Radcliffe

Genres: 80/100, Adventure, Classic, Education, Fiction, Gothic, History, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural


Check out the review of this book here:

The Mysteries of Udolpho is a classic Gothic tale, full of physical and psychological terrors such as lonely decaying castles, supposedly supernatural happenings, a brooding, plotting villain, and a persecuted heroine.

Radcliffe added extended descriptions of exotic landscapes in the Pyrenees and Apennines, as well as Venice, none of which she had visited, to which modern editors point out that only about a third of the novel takes place in the titular Gothic castle, and that the tone and style of the work vary significantly between sections. She depended on travel guides for specifics, which resulted in various inaccuracies.

The story, set in southern France and northern Italy in 1584, follows Emily St. Aubert, a young French woman orphaned by her father's death. Signor Montoni, an Italian brigand who has married her aunt and guardian Madame Cheron, has her imprisoned at Castle Udolpho. Emily's relationship with the dashing Valancourt is thwarted by him and others. Emily also looks into her father's relationship with the Marchioness de Villeroi and how it relates to Castle Udolpho.

Emily St. Aubert is the sole child of a wealthy rural family on the verge of bankruptcy. Emily and her father have a very strong relationship based on their common love of nature. Following her mother's death from sickness, they become further closer. She travels with him from their home Gascony to the Mediterranean coast of Roussillon, passing through several rugged regions. During their travels, they meet Valancourt, a dashing young man who has a mysterious connection with nature. Emily and Valancourt develop feelings for one another.

Emily's father passes away after a lengthy illness. Emily, who is now orphaned, is forced to live with her aunt, Madame Cheron, who has no interest in Emily's hobbies and displays no compassion for her. Her aunt marries Montoni, a shady Italian aristocrat. He wants to marry Emily's friend, Count Morano and attempts to force him on her. Montoni invites Emily and her aunt to his secluded castle of Udolpho after finding Morano is virtually demolished.

Emily is concerned that she has lost Valancourt for good. Morano looks for Emily and attempts to smuggle her away from Udolpho in the dark, but Emily's heart belongs to Valancourt, and she refuses. Montoni discovers Morano's attempted escape and wounds him before chasing him away. Montoni threatens his wife with violence in the months following, attempting to get her to sign up her possessions in Toulouse, which would otherwise pass to Emily upon his wife's death. Madame Cheron dies of a serious illness brought on by her husband's harshness without renouncing her inheritance.

In the castle, many terrifying yet fortuitous incidents occur, but Emily tries to leave with the assistance of a hidden lover, Du Pont, who is also a prisoner there, and the servants Annette and Ludovico. When Emily returns to her aunt's house, she discovers that Valancourt has fled to Paris and squandered his fortune. Despite this, she gains control of the land and is eventually reunited with Valancourt.


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Ann Radcliffe, Ann Ward, Austen Criticized it in Northanger, Bram Stoker, Classics Edition, Dracula, Frankenstein, Ghosts, Giant Helmet, Gothic Literature, Gothic Novel, gothic romance, great story, Horace Walpole, Jane Austen, Kindle edition, Northanger abbey, Oxford World, Soap Opera, The Monk, Trap Door, Werewolf, Werewolves, World Classics, Worth Reading, Young Man


Rating: 80/100
Recommended: 90/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle version here:


Free with free Audible trial:


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The Castle of Otranto Summary

The Castle of Otranto Summary

The Castle of Otranto

Published: 1764

Author: Horace Walpole

Genres: 90/100, Classic, Fiction, Gothic, History, Horror, Literary, Literature, Occult, Supernatural


Check out the review of this book here:



Summary

The narrative of Manfred, the castle's lord, and his family are told in The Castle of Otranto. On the wedding day of his ailing son Conrad and Princess Isabella, the story begins. Conrad, however, is crushed to death by a massive helmet that descends on him from above just before the wedding.

This strange occurrence is all the more concerning in light of an old prophecy that "the castle and lordship of Otranto should depart from the present line after the true owner has grown too large to occupy it." Manfred, fearful that Conrad's death may spell the end of his dynasty, decides to marry Isabella himself while divorcing his present wife, Hippolita, whom he believes has failed to produce him a legitimate heir owing to Conrad's frail condition before his untimely death.

Isabella, however, flees to a chapel with the help of a peasant called Theodore while Manfred seeks to marry her. While speaking with the monk Jerome, who insured Isabella's safety at the church, Manfred orders Theodore's killing. Jerome detects a marking below Theodore's shoulder and recognizes Theodore as his own son as Theodore removes his shirt to be executed.

Jerome cries out for his son's life, but Manfred tells him that he must choose between the princess and his son's life. They are interrupted by the sound of a trumpet and the arrival of knights from another realm, who want to transfer Isabella and the castle to her father, Fredric because Fredric has a better claim to it (another reason Manfred wishes to wed Isabella). As a result, the knights and Manfred set off on a quest to find Isabella.

Theodore, who had been imprisoned by Manfred in a tower, is set free by Manfred's daughter, Matilda. He dashes to the basement chapel, where he discovers Isabella. To protect her from Manfred, he hides her in a cave and shuts it, but he ends up battling one of the strange knights. The knight, who reveals out to be Isabella's father, Frederic, is seriously injured by Theodore. They all head up to the palace to figure things out after that. Frederic and Manfred establish an agreement to marry one other's daughters when they fall in love with Matilda. After being warned by an apparition of a skeleton, Frederic withdraws.

Manfred brings a knife into the chapel where Matilda is meeting Theodore, fearing Isabella is having a tryst with Theodore. He stabs Isabella, mistaking her for his own daughter. As Matilda dies, Theodore is revealed to be the actual prince of Otranto, forcing Manfred to repent. The prophecy is realized, as a gigantic ghostly apparition arrives, shattering the castle walls.

Manfred abdicates the principality and, together with Hippolita, retires to religion. Theodore is made prince of the castle's ruins and married to Isabella, who is the only person who genuinely understands his grief.

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Bram Stoker, Castle Of Otranto, Classics Edition, Dracula, Frankenstein, Ghosts, Giant Helmet, Gothic Literature, Gothic Novel, Horace Walpole, Jane Austen, Oxford World, Soap Opera, The Monk, Trap Door, Werewolf, Werewolves, World Classics, Worth Reading, Young Man


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 95/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle version here:


Free with free Audible trial:


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