The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne: Ann Radcliffe's Tale of Two Warring Highland Clans

The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne, a tale of two warring Highland clans, was Radcliffe's first novel. Sir Walter Scott wrote of it, "We can now trace some germs of that taste and talent for the wild, romantic and mysterious, which the authoress afterwards employed with such effect."

One of the qualities that Mrs. Radcliffe possessed that made her so popular around the world was her ability to create poetic descriptions of the scenery in countries that she had never visited. Keats tweaked Radcliffian attitudes when he wrote to a friend, "I'll tip you a Damosel Radcliffe. I'll cavern you and grotto you and waterfall you and immense-rock you and solitude you." Byron quipped in a letter, "I am going out this evening in my Cloak and Gondola-here are two nice Mrs. Radcliffe words for you."