Publisher's Synopsis
The Castle of Otranto tells the story of Prince Manfred and his family, which includes his wife (Hippolita) and his children (Conrad and Matilda). The story begins on the wedding day of Manfred's son, Conrad, and the Princess Isabella. The wedding does not take place, however, for Conrad is crushed to death by a giant helmet moments before the event. Among the crowd is a handsome young peasant named Theodore, who muses that the helmet is like the one from the statue of Otranto's founder, Alfonso. Though he has no reason to truly suspect Theodore of Conrad's death, Manfred makes a big to-do about the peasant's putative guilt, and imprisons him under the helmet. The death of his son terrifies Manfred that a prophecy that the castle will pass on from their family is beginning to come true. Manfred plots to divorce his wife, Hippolita, on the grounds that she has failed to bear him a proper heir (he also claims they are related) and marry Isabella himself. Even though strange things begin to happen in the castle, Manfred is not deterred. When Manfred tells this to Isabella, she is horrified and flees into a passage beneath the castle. There she meets Theodore, newly escaped from the helmet; he aids her in escaping to a nearby convent. The search for Isabella continues until Manfred confronts Theodore in the vault of the castle. Theodore says he has no knowledge of Isabella, but Manfred's pride and rage persist. Matilda hears Theodore's woeful singing and speaks to him briefly, admiring his piety and wondering if she can help him.
