The term gothic, in the decades after the glorious revolution, was a category within the debates about the economy, politics and social change. By including the word gothic, he was creating a new type of romance, a genre for others to follow. Identifying yourself with other authors was seen as a way of counteracting competition and individualism. Originality was seen as part of individualism, which Kilgour argues creates anxiety about influence and in turn a rivalry between past and present. It also protected the author from a critical reception of the work. The idea of presenting the author as an editor was a common device as it gave the impression of authenticity. It was initially published anonymously but after a successful reception, Walpole added a second preface where he acknowledged authorship. He published the Castle of Otranto, A Gothic Story in 1764 claiming it was a translation of a text found in the library of a catholic family and printed in Naples in 1529. Horace Walpole was the son of Robert Walpole and sought to escape the politics which he said had destroyed his father.
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