Horace Walpole and His World: Select Passages from His Letters (eBook)

Horace Walpole (1717-1797) was an English writer, art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician. He is best known for his correspondence, which has been widely published, and for his Gothic novel 'The Castle of Otranto' (1764), which is often considered to have founded the Gothic genre of fiction that became extremely popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Beyond fiction, Walpole's letters, which have been compiled into 'Horace Walpole and His World: Select Passages from His Letters', exemplify his sharp wit and insightful commentary on 18th-century English society. His epistolary style has become an important resource for historians as well, as it provides a detailed record of the social and political life of his time. Walpole's capacity for detailed observation and lively colloquial style made his correspondence sought-after reading among his contemporaries and remains of significant interest to literary historians and biographers. Though his published works cover varied subjects, including art history and biography, it is Walpole's unique perspective and personality that shine through his letters, making him a distinctive figure in English literature. His literary style combined erudition with a conversational ease, which allowed him to engage with both the events of the day and timeless questions of human nature and aesthetics.