Le Fanu, Joseph SheridanPronunciation: /ˈlɛfənjuː, lə ˈfɑːnuː/Definition of Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan (1814–73), Irish novelist. He is best known for his stories of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural, such as The House by the Churchyard (1861) and Uncle Silas (1864).