Content levels
Positive tags
Protagonist archetypes
Synopsis
Sheridan Le Fanu's historical mystery novel The House by the Churchyard was written in 1863. A skull unearthed in a churchyard show signs of violent blows to the head and, even more disturbingly, the small hole caused by trepanning. One hundred years before, a coffin is buried secretly, "R.D." the only identification on its brass plague. The House by the Churchyard was a major source of inspiration for James Joyce's Finnegans Wake.
Is The House by the Church-Yard appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This Victorian Gothic mystery involves violence including blows to the head and secret burials, though described in the restrained style of 19th-century literature. The historical setting and literary complexity make it more appropriate for mature teens and adults despite moderate content.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include murder, death, and violence.
Who'll love this
Teens interested in historical mysteries and Gothic atmosphere will enjoy unraveling the century-old secrets of a mysterious skull.