A Sicilian Romance: A Masterpiece of Gothic Romance, Horror, and Suspense

Annotated This edition has been annotated with the following unique on Victorian LiteratureAnalysis of the Author’s WorkAnalysis of the Victorian EraDetailed Historical ContextAnalysis of the 18th Century
A SICILIAN ROMANCE, Ann Radcliff’s masterpiece of Gothic horror and romance. A thrilling tale of mystery, tragedy, and suspense.

“Believe me, that a choice which involves the happiness or misery of your whole life, ought to be decided only by yourself.”

Ann Radcliffe's novel A Sicilian Romance is a captivating novel of romance, mystery, and the supernatural set against the scenic backdrop of 18th-century Sicily. The story centers on the enigmatic Mazzini family, whose ancestral castle is a place of haunting beauty and dark secrets. The protagonists, Julia and Emilia, are the daughters of the tyrannical Marquis Mazzini, who rules his household with an iron fist. When Julia, the heroine, falls in love with the noble yet impoverished Hippolitus de Vereza, she soon finds herself drawn into a web of danger and intrigue.

In A Sicilian Romance, Radcliffe masterfully crafts a narrative filled with suspense and gothic elements as Julia and Hippolitus embark on a perilous journey to escape the Marquis's oppressive control. The novel's richly descriptive prose transports readers to moonlit landscapes and shadowy corridors, evoking a sense of foreboding and wonder.

Anne Radcliffe's A Sicilian Romance is more than a romance tale, but is also an exploration of the depths of human emotion and the power of the human spirit against overwhelming odds that explores the timeless themes of love, duty, honor, the trappings of social expectations, and more. A captivating narrative that enchants and thrills, A Sicilian Romance has withstood the test of time to remain a widely read classic, and has earned its place among the great English historical fiction novels and all-time best-selling books.

Sneak

At length uttering a deep sigh, she raised herself, and, like one awakened from a dream, gazed around her. Hippolitus thanked God fervently in his heart.

'Tell me but that you are well,' said he, 'and that I may dare to hope, and we will leave you to repose.'

'My sister,' said Ferdinand, 'consult only your own wishes, and leave the rest to me. Suffer a confidence in me to dissipate the doubts with which you are agitated.'

'Ferdinand,' said Julia, emphatically, 'how shall I express the gratitude your kindness has excited?'

'Your gratitude,' said he, 'will be best shown in consulting your own wishes; for be assured, that whatever procures your happiness, will most effectually establish mine. Do not suffer the prejudices of education to render you miserable. Believe me, that a choice which involves the happiness or misery of your whole life, ought to be decided only by yourself.'

Presented in its original text to match the author’s singular vision, with added essays about the Victorian Era, analysis of the author’s work, and detailed historical context, this classic historical romance and horror novel will make the perfect gift to a friend, to a loved one, or to yourself.