Sheridan Le Fanu was one of the most influential 19th-century writers of Gothic horror and supernatural fiction. Often referred to as the “father of the modern ghost story,” he pioneered the psychological ghost tale, shifting the genre away from grotesque imagery and toward subtle, atmospheric suspense and internal dread.
Le Fanu was born into a literary family in Dublin and initially studied law at Trinity College. Though never formally practicing law, his education and exposure to Irish folklore and history deeply informed his writing. He worked as a journalist and editor, including a long tenure at the Dublin University Magazine, where many of his works were first published.
