From the Bookshelf of On Paths Unknown…

Carmilla

J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Start date: October 8, 2015

Discussion: GHOSTLY GOTHIC

Why we're reading this: Halloween!
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GHOSTLY GOTHIC

* It's Halloween time!
By Traveller · 90 posts · 56 views

last updated Oct 30, 2015 11:49AM

Uncanny Haunts: The English Ghost Story - M.R. JAMES
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last updated Oct 19, 2015 04:17PM

What Members Thought

Nov 14, 2015 BrokenTune rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewed

I had heard of Carmilla, one of the forerunners of Dracula, but I had not read it. So, when the chance to read a book for the "Gothic" square on a Halloween Bingo game came up, I jumped at Carmilla. And it does not come more Gothic than this...

"Over all this the schloss shows its many-windowed front; its towers, and its Gothic chapel. The forest opens in an irregular and very picturesque glade before its gate, and at the right a steep Gothic bridge carries the road over a stream that winds in d I had heard of Carmilla, one of the forerunners of Dracula, but I had not read it. So, when the chance to read a book for the "Gothic" square on a Halloween Bingo game came up, I jumped at Carmilla. And it does not come more Gothic than this...

"Over all this the schloss shows its many-windowed front; its towers, and its Gothic chapel. The forest opens in an irregular and very picturesque glade before its gate, and at the right a steep Gothic bridge carries the road over a stream that winds in deep shadow through the wood. I have said that this is a very lonely place. Judge whether I say truth. Looking from the hall door towards the road, the forest in which our castle stands extends fifteen miles to the right, and twelve to the left. The nearest inhabited village is about seven of your English miles to the left. The nearest inhabited schloss of any historic associations, is that of old General Spielsdorf, nearly twenty miles away to the right. I have said "the nearest inhabited village," because there is, only three miles westward, that is to say in the direction of General Spielsdorf's schloss, a ruined village, with its quaint little church, now roofless, in the aisle of which are the moldering tombs of the proud family of Karnstein, now extinct, who once owned the equally desolate chateau which, in the thick of the forest, overlooks the silent ruins of the town. Respecting the cause of the desertion of this striking and melancholy spot, there is a legend which I shall relate to you another time."
I'm not going to compare Carmilla and Dracula other than to say that I actually preferred the story of Carmilla - simply because it is less convoluted. To me the simplicity of Carmilla makes it more legend-like, more like a myth that can give you shivers when travelling through the dark countryside. "

I don't know. I didn't get the same sense of dread and atmosphere from Dracula that I got from reading Carmilla, and for that reason alone I prefer Le Fanu's telling of the vampire story.
Incidentally, I guess, the vampire aspect is pretty much where the comparison between Carmilla and Dracula needs to end for me because Stoker's work expanded into a lot more than the vampire story, and included a lot of social commentary that is not the focus of Carmilla.

So, anyway, as a mere vampire story this was a great read. ...more

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Oct 05, 2015 Jonfaith rated it really liked it

In the rapture of my enormous humiliation I live in your warm life, and you shall die--die, sweetly die--into mine. I cannot help it; as I draw near to you, you, in your turn, will draw near to others, and learn the rapture of that cruelty, which yet is love; so, for a while, seek to know no more of me and mine, but trust me with all your loving spirit.

Carmilla proved to be a delicious detour. Such was a GR group read. I flashed from the gate on a rather warm October evening and finished the nov ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Aug 03, 2025 Catherine Mustread rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, short-stories

"A double-whammy: an English-language vampire novel that predates Dracula by nearly three decades, and an edit from Carmen Maria Machado that both underlines the story's gay subtext and has a bit of fun with readers while doing it. Just try not to take her notes too literally and you'll be fine, probably." Overdue podcast 100322 ...more

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Nov 04, 2016 amaldae rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: z-2016, queer-umbrella, sapphic

Wherein female desire is revealed to be the murderous and unnatural thing it is, by way of learned males first conferring amongst themselves and then educating the gullible (but ever so proper) narrator. Fortunately, she has the good sense to furnish her tale with many a stately sentence while also keeping her recounting of the main events quite concise for her time. - Not all writerly choices that would be encouraged today, but they balance each other out nicely enough to be remembered, I guess ...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Jai rated it really liked it

Pretty good story. I felt the ending was rushed a little. I could've used the gore to be drawn out a little. I really appreciated the 1st person pov. She seemed genuine, and like an average 19 year old girl. Carmilla is a total creep, but I enjoyed the way she manipulated everyone. 4 stars.

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