Die Burg von Otranto, in der englische Originalfassung: The Castle of Otranto, ist ein Roman des britischen Politikers und Schriftstellers Horace Walpole aus dem Jahr 1764. Walpole begründete damit die Romangattung des Schauerromans, im Englischen 'Gothic Novel', und beeinflusst die Literatur damit bis in unsere Zeit.

Die Burg von Otranto - Band 50

Le château d’Otrante est un drame plastique, la forme la plus amère, la plus rugueuse, mais aussi la mieux taillée du malheur en amour.Seuls immortels, les désirs vont leur chemin, malgré d’extraordinaires obstacles, malgré les rideaux du sang et les miroirs vides, la nature exclue, l’existence approximative, la vue inutile, les ancêtres vomis par l’Enfer, malgré la peur, l’héroïsme, la férocité, malgré le marbre des tombeaux et les squelettes, les désirs sans cesse au fil de la mort, cherchent à briser avec l’imaginaire.

Le Château d'Otrante

Romans terrifiants

La Ville Lumière est l'une des métropoles les plus visitées, les plus fantasmées au monde. Symbole de la culture française, écrin d'un développement intellectuel et artistique rare, Paris fascine les écrivains, qui n'ont eu de cesse de vouloir la représenter dans leurs oeuvres. E. E. Cummings, Graham Greene, Henry James, Richard Yates, Horace Walpole, Dino Buzzati, mais aussi Rousseau, Aragon, Zola... tous ont puisé dans les richesses de la ville leur inspiration. Arpentons donc ses rues, visitons ses musées, admirons ses monuments avec eux : ils n'en seront que plus beaux.

Paris, escapades littéraires

Otranton linna on goottilaisen romaanin varhaisin kukinto ja modernin kauhukirjallisuuden lähtökohta. Sen tekijä oli taidehistorioitsija, poliitikko ja kirjailija Horace Walpole (1717-1797), joka julkaisi teoksen lahjaksi ystävilleen jouluna 1764.

Keskiajan Italiaan sijoittava tarina kertoo Otranton ruhtinaasta Manfredista, jonka pelko muinaisen kirouksen toteutumisesta suistaa hävityksen tielle. Otranton linna luo kauhuromaanin ainekset. Se tihkuu aavemaisia näkyjä, pimeitä salakäytäviä, ennustuksia, ilmestyksiä ja yllätyksellistä väkivaltaa.

Horace Walpolen Otranton linna ilmestyi alkukielellä 250 vuotta sitten. Nyt goottilaisen kauhun klassikko julkaistaan ensi kertaa suomeksi.

Otranton linna

The following work was found in the library of an ancient Catholic family in the north of England. It was printed at Naples, in the black letter, in the year 1529. How much sooner it was written does not appear. The principal incidents are such as were believed in the darkest ages of Christianity; but the language and conduct have nothing that savours of barbarism. The style is the purest Italian.

If the story was written near the time when it is supposed to have happened, it must have been between 1095, the era of the first Crusade, and 1243, the date of the last, or not long afterwards. There is no other circumstance in the work that can lead us to guess at the period in which the scene is laid: the names of the actors are evidently fictitious, and probably disguised on purpose: yet the Spanish names of the domestics seem to indicate that this work was not composed until the establishment of the Arragonian Kings in Naples had made Spanish appellations familiar in that country. The beauty of the diction, and the zeal of the author (moderated, however, by singular judgment) concur to make me think that the date of the composition was little antecedent to that of the impression. Letters were then in their most flourishing state in Italy, and contributed to dispel the empire of superstition, at that time so forcibly attacked by the reformers. It is not unlikely that an artful priest might endeavour to turn their own arms on the innovators, and might avail himself of his abilities as an author to confirm the populace in their ancient errors and superstitions. If this was his view, he has certainly acted with signal address. Such a work as the following would enslave a hundred vulgar minds beyond half the books of controversy that have been written from the days of Luther to the present hour.

Die Burg von Otranto - Band 50

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