Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Book: Carmilla Format: Hardcover Book Author: J. Sheridan Le Fanu Genre: Gothic Horror/2SLGBT+ Date started: 17/04/2025 Date Finished: 18/04/2025 Summary: J. Sheridan Le Fanu's Camilla, which inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula, is the essential lesbian equivalent. Upon the night of a full moon, the Lady Carmilla is deposited at Laura and her family's schloß by a carriage accident. Disappointed by a should've been acquaintance's death, Laura welcomes the new visitor. Simultaneously, fascinated and horrified by, her sudden and intense feelings for Carmilla, Laura must adjust to Carmilla's three month stay. Meanwhile, other young ladies of both noble and common stock are dying to a mysterious disease and rumours of an oupire prowl the Styrian countryside.

Review: Told in the first person, Le Fanu writes with a sumptuousness of environment that is typical of his time yet also lends to the clarity and simplicity of Laura’s rural noble character. Laura's desire for Carmilla is well-stated yet full of dreamy longing. Le Fanu’s horror is also pleasing in its subtly and needs reading to be believed. It is easy to see how Le Fanu managed to inspire Stoker in his use of first-person epistolary writing. Despite the writing style, the pace of Carmilla is anything but languid. The dust cover of the hundredth anniversary edition is also stunning in its red, black, grey and white-foiled splendour.

Recommendation: I think that Carmilla would be an excellent introduction to Victorian or horror literature if one is on the fence. The only contention I have with Le Fanu's writing is the belittling of the servants of the schloss, who are not counted among its occupants but as mere objects. The only servant we ever hear of is a man called Martin whom one of the characters says, "Chooses to be frightened." of an apparition on the schloss's grounds. That aside, with its combination of romantic Victorian style, fast-paced Gothic horror and sublime 2SLGBT+ content, anyone with an interest in one or more of the above subjects would do well to pick up a copy of Carmilla.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐