The Castle of Otranto

Horace Walpole. It was first published in 1764 and is often regarded as one of the earliest and most influential works of Gothic fiction. The story is set in the Castle of Otranto in Italy and revolves around the character of Manfred, the lord of the castle. When Manfred's son dies on his wedding day under mysterious circumstances, he becomes obsessed with the idea of securing the family line. This obsession leads to a series of supernatural occurrences, including the appearance of a giant helmet and the spectre of a ghostly armoured knight.