Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu | Book Review
I have read many articles which name Carmilla as one of the greatest horror books of all time and easily one of the best in Irish literature. Hence, I decided to read it, and the experience was phenomenal. The short novel is more than 100 pages and completing it in a day is easily achievable. Carmilla by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu was published in 1872 as a serial in The Dark Blue (1871–72). The story is narrated by a young woman, Laura, who is preyed upon by her house guest Carmilla, a vampire. The antagonist Carmilla is the original model of female and lesbian vampires whose character arc has inspired many future fictional characters. It is one of the early works of vampire fiction, predating Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
The author compiles his goal to tell a captivating story from young women perceptive of being raised by a single parent and explore many themes, including isolation, feminism, sexuality, mental health, and fear of being stalked. The language is crisp and takes readers on adventures of Laura exploring the unknown, maturing, and overcoming fear. Can Laura, a young human, survive a malevolent vampire?
I give this book 4.75 Stars out of 5.
