Carmilla
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4.7 • 3 Ratings
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
Laura begins her tale by relating her childhood in a "picturesque and solitary" castle in the midst of an extensive forest in Styria where she lives with her father. When she is six years old, Laura has a vision of a beautiful visitor in her bedchamber.
12 years later, Laura and her father are admiring the sunset in front of the castle when her father tells her of a letter he received earlier from his friend General Spielsdorf. The General was supposed to bring his niece, Bertha Rheinfeldt, to visit the two, but the niece suddenly died under mysterious circumstances. The General ambiguously concludes that he will discuss the circumstances in detail when they meet later.
Laura is saddened by the loss of a potential friend, and longs for a companion. A carriage accident outside Laura's home unexpectedly brings a girl of Laura's age into the family's care. Her name is Carmilla. Both girls instantly recognize the other from the 'dream' they both had when they were young.
Customer Reviews
Another Le Fanu Surprise!
I read this short story in one sitting and could not put it down. Another hidden freebie I discovered by chance. Not gory like other vampire books, but simply leads us into life of a female vampire and her passion for the next victim. The love/obsession she has for her victim is delicately potrayed, but surely was controversial at the time this was written. Vampire lovers must read this, as it served as the inspiration of many other vampire works - such as the famous Dracula.
BEFORE DRACULA THERE WAS CARMILLA!
J. Sheridan LeFanu's "Carmilla" stands as one of the richest, most literate and most enduring stories in the history of the vampire sub-genre. Many rate it higher than Bram Stoker's "Dracula," and while that estimation is at least debatable, there is no debate that "Carmilla" has exerted a mighty influence, consciously or not, on most vampire fiction to follow in its wake, "Dracula" not excepted. Indeed, Stoker's original early chapter in his masterpiece, later published independently as "Dracula's Guest," is particularly indebted to LeFanu's earlier work. As to which is better, let each reader decide for himself--and so enjoy them both!
Well worth the time to read.
This is an excellent story that keeps moving nicely. It keeps you hooked and wondering what exactly will happen next. I was very interested in the differences between the original story and the made for TV movie version, which was done with Meg Tilly playing Carmilla. The book gives a nice back story the movie does not, but both are equally good in their own way. The one thing about the book was that with so many interesting and startling images that were created throughout the story the ending was lacking any real dramatics. It seemed to end to quickly without a very detailed description of the last events. It is however an amazing and interesting vampire story, much more realistic as compared to some the ones written today. Short synopsis:A vampire story about a lonely girl and her father who have the fortune or misfortune of an unexpected house guest who apparently is not who or what she appears to be. Bringing mystery, danger,intrigue.