The Mysteries of Udolpho

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe is a seminal Gothic novel that combines romance, mystery, and the supernatural. The story follows Emily St. Aubert, who is orphaned and sent to the sinister Castle Udolpho, where she faces terrifying apparitions and dark secrets. Radcliffe masterfully builds suspense through atmospheric settings and psychological tension. Her work laid the groundwork for the Gothic tradition and influenced writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley.