The work of Anna Radcliffe (1764-1823) is one of the impressive pages in the history of the “Gothic” novel, which arose in England at the end of the 18th century in the wake of interest in medieval antiquity, folk legends and traditions, mysticism, horror and miracles. The intense action of the writer's novels unfolds in an atmosphere of successive secrets and mysteries and is permeated with a keen foreboding of unknown danger. Even today, two centuries later, the sensational coloring and poetry of her prose are capable of captivating the reader’s imagination. “The Italian, or Confession of the Penitents Clothed in Black” (1797) - the last of Radcliffe’s published during his lifetime and, according to critics, the best novel - is being published in a complete and authentic translation into Russian for the first time. In the “Additions” section a new translation of Walter Scott’s critical-biographical essay “Mrs. Anna Radcliffe” (1824) is published. The texts are accompanied by a scientific apparatus expanded in comparison with English editions - a detailed article and a detailed commentary, as well as “Main dates of the life and work of Anna Radcliffe.” CONTENTS: Anna Radcliffe. THE ITALIAN, OR CONFESSIONAL OF PENTANTS DRESSED IN BLACK. Translation by A.Yu. Ershova (vol. I, chapters IX-XI; vol. II, vol. III, chapters I-IV) and S.L. Sukharev (vol. I, chapters I-VIII; vol. III, Chapter V-XII)‹Introduction› (5).Volume I (9).Volume II (113).Volume III (216).ADDITION Walter Scott. Mrs Anna Radcliffe. Translation by A. Yu. Brilova (341). APPENDICES WITH. A. Antonov, A. A. Chameev. Anna Radcliffe and her novel “The Italian” (371). Notes. Compiled by S.A. Antonov (481). Main dates of the life and work of Anna Radcliffe. Compiled by S.A. Antonov (517). List of illustrations (519).