Read more
"The first poetess of romantic fiction."-Sir Walter Scott
"Mrs. Radcliffe is a mistress of hints, suggestions, minute details, breathless pauses, and the hush of suspense." -The New York Times
"Compared to Udolpho, Montoni's mountain hideaway, Castle Dracula is a country day school." -Barbara Walker
Ann Radcliff's Mysteries of Udolpho, one of the most famous English gothic novels ever published, was a significant influence on later authors including Mary Shelley, Edgar Allen Poe, and Jane Austen. In combining the supernatural elements of the gothic genre with a deep sensitivity of emotion, this work reveals the height of Radcliffe's powers as a writer.
Living a picturesque life in rural Late-16th Century France, Emily St. Aubert, the novel's beautiful and sensitive protagonist becomes an orphan when both of her parents die. Adopted by her unaffectionate aunt Madame Cheron, Emily is ultimately imprisoned by Cheron and her cruel husband, the Italian nobleman Signor Montoni. The natural beauty of her life as a young girl in France is contrasted with the seclusion in the eponymous castle where Montoni's controlling manipulations spin her life into a state of unknowable terror. The hair-raising and strange events that occur within the confines of the dreadful fortress are among the most bone-chilling in all of literature.
With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Mysteries of Udolpho is both modern and readable.
About the author
English novelist Ann Radcliffe (née Ward; 9 July 1764 - 7 February 1823) is credited with creating Gothic fiction. She was the only child of haberdasher William Ward and Ann Oates and was born in London. Young Radcliffe started writing, and she became well-known for her atmospheric, suspenseful books that mixed aspects of romance and horror. She wed writer and editor William Radcliffe in 1787. She achieved enormous popularity with her two well-known works, "The Mysteries of Udolpho" (1794) and "The Italian" (1797). Strong characters, frightening locations, and evocative descriptions were all hallmarks of Radcliffe's books. She received accolades for using psychological suspense rather than supernatural components to create a feeling of horror. While Radcliffe was alive, she was quite well-liked, but certain literary groups also had criticism for her. Her writings were criticized for being too romantic and sensational. Even yet, Radcliffe's books impacted the Gothic subgenre and provided authors like Jane Austen and Edgar Allan Poe with inspiration. Early in the 19th century, Radcliffe's writing career came to an end, and she had a tranquil life until her death in 1823. Even today, people acknowledge and appreciate her influence on literature and her role in the development of Gothic fiction
Summary
“The first poetess of romantic fiction.”-Sir Walter Scott
““Mrs. Radcliffe is a mistress of hints, suggestions, minute details, breathless pauses, and the hush of suspense.” —The New York Times
“Compared to Udolpho, Montoni’s mountain hideaway, Castle Dracula is a country day school.” —Barbara Walker
Ann Radcliff’s Mysteries of Udolpho, one of the most famous English gothic novels ever published, was a significant influence on later authors including Mary Shelley, Edgar Allen Poe, and Jane Austen. In combining the supernatural elements of the gothic genre with a deep sensitivity of emotion, this work reveals the height of Radcliffe’s powers as a writer.
Living a picturesque life in rural Late-16th Century France, Emily St. Aubert, the novel’s beautiful and sensitive protagonist becomes an orphan when both of her parents die. Adopted by her unaffectionate aunt Madame Cheron, Emily is ultimately imprisoned by Cheron and her cruel husband, the Italian nobleman Signor Montoni. The natural beauty of her life as a young girl in France is contrasted with the seclusion in the eponymous castle where Montoni’s controlling manipulations spin her life into a state of unknowable terror. The hair-raising and strange events that occur within the confines of the dreadful fortress are among the most bone-chilling in all of literature.
With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Mysteries of Udolpho is both modern and readable.
