Wylder's Hand

The Wylders and the Brandons share a history of intermarriage, bitter rivalry, villainy and madness. The wedding of Mark Wylder to his rich and beautiful cousin, Dorcas Brandon, was to inaugurate a harmonious new era at Brandon Hall. But as the ceremony draws near, Mark disappears without trace, leaving Dorcas in shock, and the assembled family in a state of severe agitation. And when Mark's letters arrive back at the Hall, postmarked from Europe, the sinister figure of Captain Stanley Lake emerges from the wings to claim Dorcas as his own...

First published in 1864, Wylder's Hand was one of J. Sheridan Le Fanu's most popular novels, but has been largely neglected - until now. It is a nerve-jangling tale of jealousy and murder, for fans of the grisly and gripping.

Sheridan Le Fanu was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1814. He published many short stories and novels throughout his career, including Uncle Silas, and the collection In A Glass Darkly, which featured the lesbian vampire story 'Camilla', for which he is probably best remembered today. He is was a master of the macabre and the ghostly. He suffered from recurring nightmares and a weak heart, and died in his sleep in 1873.

Robert Giddings is an eminent literary critic who regularly reviews for many publications including the Sunday Times, the Guardian and the New Statesman.