- Publisher: Hesperus Press
- Publication Date: Reprint edition (2014)
- Original Publication: 1872
- Length: 112 Pages
- ISBN-10: 1843914727
- ISBN-13: 978-1843914723
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu is a classic gothic vampire story that predates Bram Stoker’s Dracula by a quarter century. It was originally serialized in “The Dark Blue” a London literary magazine of the time. I don’t know if you can call a story about a vampire stalking an area ‘delightful’, but I found this story delightful. Written over 150 years ago, I enjoyed visiting a style of writing that was fitting to the time, and still satisfying today.
This novella is told from the point of view of Laura, a teenage girl living with her father and their servants in a solitary castle, far from any neighbor, in 19th century Austria. One night, there is an accident nearby when a carriage overturns in the roadway. No one is seriously hurt, but the woman inside begs Laura’s father to look after her sickly daughter as she has urgent business elsewhere. She pledges to return in 3 months time. Laura, being lonely, looks forward to spending time with a young woman about her age and they accept the request. The two become friends and Carmilla seems to perhaps want more than simple friendship as she professes her love to Laura in ways that are flattering, but uncomfortably amorous. At the same time, strange deaths begin to occur in the town and other areas surrounding the castle.
The vampire in Carmilla bears a strong resemblance to the modern day vampire tropes, but differs in some ways. The bite takes place on the breast rather than the throat. There is no sparkling or bursting into flames in the sunlight, even though the feedings all seem to take place after dark. The language is a little dated, as you would expect from a book written a century and a half ago, but it is not difficult at all.
The story is predictable to a certain extent and the resolution comes a little too easily, but being one of the first stories of its kind, it was probably far more surprising to readers of its time. I thoroughly enjoyed it for the story itself, and for the historical feeling of the book. I have not read a lot of classic gothic literature so I can’t really relate how this compares to others in the genre, but I can say that this was an entertaining read. At only a little over 100 pages, it is also an easy read.
If you want a taste of an early vampire story or just a quick read with a gothic old-timey feel, Carmilla is a good one.
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No vampires in this one…
Plastivore by Matt Truxaw
