1. Name: Carmilla
2. Author: J. Sheridan Le Fanu
3. Genre: Fiction/Horror
4. Book Post No. : 75
5. What is it about? : Carmilla is a gothic vampire novella published in 1872. It is one of the most influential vampire horror stories ever published, predating Dracula by 25 years. In fact, Dracula incorporates many features which were inspired/influenced by Carmilla. The story, which is set in a remote part of Austria, is about a young woman who is pursued by a female vampire.
6. How I came to read it? : This novella was on my reading list for a long time and now, I felt, was a good time to read it. So I borrowed it from the local branch of Fraser Valley Libraries.
7. Did I like it? : I loved it. It has everything that a classic gothic story has, including an isolated castle in a remote area surrounded by forests, a young maiden, a mysterious guest, village folk getting affected by a strange disease and a slow buildup of atmospheric dread.
It starts with the narrator, a young woman named Laura, talking about her life with her father in a remote area of Austria. Craving the friendship of someone her own age, Laura is delighted when, by a curious accident near her home, a young woman, Carmilla, is invited to stay with them. Soon strange occurrences begin happening around the nearby village, and the guest herself displays unsual habits. Carmilla shows a strange affection towards Laura which at times hints at more than just friendship.
I loved the setting of the isolated castle among the forests and it also features another of my favorite things of that age, walks in the forests. In fact, Carmilla makes her first appearance during one of Laura’s walks. The pacing is excellent, as the narrative keeps moving with new developments. A sense of dread creeps in as Carmilla’s true nature slowly reveals itself until the book ends with a fast paced climax.
Overall a superb read that still makes an impact 153 years later.
8. Other personal notes, observations, fun facts etc:
Other classic horror book posts of mine:
1. The Castle of Otranto, the first ever gothic horror novel.
2. About At the Mountains of Madness
3. Horror: One of my favorite genres. Part 1 (Short stories, novels and books)
4. The 13 Best Horror Stories of All time Edited by Leslie Pockell : A Book Post
5. Ink, Film and Fright: Horror Recap 2024-2025