The Familiar by Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu

The Familiar is a classic Victorian Gothic novel by Joseph Sheridan le Fanu. It tells the story of a young woman, Laura, who is sent to live with her aunt in a remote Irish village. There, she discovers a mysterious and sinister presence in the form of a black cat that seems to be watching her every move. As Laura investigates the cat's origins, she finds herself drawn into a web of dark secrets and supernatural forces that threaten to consume her. Along the way, she must confront her own fears and prejudices, as well as the secrets of her family's past. Ultimately, Laura must decide whether to embrace the darkness or to fight against it.

By Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu · First published 1847 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Horror · 11 chapters · 14,573 words

First lines

OUT of about two hundred and thirty cases more or less nearly akin to that I have entitled "Green Tea," I select the following which I call "The Familiar."

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The Familiar is listed on Textopian as a novel by Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu, dated 1847 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu
• Date: 1847 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Horror, Romance
• Length: 14,573 words
• Structure: 11 chapters, 241 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Familiar by Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

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Genres

• Gothic Fiction — The Familiar is a classic example of Gothic fiction, with its dark and mysterious atmosphere, supernatural elements, and focus on the psychological effects of fear and horror.
• Mystery — The Familiar is a mystery novel, with its focus on solving a crime and uncovering the truth behind a series of strange events.
• Horror — The Familiar contains elements of horror, with its dark and eerie atmosphere, supernatural elements, and focus on fear and terror.
• Romance — The Familiar contains elements of romance, with its focus on the relationships between the characters and the emotional journey of the protagonist.

Tags

Gothic Horror · Mystery · barton · barton's · bed · captain · chamber · circumstances · connected · day · death · disease

Contents

• Chapter 1: Prologue
• Chapter 1: Footsteps
• Chapter 2: The Watcher
• Chapter 3: An Advertisement
• Chapter 4: He Talks With a Clergyman
• Chapter 5: Mr
• Chapter 6: Seen Again
• Chapter 7: Flight
• Chapter 8: Softened
• Chapter 9: Requiescat
• Chapter 10: Postscript by the Editor

More by Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu

• Pichon & Sons, of the Croix Rousse (1868)
• The Ghost and the Bonesetter (1864)
• The Fortunes of Sir Robert Ardagh (1864)
• The Last Heir of Castle Connor (1866)
• The Drunkard's Dream (1864)
• Passage in the Secret History of an Irish Countess (1866)
• The Bridal of Carrigvarah (1850)
• Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter (1837)
• All works by Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu