The Mysteries of Udolpho is a quintessential Gothic romance replete with incidents of physical and psychological terror; remote crumbling castles; seemingly supernatural events; a brooding scheming villain; and a persecuted heroine.

Ann Radcliffe's fourth and most popular novel The Mysteries of Udolpho follows the fortunes of Emily St. Aubert who suffers among other misadventures the death of her father supernatural terrors in a gloomy castle and the machinations of an Italian brigand.