Trapped in a gloomy medieval fortress, an orphaned heroine battles the devious schemes of her guardians as well as her own pensive visions and melancholy fancies. Generations of readers have thrilled to this famous Gothic tale and its hypnotic pre-Freudian exploration of the psyche. A bestseller upon its 1794 publication, the novel continues to enchant generations of readers with its suspenseful plot and surrealistic portrayals of human consciousness.