In a Glass Darkly by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (Wordsworth Classics)

Description

“In a Glass Darkly” is not a book by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, but it is the title of a collection of five Gothic short stories written by the Irish author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. The collection was first published in 1872 and is considered one of his most famous works.

The five stories included in “In a Glass Darkly” are:

1. “Green Tea” – The story revolves around a clergyman named Reverend Jennings who becomes haunted by a demonic monkey after he develops an addiction to green tea.
2. “The Familiar” – A tale about a young man named Charles, who becomes entangled with a mysterious, sinister figure that appears to him frequently.
3. “Mr. Justice Harbottle” – The story of a corrupt judge who receives a supernatural visitation and experiences terrifying consequences for his past deeds.
4. “The Room in the Dragon Volant” – This story follows a young Englishman traveling in France who becomes entangled in a web of intrigue, romance, and dark secrets.
5. “Carmilla” – Perhaps the most famous and significant story in the collection, “Carmilla” is a vampire tale that predates Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” It tells the story of a female vampire who preys on young women and the efforts to stop her.

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was a master of the Gothic horror genre, and “In a Glass Darkly” showcases his talent for creating atmospheric and suspenseful tales that explore themes of the supernatural, the psychological, and the mysterious. His works have had a significant influence on the horror genre and continue to be appreciated by readers and scholars alike.