SOURCE: The History of Fiction, 2nd. ed., and reprinted in Walpole: The Critical Heritage, edited by Peter Sabor, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1987.

In the following excerpt from The History of Fiction (1814, 1816), Dunlop declares The Castle of Otranto to be true to its Gothicism but a failure at meeting Walpole's intentions.

The production was ill received on its first appearance, and the extravagant commendations heaped on the imaginary author by the real one, appear abundantly absurd, now that the deception has been discovered.

The work is declared by Mr Walpole to be an attempt to blend the ancient romance and modern novel; but, if by the ancient romance be meant the tales of chivalry, the extravagance of the Castle of Otranto has no resemblance to their machinery. What analogy have skulls or skeletons—sliding pannels—damp vaults—trapdoors—and dismal apartments, to the tented fields of chivalry and its airy...