The Castle of Otranto - Horace Walpole

A mysterious castle becomes the setting for supernatural events and dark family secrets after a giant helmet crushes the heir on his wedding day. The tyrannical lord Manfred desperately tries to secure his lineage, leading to schemes, mistaken identities, and ghostly interventions. As prophecies unfold, the sins of the past return to destroy the present. Blending romance, tragedy, and horror, the tale marks the birth of the Gothic novel.