The Watcher, and other weird stories

"The Watcher and Other Weird Stories" by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu is a set of strange stories from the 1800s, filled with mystery and the supernatural. The book looks at how fear and not knowing things can mess with your head. You'll find yourself in scary stories and uneasy situations as you read, all happening when society had certain rules and people worried about different things. One story, "The Watcher," starts with Captain James Barton, a brave officer, back in Dublin. He seems calm at first, but his life falls apart when he's haunted by something at night, with weird noises following him. He also gets scary letters that seem to link to his past. The story shows how Barton slowly becomes afraid and paranoid, as the book pulls you into his mental struggle and maybe even some real supernatural events.