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Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: Carmilla (French language, 1999)

160 pages

French language

Published May 1, 1999

ISBN:
978-2-7427-0801-7
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Goodreads:
1452321

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4 stars (10 reviews)

Carmilla is an 1872 Gothic novella by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu and one of the early works of vampire fiction, predating Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897) by 26 years. First published as a serial in The Dark Blue (1871–72), the story is narrated by a young woman preyed upon by a female vampire named Carmilla, later revealed to be Mircalla, Countess Karnstein (Carmilla is an anagram of Mircalla). The character is a prototypical example of the lesbian vampire, expressing romantic desires toward the protagonist. The novella notably never acknowledges homosexuality as an antagonistic trait, leaving it subtle and morally ambiguous. The story is often anthologized, and has been adapted many times in film and other media.

4 editions

Short, not gay enough, but thrilling when it was

4 stars

Though it could and deserved to be much, much gayer; it was very enjoyable. Besides the out of nowhere classist and racist remarks very obviously shoehorned in by the author that didn't even affect the story and we're completely unnecessary, it presented the kind of queer relationship you develop as a child, innocent but passionate and desperate almost. And that definitely made my heart race like the good old days.

Review of 'Carmilla' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Ce trop court récit vampirique se lit d’une traite, et nous plonge dans une ambiance des plus envoûtante. La narratrice nous raconte son expérience et sa rencontre avec l’étrange Carmilla, leur amitié ambiguë et sa tragique conclusion. Fascinée par la jeune fille, la narratrice ne prend pas pleinement conscience de son emprise. Les lieux, un château isolé entouré de forêts, un pays lointain, la demoiselle prise au piège, ne sont pas sans rappeler les thèmes favoris du roman gothique. Pourtant cette histoire penche plutôt pour un fantastique sombre et sensuel. Apparitions, morts soudaines, revenants et autres visions d’horreur égaient un récit ancrés dans les vieilles croyances vampiriques. On devine les bases du futur Dracula de Stocker. Une lecture hélas trop brève, mais un grand plaisir que j’espère renouveler avec d’autres œuvres de Le Fanu.

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