Sheridan Le Fanu is a pioneer in the field of gothic-inspired horror literature and has enjoyed fame in the 19th century. He is best known for works such as Uncle Silas, The House by the Churchyard, and Carmilla. Born in a literary family of Huguenot origins, Le Fanu's favorite spot in the house must have been his father's private library where he would spend several hours educating himself.
Le Fanu initially thought about becoming a lawyer as he attended the Law school at Trinity College. However, he decided to abandon the course and had switched to journalism.
In 1838, Le Fanu wrote his very first ghost-themed story known as "The Ghost and the Bone-Setter." He was only 24.
On December 18, 1844, Le Fanu married the daughter of a successful barrister in Dublin, Susanna Bennett. The couple had 4 children. Eleanor, their first child, was born in 1845. She was followed by Emma (1846), Thomas (1847), and George (1854). The marriage hadn't been that easy as Susanna became very ill which often led to marital problems.
In 1858, Susanna died which Le Fanu took very hard. He even hated himself and believed that he had caused her death. Le Fanu decided to give up on writing until 1861. Susanna was 34.
In 1861, Le Fanu became the editor and proprietor of the Dublin University Magazine.
On February 7, 1873, Le Fanu died in Dublin. He was 58. In Ballyfermot, near his childhood home, there was a road and a park named after the celebrated author.
While Le Fanu worked across several genres, he remains famous for his mystery and horror fiction writings. In the last decade of his life, he had decided to enter a state of isolation and had turned his callers away. This earned him the monicker "the invisible Prince."
As a way to recognize his literary achievements, Google and some publications are commemorating his birth anniversary with a Doodle. The ebony and ivory Doodle shows a ghostly like figure that is watching over a sleeping woman.
The Irish Times celebrates Le Fanu's 200th birthday with a note. "Le Fanu greatly pushed out the boundaries of the Victorian ghost story," writes the publication.
Le Fanu was further described as a meticulous craftsman as he had successfully combined the contemporary Gothic literary conventions with his own realistic method. This enabled him to come up with stories that are filled with psychological insight and supernatural terror. Le Fanu was not concerned about creating a 'shock horror' effect. He would usually leave important details unexplained which makes his writing appear all the more mysterious.
