Book Review: 'Carmilla'

“Carmilla,” written by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, tells the story of an innocent family and their encounter with an evil that hides behind the veil of a beautiful dame. Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1814, Le Fanu is often considered “the Father of the English Ghost Story,” making a name for himself with his various horror stories embodying gothic and psychological horror.

Among his famous collection, “In a Glass Darkly,” one can find a story by the name of “Carmilla,” a work published in 1872 that would mark the first vampire story to grace English literature. Considering this, that would mean that this story is up there with “Dracula” in terms of horror stories that pioneered the vampire genre. Unfortunately, unlike “Dracula,” Carmilla is almost unheard of, so with this, I believe it is time to give this story the coverage and respect it deserves. 

The story revolves around Laura and Carmilla. Laura is the protagonist of the novella, and she is characterized as kind, but somewhat sheltered due to the lack of constant interaction with people outside of her father and servants. Her mother died when she was young, but she was still raised well and had a better upbringing than most. However, beneath her exterior, Laura is a girl haunted by a strange occurrence from when she was young. She goes on to tell the story of how one night, a strange woman visited her, caressing and smiling in an attempt to soothe Laura before biting her breast and escaping. What is worthy of note is how Le Fanu characterizes this strange visitor, using words such as “pretty” and “young” while describing the woman who tries to comfort Laura, pulling her into a false sense of security before going on the attack. 

Carmilla is the unfortunate victim of a carriage accident, and when she is introduced in the story, she is in an unconscious state and is being cared for by Laura’s father, who had told Carmilla’s mother that he would care for her until she came back from her trip after three months. Carmilla is also described as being, according to one character in the book, “The prettiest creature I ever saw; about your age, and so gentle and nice.” As the story progresses, Laura and Carmilla begin to form a special kind of bond, one that appears to be romantic. It is then revealed that the woman that Laura had seen in her past looked very similar to Carmilla and that the latter also experienced something where she saw a woman resembling Laura. These similar experiences are just one of the many things that the two bond over, but soon, their relationship evolves into something eerier. Carmilla begins acting very mysterious, such as acting flirtatious only to withdraw herself. Carmilla had habits that Laura could not figure out, to which she thinks to herself, “Was she, notwithstanding her mother’s volunteered denial, subject to brief visitations of insanity; or was there here a disguise and a romance?” What is interesting to note here is that one particular phrase Le Fanu uses: “Disguise.” Given Laura’s dream and now the usage of disguise regarding Carmilla’s odd behavior, Le Fanu subtly hints that there is something darker afoot with the visitor in Laura’s home. When the audience is first introduced to Carmilla, she is a sickly damsel-in-distress, but as time goes on, that appears to be just an illusion.

The theme of disguise and masks is very present in the story and certainly makes for a great mystery. Not only is the theme of mystery and hidden nature present in the characters, but even the setting. 

While the setting is clearly one where dangerous shadows are lurking in every corner, Le Fanu does not refrain from trying to portray it as beautiful in a sense. In one instance, when Laura, her father and their servants are walking outside, Laura observes the glade and bridge which lie just near their property. As she makes note of the night scenery around her, she says, “My father, who enjoyed the picturesque, and I, stood looking in silence over the expanse beneath us. The two good governesses, standing a little behind us, discoursed upon the scene, and were eloquent upon the moon.” This is the first instance of the theme of duality that is present in Le Fanu’s narrative. In an earlier segment, the forest and land were seen almost as dark and lonely places, but now there is a kind of tranquil beauty to it. This theme is further cemented in the case of the moon, which is described in terms of being a great spiritual power. “The effect of the full moon in such a state of lunacy was manifold. It acted on dreams, it acted on lunacy, it acted on nervous people, it had marvelous physical influences connected with life.” While the moon is described as something brilliant, it is also powerful. It is not only beautiful, but it is haunting. As above, so below, because just as the forest is elegant, yet haunted, the moon is divine, yet sinister.   

All in all, “Carmilla” is a hauntingly beautiful story of mystery, attraction and hidden evil. Not only does this story provide the first English vampire story in literature, but it also contains the now essential features of vampires such as shapeshifting, bloodstained fangs and associations with sensuality and shadows. If Dracula is the king of all vampires, then Carmilla is the rightful queen, and I recommend this story not just because it’s a good story, but also to see the humble beginnings of the vampire genre.

I give “Carmilla” 10 vampire cats out of 10.