
[Transcriber's note: The spelling inconsistencies of the original have been retained in this etext.]
1899
TO THE RIGHT HON. - THE COUNTESS OF GIFFORD, - AS A TOKEN OF RESPECT, SYMPATHY, AND ADMIRATION - This Tale - IS INSCRIBED BY - THE AUTHOR
In a bleak November night, the old stone house of Knowl is lit by a crackling fire, its black wainscoting and shadowed portraits creating a brooding backdrop. The narrator, a thoughtful seventeen‑year‑old girl, watches the flames and reflects on the weight of her family’s ancient lineage. Her father, a proud man who has twice refused titles, fills the house with stories of a defiant ancestry.
As the wind howls outside, an uneasy tension builds around the mysterious figure of Uncle Silas, whose reputation looms like a dark secret over the household. The young narrator senses that beneath the genteel surface of her father’s world lies a tangled web of old grudges, hidden motives, and perhaps a threat that could upend their fragile peace. The narrative weaves these hints into a slow‑burning suspense that invites listeners to question what is truly known about the family’s past.
Le Fanu’s elegant prose captures the chill of the setting and the quiet intensity of a mind on the brink of discovery, making every creak and whisper feel significant. Listeners will be drawn into a tale where atmosphere and family intrigue intertwine, promising a haunting journey through the shadows of Bartram‑Haugh.
Language
en
Duration
~15 hours (896K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Suzanne Shell, Bob McKillip and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Release date
2005-01-31
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1814–1873
A master of Victorian unease, this Irish writer helped shape the modern ghost story with tales that feel both elegant and deeply unsettling. His fiction includes the vampire classic Carmilla and other darkly atmospheric mysteries that still influence horror today.
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