J. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 1

"J. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 1" by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu is a collection of ghost stories written during the early to mid-19th century, a period known for its fascination with the supernatural, particularly in Victorian literature. This collection features two main tales: "Schalken the Painter" and "An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street," which explore themes of love, loss, and the haunting presence of the past. The likely topics revolve around eerie occurrences and unsettling atmospheres that reflect the complexities of human emotions and the thin veil between the living and the dead. In "Schalken the Painter," the story follows a young artist, Godfrey Schalken, who falls in love with Rose Velderkaust, the niece of his master, Gerard Douw. As Schalken pursues his artistic career, he is unexpectedly confronted by a mysterious suitor, Minheer Vanderhausen, who wishes to marry Rose. The tale takes a dark turn as Vanderhausen's true nature is revealed, leading to tragic consequences for both Rose and Schalken. Meanwhile, "An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street" recounts the experiences of two medical students who encounter unsettling occurrences in their dilapidated residence, including ghostly apparitions and an unsettling presence linked to the former occupant who committed suicide. Both stories intertwine elements of mystery and horror, gripping the reader with their haunting narratives and chilling atmospheres. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer of Gothic tales, mystery novels, and horror fiction. He was a leading ghost story writer of his time, central to the development of the genre in the Victorian era. M. R. James described Le Fanu as "absolutely in the first rank as a writer of ghost stories". Three of his best-known works are the locked-room mystery Uncle Silas, the vampire novella Carmilla, and the historical novel The House by the Churchyard.