The Purcell Papers (1880) are a collection of thirteen Gothic, supernatural, historical and humorous short stories by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-73) originally written for the Dublin University Magazine. Gothic fiction (sometimes referred to as Gothic horror) is a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu (28 August 1814 &ndash 7 February 1873 was an Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels The first twelve were written between 1838-40 and purport to be extracts from the 'MS. Papers of the late Rev. Francis Purcell, of Drumcoolagh', a Catholic priest. The thirteenth and last tale on the collection, Billy Maloney's Taste of Love and Glory dates from 1850 and is not connected with Father Purcell. The tales comprise:

Vol 1

• The Ghost and the Bone-Setter (first published January 1838)
• The Fortunes of Sir Robert Ardagh (March 1838)
• The Last Heir of Castle Connor (June 1838)
• The Drunkard's Dream (August 1838)

Vol 2

• Passage in the Secret History of an Irish Countess (November 1838)
• The Bridal of Carrigvarah (April 1839)
• Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter (May 1839)
• Scraps of Hibernian Ballads (June 1839)

Vol 3

• Jim Sulivan's Adventures in the Great Snow (July 1839)
• A Chapter in the History of a Tyrone Family (October 1839)
• An Adventure of Hardress Fitzgerald, a Royalist Captain (February 1840)
• The Quare Gander (October 1840)
• Billy Maloney's Taste of Love and Glory (June 1850)

External links

Complete text of The Purcell Papers