Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla is a gothic novella from the late 19th century, weaving a tale of mystery, desire, and the supernatural. Set in a remote castle in Styria, the story follows Laura, a sheltered young woman whose life takes a dark turn with the arrival of the enigmatic Carmilla.

From the outset, the novella immerses readers in an eerie atmosphere as Laura recounts a disturbing childhood encounter with a mysterious woman, foreshadowing the strange events to come. When a carriage accident unexpectedly leaves Carmilla as a guest at Laura’s home, the two develop an intense and unsettling bond. As their relationship deepens, Laura is plagued by vivid dreams and unexplained illness, while hints of Carmilla’s true nature slowly unravel.

Through its haunting setting and themes of identity, longing, and the uncanny, Carmilla explores the boundaries of human emotion and the chilling allure of the unknown, making it a cornerstone of gothic literature and an early influence on vampire fiction.