Audiobooks by Horace Walpole

Tales of Terror: A BBC Radio Gothic Drama Collection: The Castle of Otranto, The Monk, The Mysteries

"Four full-cast dramatisations of classic Gothic novels, plus documentaries exploring the genre’s rise and enduring appeal Dark deeds, dastardly villains, innocent victims and supernatural happenings – these are the terrifying tropes that make up Gothic fiction, a genre that has captured our imagination for over 250 years. Blending both classic and modern dramatisations, this specially curated anthology couples thrilling masterpieces with insightful documentaries… We begin with A Gothic Quest, in which Louise Welsh examines what ‘gothic’ really means, and takes a look at its many appearances in poetry, fiction, art, architecture and film. In A Guided Tour of the Castle of Otranto, Rory McGrath explores the origins of gothic horror, first manifested in Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel. It is followed by a dramatisation of The Castle of Otranto itself, a dark supernatural tale of duplicity and dynastic rivalry. Treading warily into the book’s strange world in Kaleidoscope Feature: A Little Gothic Castle, Peggy Reynolds draws parallels between Walpole’s vision for his London villa, Strawberry Hill, and the haunted mansion in the novel. Next, we unveil the male gothic in a gripping drama featuring disguise, abduction, incest and murder. The Monk, based on the 1796 classic by Matthew Lewis, tells the story of Ambrosio (Michael Pennington), who is tempted into breaking his vows of chastity by a beautiful young nun. The dawn of the female gothic is revealed in The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, centred on a powerless young heroine trapped in an isolated castle and pitted against an evil Italian Count. Showcasing the Gothic satire is Jane Austen’s 1817 novel Northanger Abbey, poking fun at the popular sensation fiction of her day. In this witty drama, Catherine Morland is taken to Bath for the season, and finds that in her fertile imagination, danger and hair-raising horrors lurk around every corner. Georgia Groome, Miriam Margolyes and Bridgerton’s Luke Thompson star in this full-cast dramatisation. Wrapping up our collection is In Our Time: Gothic, which sees Melvyn Bragg and guest experts considering the origins and significance of the 18th century Gothic movement. First published 1764 (The Castle of Otranto), 1794 (The Mysteries of Udolpho), 1796 (The Monk), 1817 (Northanger Abbey) Content List Part 1. Gothic Imagination A Gothic Quest Presented by Louise Welsh Part 2. The First Gothic Novel: The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole A Guided Tour of the Castle of Otranto Presented by Rory McGrath The Castle of Otranto cast and credits to be announced Kaleidoscope Feature: A Little Gothic Castle Presented by Peggy Reynolds Part 3. Unveiling A Male Gothic: The Monk by Matthew Lewis The Monk Starring Michael Pennington, Sorcha Cusack, Emily Morgan, Christopher Douglas, Brian Smith, Jenny Funnell, Tessa Worsley, Mary Wimbush, Simon Hewitt, Anne Jameson, Alan Thompson, Melinda Walker, Mia Soteriou, Allan McClelland, Garard Green, Graham Blockey, Peter Acre, David Learner and Bernard Brown Part 4. The Dawn of a Female Gothic: The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe The Mysteries of Udolpho Starring Georgia Groome, Tracy Wiles, John Dougall, Finlay Robertson, Luke Thompson, Natasha Cowley, Stephen Wight, John Bowler, Karen Bartke and Alison Belbin Part 5. Gothic Satire: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Northanger Abbey Starring Georgia Groome, Luke Thompson, Tracy Wiles, Kim Wall, Ainsley Howard, Alison Belbin, John Bowler, Karen Bartke, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Wight, Finlay Robertson, Natasha Cowley, John Dougall, Nick Murchie, Keziah Joseph and Luke MacGregor Part 6. Gothic Legacies In Our Time: Gothic Presented by Melvyn Bragg With Chris Baldick, A N Wilson and Emma Clery © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Ann Radcliffe, Horace Walpole, Jane Austen, Matthew Lewis (Author), Full cast, Garard Green, Georgia Groome, John Bowler, Karen Bartke, Louise Welsh, Luke Thompson, Melvyn Bragg, Miriam Margolyes, Rory McGrath, Tracy Wiles (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Castle of Otranto

"Conrad is crushed to death on his wedding day by a gigantic helmet that falls on him from above. Manfred, lord of the castle, terrified that his son's death signals the beginning of the end for his line, resolves to avert destruction by re-marrying himself while divorcing his current wife Hippolita, who he feels has failed to bear him a proper heir."

Horace Walpole (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Castle of Otranto (Unabridged)

"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Prepare to be chilled. Welcome to the brooding halls of Otranto, a castle steeped in ancient prophecy. A joyous wedding celebration descends into horror as a mysterious death sets in motion a chain of terrifying events. Giant helmets fall from the sky, ghosts stalk the corridors, and a tyrannical prince hungers for a forbidden love. Will a courageous heroine defy a cruel fate? Is the prophecy destined to be fulfilled? Unravel the chilling secrets of The Castle of Otranto, a pioneering tale of Gothic suspense that will keep you guessing until the very end."

Horace Walpole (Author), Digital Voice Marcus G (Narrator)

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[Spanish] - El castillo de Otranto

"Audiolibro narrado en castellano. El castillo de Otranto. Horace Walpole combina en esta famosa obra ambientes sobrenaturales, horrores, romance; en el incomparable marco de un castillo medieval. Walpole , amante del coleccionismo de arte y antigüedades, construyó una magnífica mansión gótica llamada Strawberry Hill que se convirtió en un lugar icónico y muy visitado por figuras importantes de la época. Se le atribuye a Horace Walpole marcar el inicio con esta obra de la literatura universal gótica sentando las bases para futuras obras maestras del género. El destino, siniestros presagios y sucesos sobrenaturales persiguen a Manfredo, su ambición y obsesión de poder precipita una cadena de acontecimientos cargados de misterio y tragedias que llevan a sus personajes a los laberínticos secretos del castillo. ®SelloNegro. esCultura Diseño Portada- Voz ®bseal voice “El mundo es un lugar peligroso para vivir; no por las personas malvadas, sino por aquellas que permiten la maldad.”- Horace Walpole 1717-1797"

Horace Walpole (Author), ®bseal Voice (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Castle of Otranto

"'The Castle of Otranto' is a novel written by Horace Walpole and first published in 1764. It is considered the first Gothic novel, setting the stage for a genre that would become popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The book is known for its blend of supernatural elements, romance, and suspense. The story is set in the medieval Castle of Otranto in Italy and revolves around the mysterious and supernatural events that unfold within its walls. The narrative involves a cursed noble family, secret passages, prophecies, and a large helmet that seems to portend doom. The novel explores themes of power, love, and the supernatural, creating an atmospheric and suspenseful tale."

Horace Walpole (Author), Jason Smith (male Synthesized Voice) (Narrator)

Audiobook

Historic Doubts of the Life and Reign of King Richard III

"In Historic Doubts of the Life and Reign of King Richard III, Walpole defends Richard III against the common belief that he murdered the Princes in the Tower, and many of the other crimes laid at his door by the Tudor dynasty which followed Richard’s defeat at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. In this he has been followed by a number of other writers, including Josephine Tey in her classic 1951 mystery novel The Daughter of Time."

Horace Walpole (Author), Graham Scott (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Castle of Otranto

"The Castle of Otranto is a novel by Horace Walpole. First published in 1764, it is generally regarded as the first gothic novel. In the second edition, Walpole applied the word 'Gothic' to the novel in the subtitle – A Gothic Story. Set in a haunted castle, the novel merged medievalism and terror in a style that has endured ever since. The aesthetic of the book has shaped modern-day gothic books, films, art, music and the goth subculture."

Horace Walpole (Author), Thomas Copeland (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Castle of Otranto

"Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Esh Alladi. On the day of his wedding, Conrad, heir to the house of Otranto, is killed in mysterious circumstances. His calculating father Manfred fears that his dynasty will now come to an end and determines to marry his son's bride himself - despite the fact he is already married. But a series of terrifying supernatural omens soon threaten this unlawful union, as the curse placed on Manfred's ancestor, who usurped the lawful Prince of Otranto, begins to unfold. First published pseudonymously in 1764, purporting to be an ancient Italian text from the time of the crusades, The Castle of Otranto is a founding work of Gothic fiction. With its compelling blend of sinister portents, tempestuous passions and ghostly visitations, it spawned an entire literary tradition and influenced such writers as Ann Radcliffe and Bram Stoker. © Horace Walpole 2001 (P) Penguin Audio 2021"

Horace Walpole (Author), Esh Alladi (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Castle of Otranto

"In a faraway medieval realm, Manfred, an arrogant and evil prince, rules with an iron fist. Banishing his wife to the castle dungeon, he confines — and plans to wed — the lovely Isabella, fiancée of his recently deceased son. The prince's plans are foiled, however, when a well-meaning peasant helps the young woman escape through the castle's underground passages. Grisly, supernatural events further aid in fulfilling a prophecy that spells doom for the prince and justice for Isabella's rescuer and rightful heir to the throne."

Horace Walpole (Author), Lily Harris (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Castle of Otranto

"The Castle of Otranto is a 1764 novel by Horace Walpole. It is generally held to be the first gothic novel, initiating a literary genre which would become extremely popular in the later 18th century and early 19th century. Thus, Castle, and Walpole by extension is arguably the forerunner to such authors as Ann Radcliffe, Bram Stoker, Daphne du Maurier, and Stephen King."

Horace Walpole (Author), Sean Murphy (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Die Burg von Otranto

"Manfred, der Fürst von Otranto ist besorgt um die Zukunft seines Hauses und will deshalb seinen Sohn so bald als möglich mit Isabelle verheiraten, die durch ihren Vater Friedrich selbst Ansprüche auf Otranto machen kann. Friedrich ist auf dem Kreuzzug in Gefangenschaft geraten und gilt als tot. Auf dem Weg zur Trauung erleidet Manfreds Sohn einen tödlichen Unfall - er wird von einem riesigen Helm erschlagen. Kurz darauf erscheint eine riesige Gestalt in der Burg und löst Panik unter den Bediensteten aus. Doch Manfred hat ganz andere Sorgen. Da sein Sohn nun tot ist, will er selbst die schöne Isabelle heiraten, aber dazu muss er seine Gemahlin Hippolite überreden, in eine Scheidung einzuwilligen. Außerdem ist da noch Theodor, der sich unschuldig Manfreds Zorn zuzieht, durch die Fürsprache Mathildens, Manfreds Tochter, gerettet wird und später Isabelle bei deren Flucht vor Manfreds Nachstellungen hilft. Die Situation spitzt sich zu, als 500 Bewaffnete vor der Burg erscheinen, die ein riesiges Schwert mit sich führen und im Namen Friedrichs die Herausgabe von Isabelle fordern. Auch taucht die riesige Gestalt wieder in der Burg auf und man munkelt allenthalben von einer alten Prophezeiung, die Burg und Herrschaft Otranto solle dem Geschlecht Manfreds entwendet werden, wenn dem wirklichen Besitzer seine Behausung zu enge würde."

Golden Deer Classics, Horace Walpole (Author), Isabell Klein (Narrator)

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[German] - Die Burg von Otranto

Horace Walpole (Author), Hokuspokus (Narrator)

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