The House by the Churchyard [Hardcover]

J. Sheridan Le Fanu (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2008

The foremost teller of scary stories in his day and a profound influence on both the novelists and filmmakers of the 20th century, Anglo-Irish author JOSEPH THOMAS SHERIDAN LE FANU (1814–1873) has, sadly, fallen out of scholarly and popular favor, and unfairly so. To this day, contemporary readers who happen across his works praise his talent for weaving a tense literary atmosphere tinged by the supernatural and bolstered by hints of ambiguous magic. Though his best-known works were horror tales, Le Fanu’s first novels were historical in nature. The House by the Churchyard, originally published in 1863, bridges the author’s early work and his later experiments in Gothic horror, and is said to have inspired James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. A rambling tale of the charming Irish town of Chapelizod in 1767, it sees men of the Royal Irish Artillery stationed in the village and disrupting the quiet life there... though the brooding Mr. Mervyn and his coffin and the mysterious newcomer Mr. Dangerfield lend elements of the unknown as well. With a series of new editions of Le Fanu’s works, Cosimo is proud to reintroduce modern book lovers to the writings of the early master of suspense fiction who pioneered the concept of “psychological horror.”

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, the renowned gothic novelist, was born in Dublin in 1873. His vampire novella Carmella is known to have directly influenced Barm Stoker’s Dracula, among others. Likewise, Le Fanu’s A Chapter in the History of the Tyrone Family is thought to have been a source of inspiration for Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. It is, however, his tales of the supernatural for which he is best remembered. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 504 pages
• Publisher: Cosimo Classics (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605203424
• ISBN-13: 978-1605203423
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Le Fanu's First Gothic Novel, August 3, 2007

By 

Jeffrey W. Smith (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: House By the Churchyard Pb (Pocket Classics) (Paperback)

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu is studied today as Victorian gothic writer. Although he wrote several gothic mystery novels, some of his best work, however, may be discovered within his shorter tales such as "Green Tea," "Carmilla," etc. The House by the Churchyard was his first gothic novel, but it was unlike his other gothic novels due to the comical nature of the work. Although the gothic elements are indeed present, the humor which is found within this text is truly delightful; I could not help but to chuckle at a few select scenes. Unfortunately, this work seems to be falling out of print. Therefore, I would recommend to the literary student, who may be trying to acquire Le Fanu's work, to locate a good used copy on Amazon. This particular edition (Pocket Classics) is a good copy with a thick and durable paperback cover.

1 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I didn't get it, November 16, 2005

By 

Kelli V. Mehlhaf "saysyes" (Indianna) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: House By the Churchyard (Classic Irish Novels) (Hardcover)

I didn't get my book... do not buy from this dealer, or you won't get it. The money was taken out of my account & I did not recieve a book. So either I deserve an explanation, or this dealer is a thief & I warn you to not buy from them.