The OG (Original Gothic) Book Club: The Castle of Otranto
Online
Saturday 24th October 2026 4:30PM
Have you ever wanted to read the original Gothic novels, but felt too daunted to give them a try? Have you read them, adore their eccentricities, and want an opportunity to discuss them with other fans? The OG (Original Gothic) Book Club is for readers of the Gothic who want to explore the beginning of their favourite genre with an expert in the field (that’s me! Dr Alex Carabine! I have a PhD in Gothic Literature!) to support their discussion.
The Castle of Otranto is considered to be the very first book of the Gothic genre. In fact, it named the whole mode (how? Why? Come along to find out!). It contains many of the tropes that have grown familiar and beloved to fans of Gothic: frightened young women, ruins, medieval architecture, ancestral curses and a lot of oversized supernatural phenomena.
What’s the book about? Well…
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 that Manfred is already married. But a series of terrifying supernatural omens soon threaten this unlawful union, as the curse placed on Manfred's ancestor begins to unfold. There are sinister portents, tempestuous passions and ghostly visitations in the novel.
At just 100 pages long (depending on the typeface in your edition – it really is very short), The Castle of Otranto is an accessible introduction to the original Gothic canon. For this event, make sure you get a copy with the preface to both the first and the second edition, as we will be considering these in our analysis of the text.
The OG Book Club will have a 25-minute lecture by me, Dr Alex Carabine. I have lectured at the University of Liverpool, supervised a dissertation at Oxford University and wrote a chapter of my PhD thesis on The Castle of Otranto. I have also taught the novel to undergrad students on Gothic Fiction and Film modules. After the lecture, we will have a seminar-style discussion of the novel.
Prior to every event, I send participants a ‘prep pack’ which includes a bit of contextual information on the author and the book, plus a selection of questions for you to consider in advance. There will be no quiz, they’re just there to inspire our conversation!
So why is the Gothic called the ‘Gothic’? Well, it’s all Horace Walpole’s fault, and if you come to The Castle of Otranto OG Book Club, you’ll find out why!
My seminars are welcoming, accessible events that are open to everyone—no degree required. All you need is curiosity, and a passion for Gothic stories.
Spaces are limited, so make sure you book in advance! Once you have bought your ticket, you will receive the prep pack, which contains the Zoom meeting link.
Saturday 24th October
4.30-6pm (UK Time)
£25, Zoom.
Finally! TicketSource makes it look like there will be a ton of fees. There aren’t! I just offer voluntary tiered payments and TicketSource decides to advertise the most expensive one. You can choose the correct price on the payment page, no biggie. Which tier you choose will never be disclosed and is totally voluntary.
The Castle of Otranto is considered to be the very first book of the Gothic genre. In fact, it named the whole mode (how? Why? Come along to find out!). It contains many of the tropes that have grown familiar and beloved to fans of Gothic: frightened young women, ruins, medieval architecture, ancestral curses and a lot of oversized supernatural phenomena.
What’s the book about? Well…
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 that Manfred is already married. But a series of terrifying supernatural omens soon threaten this unlawful union, as the curse placed on Manfred's ancestor begins to unfold. There are sinister portents, tempestuous passions and ghostly visitations in the novel.
At just 100 pages long (depending on the typeface in your edition – it really is very short), The Castle of Otranto is an accessible introduction to the original Gothic canon. For this event, make sure you get a copy with the preface to both the first and the second edition, as we will be considering these in our analysis of the text.
The OG Book Club will have a 25-minute lecture by me, Dr Alex Carabine. I have lectured at the University of Liverpool, supervised a dissertation at Oxford University and wrote a chapter of my PhD thesis on The Castle of Otranto. I have also taught the novel to undergrad students on Gothic Fiction and Film modules. After the lecture, we will have a seminar-style discussion of the novel.
Prior to every event, I send participants a ‘prep pack’ which includes a bit of contextual information on the author and the book, plus a selection of questions for you to consider in advance. There will be no quiz, they’re just there to inspire our conversation!
So why is the Gothic called the ‘Gothic’? Well, it’s all Horace Walpole’s fault, and if you come to The Castle of Otranto OG Book Club, you’ll find out why!
My seminars are welcoming, accessible events that are open to everyone—no degree required. All you need is curiosity, and a passion for Gothic stories.
Spaces are limited, so make sure you book in advance! Once you have bought your ticket, you will receive the prep pack, which contains the Zoom meeting link.
Saturday 24th October
4.30-6pm (UK Time)
£25, Zoom.
Finally! TicketSource makes it look like there will be a ton of fees. There aren’t! I just offer voluntary tiered payments and TicketSource decides to advertise the most expensive one. You can choose the correct price on the payment page, no biggie. Which tier you choose will never be disclosed and is totally voluntary.
Event Details
From 4:30PM to 6:00PM
