Staging "The Mysterious Mother"The first book length study of Horace Walpoles scandalous The Mysterious Mother, including critical essays, an abridged script, and a facsimile edition Horace Walpoles five act tragedy The Mysterious Mother (1768), a sensational tale of incest and intrigue, was initially circulated only among the authors friends. Walpole never permitted it to be performed during his lifetime except as a private theatrical. He described his play as a delicious