From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

Carmilla

J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Start date: October 1, 2020

Finish date: October 31, 2020

Discussion: Lesser Know/Wilderness Classics

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Showing 2 of -1 topics — 2,745 comments total

Lesser Know/Wilderness Classics

* 2025 Must Read Lesser Known Classics: Scheduled Reads
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 72 posts · 196 views

last updated Sep 06, 2025 07:14AM

Wilderness Classics
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 76 posts · 113 views

last updated Sep 25, 2025 03:30AM

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What Members Thought

Oct 17, 2008 Laura rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, read-2011, gothic-romance, e-books

This is one the classic book on vampires before the publication of Dracula by Bram Stoker. Another magnificent book by Le Fanu.

15 likes · Like · see review

Oct 08, 2017 Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... rated it liked it

Shelves: vic-lit, classics, gothic-lit

I read this one as part of Victober 2017.

My husband was listening to Dracula and I was waiting my turn, so I downloaded the audio version of this one to read first. It is fun and unique and from what I understand the author was the first to write the vampire story. The fact that it is a story of female vampires and has a hint of lesbianism makes it all the more fascinating. I liked it. I might have loved it if it were twice the length and there was much more development of the story and characte ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2018 Allison boozy bookworm rated it it was ok

Shelves: drama, fantasy-supernatural, novels, fiction, horror-suspense, classics, women, literature

DNF

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 29, 2022 Mike rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, horror, horror-pub-domain, 2022

There's something I really like about classic novels. Maybe it's the classic. Typically, I'm not one to search for and read vampire stories. But I really enjoyed Le Fanu's Carmilla. This French work predates Dracula and is written in a way that is almost poetic. I could almost hear a rhythm within Le Fanu's writing that I think 19th century classics propose. Whether you like vampire stories or not, this is definitely one you should check out. And public domain now? Come on! ...more

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Jan 03, 2022 Meika rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really enjoyed reading this translation with the new context supplied by Carmen Maria Machado. I love old Gothic bodice-busters and vampire novels, but I didn't know that Le Fanu basically pilfered the story and bastardized it from a series of letters and a historical account of two lesbian lovers. The true story is tragic. ...more

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Nov 22, 2021 Frannie Burd rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars; 2 for the story and 5 for the narration. David Tennant is amazing, as always.

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Dec 16, 2010 t.s. cronenberg rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011

A+++++++ I love horror stories that unfold like this! Lesbian vampires rule, OK? Besides the homophobia and sexism (when the book was written, the concept that a woman could be self-assured and sexual, let alone turning that sexual attention on one of the same sex, was apparently mad scary/threatening, y'all!) I loved everything about this. I just try not to get too analytical on it... In my eyes, Carmilla was the coolest. ...more

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