Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, the Irish Prince of ghost stories, was born on August 28, 1814, to Thomas Philip Le Fanu and Emma Lucretia Dobbin Le Fanu. Le Fanu was born into a wealthy Huguenot tradition. As a child, Sheridan Le Fanu was exposed to folk superstitions which influenced his writing later on in life. Le Fanu gained his love for writing through illustrations composed of dialogue. Also as a child Le Fanu had a love for acting in both comedy’s and dramas. The young thespian is also considered one of the best oratorical debaters of his time. In 1833, Le Fanu studied law at Trinity College in Dublin. Instead of becoming a lawyer he became a journalist. La Fanu’s first job was with the Dublin University magazine.

Sheridan La Fanu married Susanna Bennett in 1844. During the marriage they bore four children. In 1858, La Fanu’s wife died and he turned to work in seclusion. His work focused on Gothic and eternal sources or horror with psychological positions. In 1861, La Fanu became a proprietor and editor of the Dublin University Magazine.

Le Fanu gained his love for literature from hearing childhood folklore. He used the stories he heard over and over again to influence his writings.

A collection of La Fanu’s stories include, "The House by the Churchyard" (1863), "Squire Toby’s Will", "Mr. Justice Harbottle", and "Sehalken the Painter."

http://www.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/Fanu.html

http://www.online-literature.com/lefanu/

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/lefanu.htm

http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/l/lefanu/graves/