The Gothic Tales of Sheridan Le Fanu

Gilded Nightmares – Timeless British Library Books

by J. Sheridan Le Fanu, Xavier Aldana Reyes (Editor)

Sheridan Le Fanu was lauded by contemporaries such as M. R. James for his innovations in the ghost story and mystery genres, and his mastery of conjuring atmosphere and driving stories to thrilling narrative crescendos. And yet, aside from some regularly anthologized short stories and novellas, much of the writer’s fiction remains unknown despite its quality. Aiming to firmly position Sheridan Le Fanu alongside other canonical horror writers published by the British Library, this anthology focuses on some of his lesser-known stories, exploring eight thoroughly Gothic tales of murderous families, dark castles, and ghosts whose business with the living remains unfinished.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Gothic, Short Stories, Classics, Anthologies, Gothic Horror

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 30, 2020

About the author

Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels. He was the leading ghost-story writer of the nineteenth century and was central to the development of the genre in the Victorian era. M.R. James described Le Fanu as "absolutely in the first rank as a writer of ghost stories". Three of his best-known works are Uncle Silas, Carmilla and The House by the Churchyard.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the language style in these works made it more difficult to wade through the narratives. My favorites in this collection were probably Fortunes of Sir Robert Ardagh and Schalken the Painter.

Stories of Lough Guir was among the easier ones to read style-wise but the stories were just ok - almost felt like they were plot outlines that hadn’t been fully developed.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a good collection. I do find it tiresome when authors try to write in colloquy, in an attempt to mimic regional speech. Unfortunately a number of the later tales are peppered with such attempts.

[Lillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to follow a lot of the stories in this book. Part of the issue was it was written in an older English which made things confusing and in general the sequencing felt a little all over the place. I give it a 2.5/5 I think I would understand it more once I am older.

[Bread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some tales better than others, but all overall fun and eerie. Read most of them in Italian (it was the translation I owned) but I ended up reading one in English and I have to say that the writing is a lot more enjoyable in the original language. Personal favourite is Schalcken The Painter.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

other classic authors are exceeding in terms of the raw elements that make up gothic storytelling, but as far as writing style goes, my favorite of the genre is none other than J. Sheridan Le Fanu. c:

[Ian Burrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Britsih Library omnibus of Sheridan Le Fanu tales, rich in gothic, mainly set in deepest Ireland. Full of myth, drama and suspense.

[max · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the first four stories. Those were spookier than I thought I'd get out of old gothic horror. The last couple of stories ruined the momentum though.

[My Friends Call me Moe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful stories that showcase the talent of Le Fanu.