Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish Gothic writer who shaped 19th-century horror through his subtle blend of psychological tension and the supernatural. His stories evoke fear that creeps slowly, portraying ghosts, mystery, and human anxiety within realistic settings. His best-known works include “Carmilla,” the tale of a female vampire, and the eerie collection “In a Glass Darkly.” Often regarded as a pioneer of modern psychological horror alongside Edgar Allan Poe, he greatly influenced Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” Le Fanu remains remembered for revealing the quiet madness and hidden fears that dwell beneath the surface of ordinary life.