Checkmate

by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Overview

Walter Longcluse is clever, cunning and rich. Having insinuated himself into the affections of the Arden family, he becomes devoted to the beautiful young Alice, although she cannot bring herself to like this strange and mysterious friend of her brother's. Then Longcluse visits a gambling club with Alice's brother, Richard, and finds himself confronting the indiscreet Monsieur Lebas, with whom he had been mixed up in the past. Later the same evening Lebas is found stabbed. What is the secret of Longcluse's disfigurement and the 'dark' past which he reveals to no one? Why did Mrs Tansey, the Ardens' housekeeper, react so strongly when she recognized Longcluse's voice? What is it that Longcluse so fears? (Goodreads)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783965379732
Publisher:	Otbebookpublishing
Publication date:	03/06/2020
Series:	Classics To Go
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	403
File size:	947 KB

About the Author

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873) was an Irish writer whose mastery of gothic fiction and supernatural tales has left an indelible mark on the genre. Born into a literary family in Dublin, Le Fanu was steeped in the rich folklore and tumultuous history of Ireland, which deeply influenced his writing. He initially studied law at Trinity College but soon turned to journalism and literature, finding his true calling in the eerie and the uncanny.Le Fanu's works are characterized by their atmospheric tension, psychological depth, and intricate plots. He is best known for his novella "Carmilla," a pioneering work in vampire fiction that predates Bram Stoker's "Dracula" by over two decades. "Carmilla" not only introduced readers to one of literature's earliest lesbian vampires but also explored themes of repressed sexuality and the supernatural's intrusion into the mundane, making it a precursor to modern horror and psychological thrillers.Le Fanu's influence extends to contemporary writers like M.R. James and Henry James, who admired his ability to evoke dread and suspense. His innovative narrative techniques, such as unreliable narrators and fragmented storytelling, have been emulated by countless authors in the horror and mystery genres.Despite his success, Le Fanu led a reclusive life, especially after the death of his wife, which plunged him into a period of profound grief and introspection. This personal tragedy infused his later works with a somber, melancholic tone, adding layers of emotional complexity that continue to resonate with readers today.Le Fanu's legacy as the "father of the modern ghost story" remains undisputed, and his contributions to gothic literature continue to captivate and inspire, ensuring his place in the pantheon of literary greats.
Sheridan Le Fanu, in full Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, (born Aug. 28, 1814, Dublin, Ire. —died Feb. 7, 1873, Dublin), Irish writer of ghost stories and mystery novels, celebrated for his ability to evoke the ominous atmosphere of a haunted house.