An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street

by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873) was an Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels. He was the premier ghost story writer of the nineteenth century and had a seminal influence on the development of this genre in the Victorian era. Le Fanu studied law at Trinity College in Dublin. He soon abandoned law for journalism. In 1838 he began contributing stories to the Dublin University Magazine. He became owner of several newspapers from 1840, including the Dublin Evening Mail and the Warder. Le Fanu worked in many genres but remains best known for his mystery and horror fiction. He was a meticulous craftsman, with a penchant for frequently reworking plots and ideas from his earlier writing in subsequent pieces of writing. He specialised in tone and effect rather than "shock horror", often following a mystery format. Key to his style was the avoidance of overt supernatural effects. Among his famous works The House by the Church-Yard (1863), Uncle Silas (1864), Carmilla (1872), The Purcell Papers (1880), and The Evil Guest (1895).

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Classics, Gothic, Fiction, Ghost Stories, Paranormal

48 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 1853

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

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two students live in an old obviously cursed house. What is causing this hauntings? What about Old Jorrocks, the judge? What situations encounter Tom and Richard Ludlow inside their rooms? Horror is slowly creeping in with this masterly plotted story. Shady history of the house, evil judge, tale from the old maid, climax... a blueprint for many stories by other authors and a true classic. Highly recommended. Absolutely enjoyed this nighttime creeper best read before go to sleep!

[Suki St Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

31 Classic Horror Stories Every Fan Should Read in October: A Literary Advent Calender for Halloween: Day 18:
https://www.oldstyletales.com/single-...

[Daniel Warriner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good "haunted house" story, and my first time reading Irish author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814–1873). Years before the "present-day" narrative, a Judge Horrocks, who'd earned a reputation as the "hanging judge" or "the hangin'est judge that ever was known in Ireland" had ended his life by hanging himself. This was in an old Dublin house, to where the narrator and his cousin Tom Ludlow move, as it's close to their lecture halls and amusements and also, since the building is owned by Tom's father, they can lodge there so long as it remains unlet. The young men are then haunted to the brink of insanity.

These lines stood out:

"One of the most remarkable phenomena connected with the practice of mendacity is the vast number of deliberate lies we tell ourselves, whom, of all persons, we can least expect to deceive. In all this, I need hardly tell you, Dick, I was simply lying to myself, and did not believe one word of the wretched humbug. Yet I went on, as men will do, like persevering charlatans and impostors, who tire people into credulity by the mere force of reiteration; so I hoped to win myself over at last to a comfortable scepticism about the ghost."

[José Cruz Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I was reading Aungier Street, I felt there was something oddly familiar about it. I then realized that its plot is virtually identical to that of Bram Stoker's The Judge's House. I then wondered who had ripped off whom. By the time The Judge's House was published, Sheridan Le Fanu had been dead for quite a few years. In conclusion: Stoker is a literary thief.

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOOKTOBER CONTINUES!!

fulfilling my shortie Spooktober challenge to read one spooky short story a day.

Day one: The Magic Shop by H.G. Wells
Day two: Everything's Fine by Matthew Pridham
Day three: It Came From Hell and Smashed the Angels by Gregor Xane
Day four: Sometimes They Come Back by Stephen King
Day five: The Curse of Yig by H.P. Lovecraft
Day six: The Spook House by Ambrose Bierce

I have never before read a Le Fanu story before, though I own a few like Through a Glass Darkly and Carmilla. What I do know is that he is one of the writers very well known for the Victorian gothic ghost story, and this short story did not disappoint.

Every body knows how contagious is fear of all sorts, but more especially that particular kind of fear under which poor Tom was at that moment labouring. I would not have heard, nor I believe would he have recapitulated, just at that moment, for half the world, the details of the hideous vision which had so unmanned him.

This story is exactly what a short story should be. It is not too short, not too long, serves up a perfect small snapshot of a story, and leaves it there, for the reader to devour. It tells of two medical students who inhabit a relative's house in town in order to skirt on paying rent, and to be closer to their school. Soon after, our narrator suffers from debilitating nightmares of a portrait of an old man and quickly begins hearing things in the dark, namely bare feet descending the stairs. His cousin, on the other hand, shows up in his bedroom, once, white as a sheet and obviously disturbed, and says nothing but that they need to secure a new place to live.

This is a perfect little ghosty story that is very heavy on description and atmosphere, but leaves a lot up in the air in terms of tangible supernatural effects. And the result was something I very much appreciated. After finishing, there is that hint of wonder as to the events of the story and whether they really indeed happened, or whether fear and superstition superseded normal rational thought and created ghosts out of everyday, more benign happenings. Have you ever found yourself alone and heard a very normal creak or groan of a house, or wind outside and found yourself becoming frightened of something that you've created in your mind? This story lives in that place where your mind creates more terror than the outside world can provide, that sometimes the combination of the unknown, the dark, and solitude can create monsters lurking in hallways. But sometimes, sometimes, ghosts do exist.

4 stars for a story that perfectly sums up Spooktober.
You can read it for FREE here:
http://www.online-literature.com/lefa...

[ناني ماكفي · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shiridene le Fanu born 1814 was the first writer interested in horror writings and creating it
The story is about two cousins living in a hounted house owned in the past by an horrible judge used to hang people and finished his days by hanging himself . The creepy atmosphere and events in the house led the two men to insanity
Reviews said that it's the same story written by bram stoker and if I say that Le fanu was dead then .What do you understand? ?!! 😅
Anyway thanks God for audiobooks
Listened to it by Tony walker my new Coup de coeur

[Farren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this story ends. After telling of a cruel judge who commits suicide by hanging and haunts the house he died in, driving its occupants mad or throwing them down the stairs to their deaths, he says, " having acquitted myself of my engagement, I wish you a very good night, and pleasant dreams."

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and creeping ‘haunted house’ short story from 1851.

I was initially thrown by the frankly excessive use of semicolons and commas throughout the first few paragraphs, however it became a great vehicle to create a somewhat frantic and anxious pace throughout the story, almost creating the atmosphere of a hurried storyteller scared of their own tale.

Being alone in the dark is always scary and I find Le Fanu uses this to good effect by incrementally turning up the level of panic and paranoia, especially by having both characters recount different but connected experiences.

Definitely recommend for folk looking for a first victorian gothic/horror story to try.

[Alexis Chateau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fave plus a bonus

An account of... was the first story I ever read from Le Fanu. Having read it again, I'm not sure why, but the story had my cackling for days when I first came across it. It was hilarious to me. This time around, it was amusing, but didn't stir me into the fix it did the time before. The bonus story was new to me, so that was a nice addition.

[grete · Rating 2 out of 5]

sittagi ei saanud aru

[Iona Beatrice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best Le Fanu I’ve read, but a fun Victorian ghost story all the same.

[Angel Torres · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was good, nothing remarkable but entertaining enough.

[Anna From Gustine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short story of two medical students in Dublin who spend some time in a house haunted by a wicked judge. I thought it was....fine. I've heard great things about the writer J. Sheridan Le Fanu and really enjoyed his book Carmilla. I thought there were some great elements in this story, but the elements didn't fit together in the end. I give it three stars though because it was well-written and I did keep reading, but the pay off left much to be desired. :-(

[Alexis Chateau · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read. Certainly the best I've read in a while. I'm not sure it was meant to be funny but the English and diction style cracked me the hell up. I found it hilarious. Not as much scary as it was creepy. Very interesting. Regrettable that it's just a short story.

[Sarah Frog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ghost story definitely built up the tension. It’s about a haunted house that two lodgers move into. But soon they both start seeing things like a floating portrait of an angry old man and a giant rat. They hear footsteps dragging down the stairs as well. Eventually they leave the house and learn it’s history from a local woman in town. It was entertaining and the whole time I was trying to picture the house and happenings in my head which wasn’t difficult with the descriptive language provided.

[Andy Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this while driving through Albania yesterday, on the splendid podcast, Classic Ghost Stories, from Tony Walker.

For anyone with a bent towards such writing, Walker’s reading suit the material perfectly. In addition, he does a lengthy debrief on the background of the story and the writer.

This might not be Le Fanu at his very best, but still, its pretty damned good..

[Pamela Fernandes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a haunted house story. It's a spooky story where two men are haunted by the ghost of a judge that hung himself. Many people have experienced strange occurrences in this home. An interesting short story for the season. Nothing too scary.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Per · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11699...

[anemoska · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔, 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒎, 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆.

[madcrazyreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5

Takes a bit to get used to the antiquated language, but the imagery and atmosphere are undeniable. A good, spooky haunted house story.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

definitely spooky! very victorian in sentiment.

[Red Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic haunted house ghost story that I suspect was a little more exciting when it was written. I feel rather bad that I’ve always found everything of Le Fanu’s other than Carmilla a little flat.

[bbcamel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this after Bram Stoker's "The Judge's House" and it is interesting how in both cases the judges are compared to rats.

[Emily Lagace · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the og haunted house/ghost stories; extra star for being set in Dub

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suomeksi

[Shuggy L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Dublin, 19th century, an old Judge (Horrocks) haunts a house that has been bought by the father of one of two medical students (cousins) - Tom and Dick (narrator), who are currently lodging in the house in Aungier Street.

In keeping with his character in life, the judge's ghost is belligerent and menacing. The Judge's ghost's unconstructive behavior reflects on his work as a judge. Anyone who comes into close vicinity with the Judge, including into close proximity with his previous living quarters, doesn't fair well.

Tom eventually succumbs to contagion when he switches to a career in the Church. Medical students, who vocation is the preservation of life, were, perhaps, a particular irritation to the Judge, who dispensed deadly sentences.

Depicts family life, especially the life of the drinking Irish man, and the life and times of the house, which goes from a substantial residence in current times (home of a wealthy old maid) to a lodging house (a family with three children living in one room).

The house had originally been the property of a Sir Thomas Hacket, Mayor of Dublin, in the time of James II, forfeited in 1702. The past history of the house adds to the house's mystery and those who participated in the social scenes and dinners that would have taken place in it. The haunted feelings that evading felons would have felt (the Judge's "clients"), are connected to the atmosphere of the house too. It raises questions about society and its role in running a satisfactory nation.

Distancing oneself from the scene of past horrors is natural. Difficult lives and times needed sympathy. The judge had a lack of human understanding which extended to his own daughter and the Irish folks he passed judgement on. The story reflects class issues, the welfare of others and social injustice.

Creates the discordance in the reader, and likewise the characters in the book, which would have been felt by the accused Irish men and women of earlier times.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly creepy. Rather typical ghost story all round though. What has been bothering me is I just know I have read this since the last time I read Le Fanu's short stories. It all seemed so familiar to me.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard not to be charmed by a short story whose narrator explicitly advises us to read it only "...after nightfall, and when the fireside talk has run for a while on thrilling tales of shapeless terror." Without really planning on it, I fell asleep around 7:30 in the evening last Friday and woke up at 1 am, which did in fact turn out to be the perfect time to read this tale. Sheridan Le Fanu, probably best known as the author of Carmilla, published it in the Dublin University Magazine in 1851, and it's a creepy little ghost story, using some tricks and tropes that most of us are probably pretty familiar with these days, but which still retain something unique and unnerving in their execution. This is a patient story, full of congealing shadows in the corners of rooms and quiet city streets. I think my favorite part was when one of the characters, desperately trying to fall asleep at night and trying not to think about the menacing ghostly countenance that may appear to terrorize him at any moment, closes his eyes and tries to focus only on the sound of a passing drunk outside his window singing "a popular comic ditty" called "Murphy Delany", finding in the sound of a human voice a temporary salvation before the man continues on down the street and the silence of Dublin sweeps back in.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no justice. As a corrupt judge continues his corruption into the afterlife, a couple of innocent bystanders, two college students, get wrapped up in the ongoing machinations of a malevolent being. A spooky house with bad vibes which causes the occupants to question their senses. This is a classic ghost story. Pleasant dreams.
Originally published in 1851 in Dublin University Magazine. Le Fanu is most well known for his ghost and horror stories.