A few words about the author:

Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu (28 August 1814– 7 February 1873) was an Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels. He was the leading ghost-story writer of the nineteenth century and was central to the development of the genre in the Victorian Era. Three of his best-known works are Uncle Silas, Carmilla and The House by the Churchyard. His first success was published in 1851 But already in 1850, Le Fanu wrote the ne: The Mysterious Lodger, that he anonymously published in the Dublin University Magazine. After the death of his wife, April 28, 1858, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu dedicated exclusively to writing fantasy novels. And he became the owner of the Dublin University Magazine which he sold in 1872. He finally died in 1873 in Dublin.

A short summary of the plot:

Laura, the only daughter of an English man installed in Styria, hosts without concern Carmilla, an unknown young that an accident has thrown in his way. Vampiric clues will appear in the countryside, in the castle and on the body of the girls.The mysterious friend which was very beautiful, celebs Laura declarations so ardent that the young woman is confident that at this time Carmilla is a young transvestite man.

The efforts by his father and two strong and friendly preceptors to protect her from evil have no effect: Laura becomes listless, paralyzed by the excess of love and the poor monster, half-woman, half-vampire who lavishes her. Laura is loved by Carmilla who kills slowly.

What makes this story gothic?

- the setting: it is in a strange and familiar setting of ruins and desolate forests in a very far country of the United Kingdom, the birthplace of the author. The atmosphere is very gloomy and frightening.


- the characters:

There is Carmilla, the main character. She is a vampire. She is strange because we do not learn much about her. Carmilla strikes by her great sensuality: she is described as very affectionate, voluptuous. It's a woman who is striking for its immense beauty: this vampire lady seduces his victims more than she attacks. Having had an accident, it is collected by Laura, a girl who misses much only because it is High by his father. Gradually they realize they have link and they are closely spaced more and more. Carmilla soon manifested a passionate love for Laura, and her feelings are mixed to the latter, which has a deep trouble before Carmilla beauty at the same time that a certain repulsion.

-the mood: the general mood of the story is very dark. This creates a mysterious story between dream and reality.

-the evolution: What strikes us most is the striking change of Laura from start to finish. She is hesitating at first, then she lets herself be swept away by the behavior of Carmilla.

THE IMAGINARY

The concept of imagination is truly present in this book. Indeed, we have to do a vampire and who, moreover, is attracted to girls and not by men.