In a Glass Darkly [Paperback]

J. Sheridan Le Fanu (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 2011

In a Glass Darkly is Sheridan Le Fanu's most famous collection of ghost and mystery stories. There are five, all recounted by Martin Hesselius: Green Tea, The Familiar, Mr Justice Harbottle, The Room in the Dragon Volant and Carmilla. What makes the Faber Finds edition unique is the illustrations by Edward Ardizzone. The original title-page says, 'with numerous illustrations by Edward Ardizzone.' That is true, there is an abundance of them from the full-page to the vignettes. This illustrated edition was first published in November 1929. Eighty years to the month is it being reissued by Faber Finds. It is an anniversary worth celebrating. Edward Ardizzone was one of the best and most distinctive illustrators of the twentieth-century and this was the very first book to benefit from his work. It was an auspicious start.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'In a Glass Darkly, now published in the World Classics series, still makes for uneasy reading late at night.' Moy McCory, The Times Magazine --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873) was an Irish writer who wrote prolifically in many different genres, though is most famous for his gothic and mystery tales. His two best-known works are Uncle Silas and In a Glass Darkly. The latter has been reissued in Faber Finds in the edition illustrated by Edward Ardizzone.

Product Details

• Paperback: 390 pages
• Publisher: Faber and Faber (May 17, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571255833
• ISBN-13: 978-0571255832
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply A Must Have - Here's Why..., June 30, 2000

By 

M. Wegley "lit prof" (Puyallup, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In a Glass Darkly (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

In A Glass Darkly is comprised of 5 lengthy short stories that are loosely woven together by the figure of Dr. Martin Hesselius, a "psychic doctor." Three of the five stories, "Green Tea," "Justice Harbottle," and "Carmilla," are classics of the Victorian ghost story genre, and are frequently anthologized. In my opinion, it is best to read them as they originally appeared, along with "The Watcher," and "A Room in the Dragon Volant," because Le Fanu had his reasons for ordering these five tales the way he did. This Oxford edition is better than the cheaper Wordsworth edition, and has great end notes. Also, Robert Tracy's introduction to Le Fanu is very accurate and well said. In conclusion, if you haven't read the first story, "Green Tea," then you don't know the full depths of Victorian horror fiction, and in my opinion, to get the fullest effects of "Green Tea," read "In A Glass Darkly" all the way through. You will not be disappointed--but you will get the shivers!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LeFanu's Masterpiece, December 11, 2007

By 

C. L. Wolff "The Steel Pen" - See all my reviews

This review is from: In a Glass Darkly(wordsworth Mystery & the Supernatural) (Tales of Mystery & the Supernatural) (Paperback)

"Horrific." "Superb." "Dark." "Masterful." "Gothic." "Brilliant." All these words and more spring to mind when attempting to describe In a Glass Darkly. This volume contains five tales ranging in length from thirty to seventy pages which purport to record a few of the many cases of the learned psychic investigator Doctor Martin Hesselius.

The first tale, "Green Tea," is perhaps the best ever written by LeFanu. It is narrated by the Doctor himself and records the case of a young man who believes he has awakened a demonic creature bent on his destruction. Hesselius urbanely dismisses this and claims to effect a cure with nothing more than a change in diet. It is obvious that he has gravely underestimated the force assaulting his client, as the shocking conclusion shows only too well. The story is brilliantly carried out and is one of the most frightening stories I have ever read. It is widely anthologized and many readers may be familiar with it but ignorant of the majority of the tales in this book. This is a great pity as they were meant to be read together, and although each of the stories can be read on its own with great pleasure, the cumulative effect should not be missed.

After "Green Tea" there appear two traditional ghost stories, "The Familiar" and "Mister Justice Harbottle." They lack the originality of "Green Tea," but both are quite chilling in their own right. Both stories handle the theme of the vengeful ghost with marvelous skill.

The fourth tale to appear is "The Room in the Dragon Volant." I do not wish to prejudice readers against it and so will refrain from discussing this narrative. It need merely be stated that here LeFanu gives in to his weakness of adding humor to his stories. Unfortunately for us, his comedic skill was rather meager.

The last story in the book is "Carmilla," the mother of all vampire stories. The horror of this novella can hardly be overemphasized. The description of Carmilla's nocturnal visits to her victim rank among the most grisly in all literature. There is only one trifling flaw in the entire narrative. This is the bizarre stupidity of the narrator, the young woman preyed upon. But this is more than made up for by the fascinating complexity of Carmilla herself. In this story, unlike most vampire tales of the period, Carmilla becomes a character instead of a mere monster.

In conclusion, it seems fit to remark upon the interesting form in which LeFanu chose to convey his tales. They are novellas, which seem to work particularly well for the kind of story that he told. More detail is given than in regular short stories, but the book is free from the constraints of the novel. The result is a work of genius.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Super Reader, August 26, 2007

By 

Blue Tyson "- Research Finished" (Legion clubhouse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In a Glass Darkly (Wordsworth Collection) (Paperback)

Perhaps the origin of the 'psychic detective' or ghostbuster genre,

with the use of Doctor Heselius as a framing character for these

stories as being part of his history of cases. Carmilla is a fine, fine

tale, with a disturbing female monster. Le Fanu is well worth

investigating for horror fans that have not done so in the past.