Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu was a novelist, short story writer, and journalist who is best known for his work in the genres of horror, mystery, and fantasy. He is often referred to as J.S. Le Fanu or simply Le Fanu.
Birth and Death Dates
Le Fanu was born on August 28, 1814, in Dublin, Ireland, and passed away on February 6, 1873.
Nationality and Profession(s)
A Irish writer, Le Fanu's professional career spanned multiple fields: novelist, journalist, playwright, and editor. He was a prolific author who contributed to various publications of the time, including his own magazine, _The Shamrock_.
Early Life and Background
Le Fanu came from a family with strong literary connections. His father, Richard Le Fanu, was an Irish judge, while his mother, Emma Sherard, hailed from a prominent Anglo-Irish family. The younger Le Fanu grew up in a household that valued education and intellectual pursuits. He developed a love for literature and storytelling from an early age.
Le Fanu's academic journey began at Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied law but soon shifted his focus to English literature. His writing career took off while still a student, with the publication of his first novel, _The Znith_, in 1838.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout his career, Le Fanu achieved numerous milestones:
Pioneering horror writer: He is often credited as one of the founders of the modern horror genre.
Innovative storytelling: His works frequently incorporated elements of psychological suspense and the supernatural, influencing generations of writers to come.
Best-selling author: Le Fanu's novels and short stories were incredibly popular during his lifetime, with many going through multiple editions.Notable Works or Actions
Some of Le Fanu's most notable works include:
"In a Glass Darkly" (1872): A collection of five interrelated ghost stories that showcased his mastery of the genre.
"Uncle Silas" (1865): A Gothic novel that explores themes of family, love, and redemption.
"The Tenants of Malbury" (1867): A mystery novel featuring a complex plot and intriguing characters.
Impact and Legacy
Le Fanu's impact on literature extends far beyond his own lifetime. His innovative approach to storytelling has influenced writers such as Bram Stoker, who credited Le Fanu with inspiring the creation of Dracula. The author's works continue to captivate readers today, offering a glimpse into the darker aspects of human nature.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Le Fanu's quotes and references are frequently cited in literature and popular culture due to his:
Insights into human psychology: His stories often explored the complexities of the human mind, revealing the darker corners of our psyche.
Influence on subsequent writers: Le Fanu's work has inspired countless authors, ensuring his legacy continues to shape the literary landscape.
* Timeless themes and motifs: His writing tackled universal concerns like love, loss, and redemption, making it enduringly relevant.
Le Fanu's remarkable life and career serve as a testament to the power of imagination and creativity. As a trailblazer in the horror genre and a masterful storyteller, he continues to captivate audiences with his thought-provoking works.
Quotes by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
You will think me cruel, very selfish, but love is always selfish; the more ardent the more selfish. How jealous I am you cannot know. You must come with me, loving me, to death; or else hate me and still come with me and hating me through death and after.
There was a coldness, it seemed to me, beyond her years, in her smiling melancholy persistent refusal to afford me the least ray of light. I cannot say we quarreled upon this point, for she would not quarrel upon any. It was, of course, very unfair of me to press her, very ill-bred, but I really could not help it; and I might just as well have let it alone. What she did tell me amounted, in my unconscionable estimation – to nothing.
D’Avray, her father, and I had met before in Algeria. He was dying now. He left the child on his death-bed to me.
How marvellously lie our anxieties, in filmy layers, one over the other! Take away that which has lain on the upper surface for so long – the care of cares – the only one, as it seemed to you, between your soul and the radiance of Heaven – and straight you find a new stratum there. As physical science tells us no fluid is without its skin, so does it seem with this fine medium of the soul, and these successive films of care that form upon its surface on mere contact with the upper air and light.
We are in God’s hands: nothing can happen without his permission, and all will end well for those who love him. He is our faithful creator; He has made us all, and will take care of us.” “Creator! Nature!“ said the young lady in answer to my gentle father. “And this disease that invades the country is natural. Nature. All things proceed from Nature – don’t they? All things in the heaven, in the earth, and under the earth, act and live as Nature ordains? I think so.
Those hours of opium happiness which the Doctor and I spent together in secret were regulated with a scientific accuracy. We did not blindly smoke the drug of paradise, and leave our dreams to chance. While smoking, we carefully steered our conversation through the brightest and calmest channels of thought.
Places change imperceptibly – in detail, at least – a good deal,′ said the Doctor, making an effort to keep up a conversation that plainly would not go on itself; ‘and people too; population shifts – there’s an old fellow, sir, they call Death.
The air was still. The silvery vapour hung serenely on the far horizon, and the frosty stars blinked brightly. Everyone knows the effect of such a scene on a mind already saddened. Fancies and regrets float mistily in the dream, and the scene affects us with a strange mixture of memory and anticipation, like some sweet old air heard in the distance.
I am afraid we women are factionists; we always take a side, and nature has formed us for advocates rather than judges.
