Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu (1872)

Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu (1872)

Thought we were done with vampires after Nosferatu? Wrong! This is one of the original vampire stories that allegedly inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. 

Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Plot: 19 year old Laura lives a simple life with her father in an isolated castle until a mysterious carriage arrives at their home one night. The passengers include the young and beautiful Carmilla, who stays behind with the family. Laura and Carmilla begin an immediate and intense friendship as eerie events start happening.

Opinion: The early scenes set the tone of a melancholy, lonely, rural town. The setting felt appropriate for the eerie events of the story, which make more sense in an isolated environment.

The book is very female centered for the time, which I found pleasantly surprising. The undeniably erotic undertones of the relationship between Laura and Carmilla set the tone for future themes in other vampire stories of sexual deviance and the loss of innocence. I enjoyed the description of the paradoxical feelings of adoration and abhorrence that Laura felt toward Carmilla as time went on. Despite being relatively unknown, this novella certainly has far reaching influence. Carmilla even features a dreamlike visit experienced by a child, which is seen in the newest Nosferatu film as well. 

This isn’t the most amazing story I’ve read, but considering it in the context of 1872, it’s pretty solid. I’d recommend it for anyone into vampire lore or gothic horror.