Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer renowned for his significant contribution to Gothic tales, mystery novels, and horror fiction. He emerged as a pivotal figure in shaping the ghost story genre during the Victorian era, being celebrated for his mastery in crafting chilling narratives.

Le Fanu's ability to weave suspense and the supernatural earned him the admiration of peers and successors alike, with M. R. James heralding him as "absolutely in the first rank as a writer of ghost stories". Among his most acclaimed works are Uncle Silas, a locked-room mystery; Carmilla, a novella exploring the complexities of a lesbian vampire relationship; and The House by the Churchyard, a novel that intricately blends historical fiction with elements of horror.