The Old English Baron by Clara Reeve



PREFACE



As this Story is of a species which, though not new, is out of the
common track, it has been thought necessary to point out some
circumstances to the reader, which will elucidate the design, and, it
is hoped, will induce him to form a favourable, as well as a right
judgment of the work before him.

This Story is the literary offspring of The Castle of Otranto, written
upon the same plan, with a design to unite the most attractive and
interesting circumstances of the ancient Romance and modern Novel, at
the same time it assumes a character and manner of its own, that
differs from both; it is distinguished by the appellation of a Gothic
Story, being a picture of Gothic times and manners. Fictitious stories
have been the delight of all times and all countries, by oral tradition
in barbarous, by writing in more civilized ones; and although some
persons of wit and learning have condemned them indiscriminately, I
would venture to affirm, that even those who so much affect to despise
them under one form, will receive and embrace them under another.

Thus, for instance, a man shall admire and almost adore the Epic poems
of the Ancients, and yet despise and execrate the ancient Romances,
which are only Epics in prose.