A Sicilian Romance

A Sicilian Romance is an early Gothic novel by Ann Radcliffe, published in 1790, that helped define the genre’s hallmarks of suspense, mystery, and eerie settings. Set in a decaying Sicilian castle, the story follows two sisters as they uncover dark family secrets and seek to escape a tyrannical father. Radcliffe’s atmospheric descriptions, strong heroines, and themes of captivity and freedom laid the groundwork for future Gothic literature. The novel’s tension between reason and emotion reflects the sensibilities of the late 18th century.