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The Old English Baron / The Castle of Otranto

clara reeve horace walpole laura l. runge

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Clara Reeve's early gothic novel, The Old English Baron (1778), is paired with Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto (1764), the work that inspired it. Hers is the story of Edmund, the peasant-hero, who discovers his rightful heritage through mysterious portents, and whose loyalty and integrity are put to the test in bringing the villain to justice. With an emphasis on probability and domestic virtue, The Old English Baron plays an important role in the transformation of the gothic genre. While the Castle of Otranto initiates a tradition of horror, with violent deaths, tyrannical power and tragic doom. The Old English Baron redirects the gothic towards homosocial bonding, paternal goodness and, ultimately, sentimental domesticity. The College publishing edition includes a substantial introductory essay on historical and literary contexts, with additional "links" or short essays situated throughout the text, exploring subjects such as chivalry, younger sons, women and law, anti-Catholicism, gothic architecture, and the supernatural. The appendix includes eighteenth-and nineteenth century reviews of both novels.

271 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1764

This edition

Format
271 pages, Paperback
Published
January 1, 2002 by College Publishing
ISBN
9780967912127
ASIN
0967912121
Language
English

More editions

About the author

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clara reeve

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Reeve was born in Ipswich, England, one of the eight children of Reverend Willian Reeve, M.A., Rector of Freston and of Kreson in Suffolk, and perpetual curate of St Nicholas. Her mother's maiden name was Smithies, daughter of a Smithies, a goldsmith and jeweller to King George I. In a letter to one of her friends Reeve said the following of her father and her early life:

My father was an old Whig; from him I have learned all that I know; he was my oracle; he used to make me read the Parliamentary debates, while he smoked his pipe after supper. I gaped and yawned over them at the time, but, unawares to myself, they fixed my principles once and for all. He made me read Rapin's History of England; the information it gave made amends for its dryness. I read Cato's Letters by Trenchard and Gordon; I read the Greek and Roman histories, and Plutarch's Lives: all these at an age when few people of either sex can read their names.

After the death of her father, she lived with her mother and sisters in Colchester. It was here that she first became an author, publishing a translation of a work by Barclay under the title of The Phoenix (1772).

She was the author of several novels, of which only one is remembered: The Champion of Virtue, later known as The Old English Baron (1777), written in imitation of, or rivalry with, the Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford, with which it has often been printed.

The first edition under the title of The Old English Baron was dedicated to the daughter of Samuel Richardson, who is said to have helped Reeve revise and correct the novel.

Her novel noticeably influenced Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. She also wrote the epistolatory novel The School for Widows (1791). Her innovative history of prose fiction, The Progress of Romance (1785), can be regarded generally as a precursor to modern histories of the novel and specifically as upholding the tradition of female literary history heralded by Elizabeth Rowe (1674–1737) and Susannah Dobson, d. 1795. One of the stories in this work, "The History of Charoba, Queen of Egypt", was the inspiration for Walter Savage Landor's first major work Gebir.

Reeve led a retired life, leaving very little biographical material. She died at Ipswitch, and was buried by her own direction in the churchyard of St. Stephens, next to her friend the Reverend Derby.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 11 votes)
5 stars
5(45%)
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2(18%)
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4(36%)
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11 reviews All reviews
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ChickenFeet05
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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It was truly an outstanding idea to combine these two books into a single volume.

One of them is the first true Gothic novel, while the other serves as a critical response to it, which unfortunately led to a lifelong feud between the authors.

Reeve's story was intended as a counter to Walpole's. It was a critical alternative that aimed to tell a similar tale without relying on supernatural elements, which Reeve regarded as a form of cheating. Oh Clara, if only you could witness what is popular nowadays.

I have read both novels previously, but reading them consecutively and together in this way enables a more in-depth comparison. Moreover, from a marketing perspective, it is a fun and clever approach to repackage and sell two books that many readers already possess.

Regarding the aforementioned comparison, Walpole emerges victorious. Firstly, he wrote the story first, and Reeve utilizes his concept to interpret as she deems fit. Additionally, the supernatural element, which Reeve scorned, is well-received in the Gothic tradition and enhances the story.

Interestingly, Reeve might have been better off simply sharing her story without the initial comparison. It is a good book in its own right and could have stood independently. However, it only suffers when compared, not to mention that the accompanying sneering criticism was off-putting in nature.

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ReiBe_
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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TL;DR Pairing the books is great, the books themselves are middling.

It's quite challenging to assign a star rating to classics. I've decided on four mainly because I believe that reading these two books together provides a new perspective, and having them in a single volume is much appreciated. The Old English Baron is such an evident response to Otranto that I can't fathom reading it separately. The 4 is truly for the collection. I liked the pairing, and the mock interview at the beginning was both fun and original. Regarding each novel within, I'll refrain from giving them a rating as it's extremely difficult to judge works written so long ago. I'll only say that the Old English Baron is indeed a remarkable improvement over Otranto, and I liked it significantly more. My full thoughts are as follows.

Otranto has a much faster pace and often gives the impression of a stereotypical soap opera, with random plot twists and absurd reactions from the characters. The language is, of course, outdated. I would have dismissed it as a product of the time if Reeve hadn't written The Old English Baron in the same period, clearly demonstrating that novels from that era can easily be understood and well-structured.

The Old English Baron may be a bit too long, but it's a huge improvement. The story is almost identical, but the characters are more developed, the plot is better paced, the supernatural elements feel more realistic, and overall, the book is more engaging, although it could be a bit shorter. Reeve clearly spent a great deal of time reflecting on Otranto and attempting to enhance its story, which did seem hastily written. It's still not a perfect book. The plot is strange in that although conflicts arise, they never really seem to present a significant problem to the protagonists. The book feels more like a really drawn-out resolution rather than a story with high stakes. You're constantly waiting for an ax that never falls.

Together, however, they form an interesting duology that makes their connection to later gothic works quite clear, and it's obvious why later authors desired to emulate and build upon what is presented here.
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Kebatsuru
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The Romance of the Forest is a captivating work that has intrigued readers for years.

Ann Radcliffe's novel takes us on a journey through a mysterious forest, filled with secrets and hidden emotions.

The story unfolds with a sense of mystery and suspense, as the characters navigate the unknown terrain and encounter various challenges.

The lush descriptions of the forest add to the enchanting atmosphere, making it easy for readers to lose themselves in the story.

As the plot thickens, we are drawn deeper into the lives of the characters, experiencing their joys and sorrows along the way.

The Romance of the Forest is not just a story, but a literary masterpiece that explores themes of love, loss, and the power of nature.

It has stood the test of time and continues to be a beloved classic among literature enthusiasts.

Referenced in the explanatory notes at the end of The Romance of the Forest.
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Draco-Oblivion
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Gothic Classics by Horace Walpole and Clara Reeve is a 2022 Poisoned Pen publication.

Poisoned Pen Press has been doing an amazing job of releasing some of the more obscure British Crime Library mysteries in digital format. It's truly awesome that these mostly forgotten gems have been saved, reformatted, and are now reaching new audiences. Just like with mysteries, there is an audience for horror classics that have been out of print or forgotten over time.

This collection contains two old Gothic classics: The Castle of Otranto and The Old English Baron.

Anyone interested in Gothic literature, with all its various melodramas, will have heard of at least one of these stories. It's great that the publisher put these two early Gothic novels together in one book because they are connected by style and format. Clara Reeve, the author of The Old English Baron, claimed her novel was the literary offspring of The Castle of Ontranto. Both novels combine romance with a 'contemporary novel' and follow the strict rules of Gothic literature.

The Castle of Ontranto is considered the first Gothic novel, although some might argue it's a precursor. That alone gives it a place in history.

The story is completely over the top and beyond belief in terms of believability. There's a haunted castle, an ancient prophecy, intense melodrama, and tragedy. This style is used in many other popular novels, like Dracula. The influence this novel had on more accepted literary works gives it some credibility and it doesn't deserve some of the harsh criticisms it gets today. But there were criticisms long before now.

The Old English Baron, on the other hand, is Clara Reeve's attempt to give Gothic tales a more literary approach. She felt the need to correct the issues she saw in The Castle of Ontranto. She lays out her critique in the preface of her book. She thinks the use of supernatural elements is overdone in Walpole's book and her novel, while still having those elements, tones them down to make them more believable.

Unfortunately, the result is a dull book that doesn't even have the entertainment value of Ontranto.

Granted, these stories don't meet our present-day standards, which is why some modern readers give them poor marks. But I think it's unfair to judge them through a modern lens. This style of writing has, of course, fallen out of favor, but these novels still have a place in the history of Gothic novels. I'm glad they've been re-released for prosperity, if nothing else.

Overall, while I agree with Reeve that the supernatural content of Ontranto is overwrought and unbelievable, at least we can find humor in it today. The same can't be said of The Old English Baron, but I'm glad we have both books in one volume to compare and study.

A bonus introduction by Robert R. McCammon is included.

4 stars for the preservation of these novels and for combining them into one volume.

3.5 stars for The Castle of Ontranto - which is a re-read for me.

2 stars for The Old English Baron - as Reeve failed to 'correct' the failures of Ontranto in my humble opinion.
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Uozo-Kun
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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**Title: 3 Stars**

In the world of reviews and ratings, 3 stars can be a rather ambiguous mark.

It's not a glowing endorsement like 4 or 5 stars, but it's also not a scathing critique like 1 or 2 stars.

A 3-star rating often implies that the product or service in question has its pros and cons.

Perhaps it meets the basic requirements but lacks that extra something to truly stand out.

It could be that the quality is average, the performance is satisfactory but not outstanding, or the experience is just okay.

However, a 3-star rating doesn't necessarily mean that the product or service is bad.

It might simply mean that there is room for improvement.

For consumers, a 3-star rating can be a useful guide in making decisions.

It can help them weigh the pros and cons and decide if the product or service is worth their time and money.

After all, not every product or service can be perfect, and a 3-star rating can be a fair assessment of its overall value.

So, the next time you see a 3-star rating, don't dismiss it out of hand.

Take a closer look and consider whether the product or service might still be a good fit for your needs.

You might just be surprised at what you find.
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YoshikoFuru
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I have been longing so much for it to be good :-(

It seems that this desire has been lingering in my heart for a long time. Every time I think about it, a sense of anticipation fills me.

But sometimes, reality can be cruel. Despite my intense longing, the outcome may not always be as I hope.

I try to remain positive and keep my faith, believing that things will work out in the end.

Maybe there are still some challenges and difficulties ahead, but I am determined to face them bravely.

Because deep down, I still have that strong wish for it to be truly good.

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TheATTKGaming
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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In the eccentric Castle of Otranto, the lord of the manor is desperate to marry off his sickly son to secure an heir for the family as soon as possible. However, fate plays a cruel trick when the son dies in a ridiculous manner on the morning of the marriage. What does the lord do? He demands that his own marriage be nullified so he can start pursuing his intended daughter-in-law. Naturally, she flees, leaving behind a kind-hearted lad who stood up for her at the death scene and helped her escape. But surely he won't fall in love with the princess of the house?



As wonderful as it might have seemed at the time, and as influential as it must have been since, when read in 2021, it is clear that it is a clumsy pile of nonsense, lacking any subtlety, much like the actual cause of death. So we turn to the lesser-known of the two novels here, which, as it was written in response to Otranto, has often been published with it in the same volume. And it's even worse. The most exaggerated and outdated manners and mannerisms inundate every sentence. The story takes a quarter of its length to introduce anything even remotely Gothic. And when you see where the book is headed, it takes a stronger person than I am to consider it worthwhile to finish.


Eventually, you do discover that it's a (very dull) skeletons-in-the-closet type of story, where the hero realizes that he has a greater claim to the mansion and the family name he lives with than his foster father's own disagreeable children who have turned against him. He's half Hamlet, struggling to prove what happened to people before he was aware of the destiny that once awaited him, and half Cinderella, having to deal with wicked siblings (and ghosts) while remaining pious and smiling.


Kudos to the book for presenting us with these two stories, but neither was at all finishable for me. And word has it that the Baron gets even worse as you approach the end. The mind boggles at such horrors.
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asianxweirdo
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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An omnibus presents two related classics of Gothic Fiction.

The first book, "The Castle of Otranto", is renowned as "The first Gothic novel". In this story, an evil lord endeavors to avoid an ancient prophecy by marrying his deceased son's fiancée, hoping to sire another male heir.

The second book, "The Old English Baron", was penned as a response to Otranto from a female author's perspective. Here, a peasant boy residing in a royal family's castle starts to display his superiority, much to the hostility of those in "higher stations".

It is interesting to note that these books were originally published in 1764 and 1778 respectively. This omnibus offers readers a unique opportunity to explore the evolution and diversity within the Gothic Fiction genre, as well as the different perspectives and themes presented by these two works.

Whether one is a fan of Gothic literature or simply curious about the early works in this genre, this omnibus is sure to provide an engaging and captivating read.
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