Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Carmilla
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
133 posts | 234 read | 138 to read
CarmillaJ. Sheridan LeFanuClassic Gothic FictionGOTHIC VAMPIRES GALORECarmilla is a Gothic novella by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu and one of the early works of vampire fiction. It was first published in 1871 as a serial narrative in The Dark Blue. It tells the story of a young woman's susceptibility to the attentions of a female vampire named Carmilla. It predates Bram Stoker's Dracula by 26 years. The story has been adapted many times in film and other media.The story is presented by Le Fanu as part of the casebook of Dr. Hesselius, whose departures from medical orthodoxy rank him as the first occult doctor in literature. The story is narrated by Laura, one of the two main protagonists of the tale.Laura begins her tale by relating her childhood in a "picturesque and solitary" castle in the midst of an extensive forest in Styria, where she lives with her father, a wealthy English widower, retired from the Austrian Service. When she was six years old, Laura had a vision of a beautiful visitor in her bedchamber. She later claims to have been bitten on the chest, although no wounds are found on her.Twelve years later, Laura and her father are admiring the sunset in front of the castle when her father tells her of a letter he received earlier from his friend, General Spielsdorf. The General was supposed to bring his niece, Bertha Rheinfeldt, to visit the two, but the niece suddenly died under mysterious circumstances. The General ambiguously concludes that he will discuss the circumstances in detail when they meet later.Laura is saddened by the loss of a potential friend, and longs for a companion. A carriage accident outside Laura's home unexpectedly brings a girl of Laura's age into the family's care. Her name is Carmilla. Both girls instantly recognize the other from the "dream" they both had when they were young.Carmilla appears injured after her carriage accident, but her mysterious mother informs Laura's father that her journey is urgent and cannot be delayed. She arranges to leave her daughter with Laura and her father until she can return in three months. Before she leaves, she sternly notes that her daughter will not disclose any information whatsoever about her family, past, or herself, and that Carmilla is of sound mind. Laura comments that this information seems needless to say, and her father laughs it off.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
HeyT
Carmilla | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
post image

Testing out our new yard umbrella with Rolo while reading. Seems to be working out perfectly so far.

ShelleyBooksie Rolo ♡♡♡♡ 6d
17 likes1 comment
blurb
Tkimsal
Carmilla | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
post image

Winding up the spooky reads for this Halloween season. This was very good.

blurb
RowReads1
post image

I‘m pretty sure I first read this in middle school🧛‍♂️. Vampires what can I say🤷‍♀️! This is a cool illustrated copy to have.

blurb
KateReadsYA
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image

If anyone would like to sign up for the last round of #LMPBC hosted by @suvata just click the link below. There are tons of spots still open. If you are interested in some gothic vibes, join me for reading this round.
🦇🌹🕸🩸🐈‍⬛️❤️💀
*
*
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vkmQzUrDDP80lAM1fsanpoiJiv05NxU1qR3ZSbGY...

suvata I‘m with you 9mo
KateReadsYA @suvata Yayyy! I'm so excited to read with you. 9mo
30 likes2 comments
review
gossamerchild
Carmilla | J. Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

I bought this on a whim, after a Barnes and Noble employee recommended it. Quick, creepy, and kinda fun. And some quick word search points for #scarathlon.

Team #BOOklovers @Bookwormjillk

review
PuddleJumper
Carmilla | J. Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

I always start #scarathlon with a reread of Carmilla. Gets me into that spooky mood. I'm not feeling 100% today so already in a blanket with some graphic novels to read.

#mischiefandmayhem

5feet.of.fury Hope you feel better! But I love an excuse to hunker down on a blanket burrito and read. 13mo
See All 13 Comments
Bookwormjillk Hope you feel better! 13mo
PuddleJumper @5feet.of.fury Thanks! Think it's just a cold but it's a great reason to snuggle and read 13mo
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 13mo
Read4life Feel better soon! Enjoy your cozy reading time 🤓 13mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Enjoy your cozy time!! 13mo
dabbe Hope you're feeling better soon! 🧡🎃🧡 13mo
Catsandbooks Hope you feel better! 13mo
PuddleJumper @dabbe Thanks! 13mo
30 likes13 comments
review
KateReadsYA
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Pickpick

Read this in one setting and loved the writing style! Perfect gothic read.

56 likes1 stack add
review
rachelk
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Pickpick

Laura lives a quiet and somewhat lonely life with her father in an Austrian castle surrounded by a secluded forest, until the beautiful and mysterious Carmilla arrives….

The original sexy vampire story, ‘Carmilla‘ is a short must read for fans of the genre. 🧛‍♀️

36 likes1 stack add
review
eol
Carmilla | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

I listened to the dramatized version starring Phoebe Fox as Carmilla, Rose Leslie as Laura, and David Tennant as Dr Hesselius (an ovious precursor of Van Helsing), and it was a blast. Such quality performance, and the text itself also doesn‘t disappoint. I sometimes don‘t like classics because of the stiffness of both the language and the storytelling—not a case this time. Hard to believe something like this was written in the XIXth century. 4.0/5

8 likes1 comment
blurb
WJCintron
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image

Listening to this audiobook for the #scarathlon22 #challenge & #littenlisten bingo while I work on a sketch. Can‘t wait to show you, guys! 🥺

The narration! OMGOSH!!!! 🙌🔥🔥🌈❤️

What are you up to?!
✅ Template by @probably_reading_right_now_ 🤩

#currentlyreading #bookstagram #teammonstermash #scarathlon #tbrlist #vampires #horrorbooks #camilla #hellooctober #instadaily #classic #lgbt

blurb
wildwoodreads
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image

I‘ve been on the hunt for the best vampire story. And since Carmilla inspired Dracula I figured that would be the place to start.

This is supposedly where it all began and I can totally see why. Carmilla was eerie and creepy. Definitely one to read in the daylight. If you‘re a vampire lover you need to check this one out.

Full review: https://wildwoodreads.com/2022/09/21/carmilla-review/

JamieArc Gorgeous cover too. 2y
Linsy Love this copy!!! 2y
NenaB Your right Carmilla was creepy! (edited) 2y
See All 6 Comments
wildwoodreads @Linsy Right! Isn‘t it gorgeous? 😍 2y
wildwoodreads @NenaB Yes! I didn‘t expect it to be since it was so short, but I loved it. 2y
70 likes4 stack adds6 comments
review
Fammybooks
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
Pickpick

This book was a quick read. I also feel that this book was a bit predictable, but I fully enjoyed it. #classichorror #librarybook #ebook #audiobook

EvieBee Is he classified as classic horror? 3y
Fammybooks @EvieBee yes. I believe so. 3y
8 likes2 comments
review
JessTedrick
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
Mehso-so

Kind of expected more.

blurb
Bookgoil
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image

Just finished my bingo board for #littenlisten scoring some fabulous points for #teamhendrix @StayCurious @aperfectmjk #scarathlon2021 had a fun time reading spooky books this month!

Soubhiville 😲 wow! Nice! 3y
aperfectmjk Nicely done! 👏 3y
15 likes2 comments
blurb
Grizzlan
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image

Listening to my newest audible book while I take care of my little one.

6 likes1 stack add
blurb
Ast_Arslan
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
#Haunted

5. #Vampire

Not my fav vampire's tale 😂

Eggs Spot on 🧛🏼‍♀️🖤🧛🏼‍♀️ 3y
18 likes1 comment
review
PuddleJumper
Carmilla | J. Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

This is one of my favourite Victorian Gothic novels. Reading it as one of my 'free' bingo squares

#scarathlon2021 #TeamSlaughter #screamathon #BookSpinBingo #SpookOWeen #Wickedathon

@TheSpineView, @TheAromaofBooks, @4thhouseontheleft @Clwojick

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
TheSpineView Great job! 3y
10 likes2 comments
review
AudiobookingWithLeah
Carmilla | J. Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

3¾⭐ | NARRATION 😍 = Amazing
It‘s crazy that this was written back in 1872...and that I listened to it, and liked it. I don‘t usually like books written earlier than the 2000s. Maybe, I would like them more if Audible did full-cast productions of them like this one was. While this performance was a tad breathy, it was still fun. Despite being able to discern where the story was headed.

review
CourtSmall
post image
Pickpick

Book 208/2021. Finished 29/8/21 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#arc #netgalley #carmilladeluxeedition

blurb
IMASLOWREADER
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image

so yeah this happened this last weekend 😁 #readinglife #audiophile #20in4 @Andrew65

Andrew65 Well done, thanks for playing along 👏👏👏🙌🥳😍 3y
9 likes1 comment
review
BookishRedhead
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

Finally a classic I liked!
Victorian, gothic and a female vampire!
Carmilla reminded me a little bit of Claudia from Interview With The Vampire.
Should be as famous as Dracula.
Quick read.

10 likes1 stack add
review
bibliobard
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Panpan

First time managing a bingo for #BookSpinBingo and I even managed both my #DoubleSpin and #Bookspin

Not a lot of reading today though — mostly watching Halloween flicks. So with final reading times and episodes to spook...today‘s total is 115.

Week 4 total is 381. Grand total is 1516.
#Scarathlon2020 #TeamHarkness #Screamathon2020 #creaturefeaturethon

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 4y
StayCurious Great job! 4y
13 likes2 comments
review
JoeMo
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Pickpick

This is a short read that can be finished in under two hours if one can stay focused. It actually moves at a very slow pace until things finally start to happen over the last three chapters. The ending was fun and the read ended up being worth it! This is the book that supposedly influenced Bram Stoker so it‘s interesting to see how elements of Lefanu‘s vampire resemble those of the modern bloodsucker.

13 likes3 stack adds
blurb
JoeMo
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image

Oh the excitement of figuring out how to add Litsy to my Kindle Fire...sometimes it‘s really the little things!!😂👍🥳

ValerieAndBooks You can also go to Litsy on the web Litsy.com , in case you didn‘t know 😊 4y
JoeMo Thanks for the heads up. I wasn‘t aware. It might have been related to the fact the article that convinced me to sign up was from several years ago and only mentioned the app incarnations! 🤗 4y
15 likes2 comments
blurb
JoeMo
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image

Part of my holiday-related reading...I couldn‘t wait for October!

8 likes1 stack add
review
TheSpineView
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Mehso-so

I listened to this short novella yesterday. It is somewhere between So-so and a pick for me. While the story was lacking I loved the narration. This is a Victorian vampire story said to influence Bram Stoker's Dracula.

johncadams Love this story! 5y
81 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
sdbruening
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Pickpick

Listened to this on audiobook. Excellent reader; creepy and alluring. I like the descriptive, almost over-dramatic writing. I don‘t know if I‘ve read a traditional gothic ghost story before, and I‘d be interested in reading more. There‘s definitely suspense set up and almost too much information given away right away but there are still raw, disturbing moments. I just thought the ending fizzled out a bit.

review
LiterRohde
Carmilla | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

Before Dracula - there was Carmilla! Carmilla was definitely Victorian. It read to me like an epistolary novel mixed with a manor novel mixed with gothic horror. The difference being that it was very short (Little Dorrit anyone). And it was oddly erotic. But I think that is a hallmark of this writing period and style? Thoughts? It was a bit jarring to my modern sensibilities, but I liked it on the whole.

#Booked2020 | #FinishedInADay

📷: Audible

Texreader I liked it. It was fascinating that it was written so long before Stoker wrote Dracula. 5y
53 likes4 stack adds1 comment
review
Lizpixie
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

I forgot to post this before the 1st, but I listened to this novella as my #ReadWithMrBook #January #OneWordTitle Written in 1872,it‘s a vampire novella that predates Bram Stoker by almost 30yrs. The story of Laura, a young girl who becomes preyed upon by a female vampire in Austria, Laura lives with her father & is lonely until one night a woman & her daughter arrive claiming a carriage accident outside their house, but not all is as it seems.

jb72 I recently read that and really enjoyed it. 5y
46 likes1 comment
review
mklong
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Pickpick


As if I needed another reason to love Machado‘s In the Dream House, it introduced me to this fantastic story. I think most read it to see the influence on Dracula, but it‘s very much worth reading on its on merit. It‘s scary, but it‘s the undercurrent of a dangerous, forbidden love that sets it apart.

Set in Styria, I think I can count it for Austria for #ReadingEurope2020

Also gets me off to a good start for #ClassicsChallenge2020

ShyBookOwl I really like this one! 5y
Reviewsbylola This sounds really good. Stacking! 5y
BarbaraBB Impressive choice! I am intrigued 👍🏼 5y
Librarybelle This sounds so good!! 5y
Linsy I listened to Audibles rendition of this last year and loved it! 5y
51 likes2 stack adds5 comments
review
BookwormAHN
Carmilla | J. Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

This is a fantastic audio version. Rose Leslie was amazing and David Tennant was quite entertaining 💙
#WinterGames #SlayBells #ImpulseRead
@Clwojick @StayCurious @MidnightBookGirl

GypsyKat I loved this too! 5y
mom2bugnbee Oh, mercy. You had me at "David Tennant". ? 5y
CoffeeK8 Oh yes! This was great! 5y
MidnightBookGirl I listened to this and liked it too! 11pts! 5y
K.Wielechowski 😱 Carmilla read by David Tennant?! *swoon* 5y
54 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
K.Wielechowski
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Pickpick

If you like vampire stories, you should check out the novella, Carmilla. It predates Dracula by about 60 years and Sheridan Le Fanu helped establish the gothic genre. Plus, lesbian vampires 🧛‍♀️

readingjedi Yes! I absolutely adore this story! 5y
K.Wielechowski @readingjedi I had never heard of it until my friend told me to read it. Now, I want one of my speech kids to use it for competition. (edited) 5y
7 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
MidnightBookGirl
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

For a vampire story written in 1872, this is pretty racy and creepy! #TeamSlaughter #scarathalon @Clwojick

Skygoddess1 I listened to this earlier in the month and thought the same thing. Surprised people weren‘t in an uproar over it given the time it was written 5y
38 likes3 stack adds1 comment
review
HoneyBeeLee
Carmilla | MR J Sheridan Le Fanu
Pickpick

Keeping the spooky season going. Listened to the dramatized version of this while I stayed late at work. Have to say really good vampire story I have come across recently. Defiantly a quick read/listen.

review
Crinoline_Laphroaig
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Pickpick

Cold and Rainy. Perfect day to listen to this month's freebie from Audible. I wasn't familiar with this classic that predates Dracula. It's a dramatization rather than Audio book. Great character Voices. Plus it's short listen just over 2 hours. 🧛‍♀️

review
GypsyKat
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Pickpick

This Audible dramatization was excellent! This book was partly the inspiration for Bram Stoker‘s Dracula, and has very much the same feel. This was one of the free selections for this month, and absolutely perfect for October! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

48 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Texreader
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image

Made my 3 free Audible picks for October, finally. I chose Carmilla thanks to the post by @Ericalambbrown making it sound very good!

How to Stop Time was a recent Audible credit acquisition. Just started it recently.

Ericalambbrown I took Carnival Row, too, because I really liked that series on Amazon. 😊 5y
Texreader @Ericalambbrown I am very anxious to watch it. It looks so good!! 5y
Gezemice I chose Carmilla, too, and loved it! They offer so many duds, but this one is a gem. 5y
40 likes3 comments
review
Ericalambbrown
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

This was one of the freebies from Audible this month. I had never heard of this story, somehow inexplicably. It‘s an excellent little vampire tale. And it was published in 1872, so it predates Dracula by 25 years or so. The cast is wonderful. Of course, they had me Tennant. Now I must find the tale to read as well. 😊🧛‍♀️ 📚🖤

#teamstoker #scararthon

TheSpineView I choose this one too this month. Glad to know it is good! 5y
Ericalambbrown @TheSpineView I thought it was good. Particularly considering the time it was written. I‘d imagine it was a wee bit scandalous at the time. 5y
TheSpineView @Ericalambbrown I bet it was! Wonder if it was that time period's 50 Shades of Grey?🤔 5y
BeansPage 🧟‍♀️ 5y
53 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Soubhiville
Carmilla | J. Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

This was a quick (3 ish hour) audiobook, with a female vampire. Written 25 years before Dracula, it‘s said to be a big influence of that more famous title.

I‘m not a huge fan of classics, but this one is faster paced than most, probably because of the length. It‘s got that fun horror feeling of dread, with a great bloody conclusion that‘ll definitely satisfy.

Just barely a pick for me, if it were longer I wouldn‘t have enjoyed it as much.

Soubhiville Another heavily touted point of this novella is it‘s lesbian leanings. There‘s definitely something to be said of the attraction between the main character and her friend. It didn‘t get explicit though, at least in my opinion. #queerbooks #queerclassic 5y
52 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
KimM
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Pickpick

I loved this Audible production of Carmilla. David Tennant and especially Rose Leslie were wonderful. Perfect gothic horror for October.

review
suvata
Carmilla | J. Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

An Audible Original horror/vampire short novella — trying to squeeze some Halloween creepiness in this month

review
Gezemice
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

Carmilla is THE original vampire story - before Dracula, the vampire was female and loved women. Carmilla is a much subtler villain than a male vampire - she beguiles, lures, pursues in romantic love. Some scenes are very erotic - quite unexpected lesbian fantasy from a Victorian man. The story is thrilling and overly romanticized and melodramatic, but it works.

A fantastic free pickup from Audible for October 2019. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gezemice I picked it up because David Tennant is on the cover, but he only has a small role. Never mind, the cast does a wonderful job playing up the melodrama. I don‘t normally care for melodrama, but this is a Victorian piece and it just fits like a glove. Pick it up while it lasts! 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I was thinking about getting this version for a re-read, it‘s been awhile since I read it and I remember liking this gothic vampire story more than Dracula‘s. 5y
Scochrane26 This post makes me understand the characters‘ backstory in European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman. I hadn‘t heard of Carmilla before. (edited) 5y
See All 8 Comments
Gezemice @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I have read it a long time ago so I knew it was good - and it is free and David Tennant... what else does one need? I was in the mood for a short classic and this is great. You should get it, it is a quick listen that fits in between. 5y
Gezemice @Scochrane26 It is a classic but Dracula had eclipsed it. Another job started by females usurped by men... 😉 5y
Branwen This is my favorite vampire story 👿🦇😍 5y
Gezemice @Branwen I think mine too! 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Good. I‘ve always wanted to read this. 5y
58 likes1 stack add8 comments
review
Twainy
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

🎧 one of my free Audible books this month. I got it because David Tennant was billed first in the full cast. Well he‘s not prominent. He reads the part of the doctor with what seems like a poor Austrian accent? It is a creepy October book and short but nothing special. The Doctor‘s voice is recognizable so it gets an extra star & not So-So cuz it was short so while I may not get those 2 hours of my life back, meh, it was just 2 hours.😁 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

blurb
Gezemice
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image

Carmilla, the classic vampire story that started it all, is one of the free audiobook choices on Audible this month. David Tenant - I am sold.

#classics #scarathlon

GingerAntics TAKE IT!!! TAKE IT NOW!!! I‘m half tempted to get Audible just for him!!! Would I lose any books I had if I cancelled my subscription? 5y
Gezemice I did take it. It is only 2 hrs :) I don‘t think you lose your books. But this is a freebie so you‘d get two more for free. 5y
LatrelWhite I pick this one and getting ready to listen now!😊 5y
61 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
Skygoddess1
Carmilla | MR J Sheridan Le Fanu
post image
Pickpick

Car mills has long been on my TBR, so when I saw that Audible had a full cast production with David Tennant performing this story that inspired Bram Stoker‘s Dracula, I knew it was the right time to read it. Not a long story, but very engaging, made even more so with the audio production. I can see why Stoker was taken with this. The book fills the vampire scavenger hunt #TeamStoker #Scarathlon (2 pts for book team theme, 1 pt participation)

BeansPage 🧟‍♀️ 5y
11 likes1 comment
blurb
Oldschool_millenial
Carmilla: Large Print | Sheridan Le Fanu
post image

I saw David Tennant and the next thing I knew it was on my audible bookshelf 😍

review
Bookwomble
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image
Pickpick

There's no surprise as to the identity of the vampire in this classic gothic novel (it's the book's title!), so the burden of the story lies with Le Fanu's abilities to turn a phrase and to conjure an atmospheric scene. Fortunately, he's more than capable, and there's the reason why "Carmilla" has been in print since 1872. If the ending was a little abrupt, at least it contained the intriguing Baron Vordenburg, screaming for his own story!

saresmoore Great review! 5y
25 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Bookwomble
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image

An evocative cover for Le Fanu's classic vampire novella 🦇🖤🧛🏻‍♀️🖤 🦇

Linsy Love this cover! 😍😍😍 5y
22 likes1 comment
blurb
Aimeesue
Carmilla | J Sheridan Lefanu
post image

Because I've never read it, and because Carmilla and Laura turn up in European Travels for the Monstrous Gentlewoman. There's a lot going on here, for such a short novella.

Bookwomble Thanks for the reminder that I've been meaning to read this forever! I might even be able to read it in one go, this dark and stormy night! 😊 🧛🏻‍♀️🦇🌩🌙 5y
Aimeesue @Bookwomble It was very … different. Many lesbian/gay overtones, which surprised me. Made the European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman book I was listening to make much more sense, though! 5y
Bookwomble @Aimeesue When Hammer made it into a movie in the early '70s [The Vampire Lovers] the censor said they'd have to remove the risqué lesbian content, until the producers pointed out it was already in Le Fanu! I wonder how much of the sexual overtones the original readers would have recognised, given Queen Victoria's opinion that lesbianism didn't exist! 5y
Aimeesue Oh, Vicki! You poor dear! 😂 5y
29 likes1 stack add4 comments