It is a very classic novel in every sense of the word - the good are good, the bad are bad, the morals are old-fashioned. I originally got this collection because I wanted to read The Castle of Otranto, which is generally regarded as the first Gothic novel and thus a classic that I knew I needed to read.
I'm glad that the collection ends with such a lighter note and I can definitely see myself reading the first and the last tales again, so I'll probably save them for next autumn🎃
If the Castle of Otranto is the embodiment of Gothic fiction, than Nightmare Abbey is simply a parody and a satire of your typical Gothic novel. Now the piece of resistance, Nightmare Abbey got a 5 stars and I loved every part of it. Most reviews say that the ending is disappointing and underwhelming but, as a Muslim myself, I was satisfied with it but I still find the story boring at times. Despite the lyrical and picturesque descriptions of the oriental setting and tone, I find it kinda dragging and over the top. Vathek on the other had, I gave 3.5 rating. It's also very theatrical and the characters' dialogues are just grotesquely delightful a sort of mix between Shakespeare and Poe🦇 you have it all in this tale which gave birth to Gothic cliches. What do you expect from the very first Gothic novel? Gloomy sceneries, supernatural apparitions, a dreary setting. Recommended for fans of the gothic novel, and novels that make fun of gothic novels.Īlright so I'm done reading this collection of Gothic tales and it's been a rather good reading experience!Īs for The Castle Of Otranto, I give it 5 stars. Vathek revels in its exoticism and it's a good idea to remember that the Arabian Nights was translated around the same time so there's a lot of genii stuff going on and some of the black magic stuff is super weird and may offend the more sensitive readers out there, but this is the early 19th century, remember, and there is a kind of weirdness the Victorians managed to squelch that is kind of profoundly modern. It has just about everything you could possibly wish for, a usurped throne, lecherous princes, ghosts, virtuous maidens, daring escapes, secret identities revealed, weird phenomena, I guess that includes ghosts, giant helmets(?), a giant knight(?), and enough overwrought scenes and melodrama to last a decade at least. The Castle of Otranto will blow your mind if you're not familiar with the genre. Many people claim to be fans of the gothic novel, but they've probably only read imitations of true gothic novels.
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