Sheridan Le Fanu books in order
Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels
- Lived
- 1814–1873
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 18
- Also writes as
- kola
Sheridan Le Fanu published 13 novels, 1 novella and 4 short story collections, beginning with The House by the Churchyard (1863). The best-known is Carmilla (1872).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Sheridan Le Fanu
Standalone novels in order
The Cock and Anchor (1845)
Guy Deverell (1860)
The House by the Churchyard (1863)
Uncle Silas (1864)
Wylder's Hand (1864)
All in the Dark (1866)
The Tenants of Malory (1867)
A Lost Name (1868)
The Wyvern Mystery (1869)
The Rose and Key (1870)
Checkmate (1871)
Chronicles of Golden Friars (1871)
Willing to Die (1873)
Novellas in order
Carmilla (1872)
Short story collections in order
Ghost Stories and Tales of Mystery (1851)
In a Glass Darkly (1872)
The Purcell Papers (1880)
The Purcell Papers (1975)
Film and TV adaptations
- Lies We Tell (2023)Film · from Uncle Silas
- Blood and Roses (1960)Film · from Carmilla
- Crypt of the Vampire (1964)Film · from Carmilla
- The Vampire Lovers (1970)Film · from Carmilla
- Alucarda (1978)Film · from Carmilla
- Vampyr (1932)Film · from In a Glass Darkly
Free to read
All free classicsA Stable for Nightmares
The Purcell Papers — Volume 1
Green Tea
In a Glass Darkly, v. 1/3
The Room in the Dragon Volant
The Purcell Papers — Volume 3
The Watcher, and other weird stories
The Purcell Papers — Volume 2
J. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 1
In a Glass Darkly, v. 3/3
In a Glass Darkly, v. 2/3
Madam Crowl's Ghost and the Dead Sexton
J. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 2
J. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 5
About Sheridan Le Fanu
Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer of Gothic literature, journalist and newspaper proprietor. Le Fanu is considered by literary critics to be among the greatest ghost story writers of the Victorian era, as several of his works were central to the development of the genre. He was the author of Gothic short stories and macabre poems, novels such as Uncle Silas (1864), and the collection of five stories In a Glass Darkly (1872), in which the novella Carmilla (1872) is significant as a foundational work of vampire literature.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Sheridan Le Fanu FAQ
- How many books has Sheridan Le Fanu written?
- Sheridan Le Fanu published 13 novels, 1 novella and 4 short story collections that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Sheridan Le Fanu's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Carmilla.
- What is Sheridan Le Fanu's last book?
- Willing to Die (1873).
- What is Sheridan Le Fanu's most famous book?
- Carmilla (1872) is Sheridan Le Fanu's most widely read book.
- Does Sheridan Le Fanu write under a pen name?
- Yes: Sheridan Le Fanu has also published as kola.
- Which Sheridan Le Fanu books have been adapted?
- 3 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Uncle Silas (as Lies We Tell, film, 2023), Carmilla (as Blood and Roses, film, 1960) and In a Glass Darkly (as Vampyr, film, 1932).
- Can I read Sheridan Le Fanu's books for free?
- Yes. 33 books by Sheridan Le Fanu are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Sheridan Le Fanu
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Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.