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

Nel castello di Otranto vive la famiglia del principe Manfred, il cui secondogenito e unico erede maschio, Conrad, è in procinto di sposarsi. Ma, nel giorno del matrimonio, il futuro marito viene trovato morto in circostanze sinistre. Al fine di evitare la realizzazione di un'antica profezia, il principe Manfred decide di ripudiare la propria moglie e di sposare quella che avrebbe dovuto essere sua nuora, Isabelle. La fanciulla, atterrita dalla proposta incestuosa e spaventata dall'atteggiamento improvvisamente violento di Manfred, fugge attraverso i sotterranei del castello.  Manfred tenta di inseguirla, ma viene trattenuto dallo spettro di un suo antenato... Pubblicato nel 1764 in Inghilterra, "Il castello di Otranto" fu elogiato dalla critica ed ebbe un enorme successo; si dice abbia avuto più di 115 edizioni dal giorno della sua prima pubblicazione. Il pubblico, probabilmente stanco del classicismo e del razionalismo che regnavano all'epoca, aveva finalmente trovato uno sfogo alle sue inquietudini interiori e alla sua sete di mistero. Combinando abilmente horror e giallo, Horace Walpole aveva dato avvio alla letteratura gotica. Atmosfere lugubri, passaggi segreti, castelli diroccati e personaggi misteriosi sono gli ingredienti principali del romanzo. Scorrevole e di piacevole lettura, ancora oggi, dopo quasi tre secoli, " Il castello di Otranto" riesce a tenere il lettore incollato sino all'ultima pagina e continua a ispirare la penna dei nostri autori contemporanei.

Il castello di Otranto

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.

The Castle of Otranto

Romans terrifiants

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

Essai sur l'art des jardins modernes

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

As the invaluable present I am making to the world may not please all tastes, from the gravity of the matter, the solidity of the reasoning, and the deep learning contained in the ensuing sheets, it is necessary to make some apology for producing this work in so trifling an age, when nothing will go down but temporary politics, personal satire, and idle romances. The true reason then for my surmounting all these objections was singly this: I was apprehensive lest the work should be lost to posterity; and though it may be condemned at present, I can have no doubt but it will be treated with due reverence some hundred ages hence, when wisdom and learning shall have gained their proper ascendant over mankind, and when men shall only read for instruction and improvement of their minds.

Die Burg von Otranto - Band 50

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