Reading recommendation: Carmilla
Carmilla is a classic vampire story about a female vampire named Carmilla and her relationship with the also-female narrator named Laura. You can read it here or buy the collection it appears in here. It isn’t very long; perfect for a rainy afternoon, perhaps.
Back in the day it was published, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was a very popular writer, lesbian subtext was horrifying, and the whole vampire thing was a major plot twist. Of course, we can now see that twist coming from miles away even if every summary of this novella didn’t call it a vampire story. That is fair evidence, however, of how popular and thus commonplace its story has become.
Aside from the wonderfully atmospheric writing, our lesbian vampire Carmilla says some of the most yandere things in the history of literature. Here, I’ll list some of those out:
“You will think me cruel, very selfish, but love is always selfish; the more ardent the more selfish. How jealous I am you cannot know. You must come with me, loving me, to death; or else hate me and still come with me, and hating me through death and after.”
and:
“I live in you; and you would die for me, I love you so.”
and:
“Were you near dying?”
“Yes, very—a cruel love—strange love, that would have taken my life. Love will have its sacrifices. No sacrifice without blood.”
and several more, which I won’t be listing here because this novella is just too quotable.
All this flirting seduction stuff happens in the first half, but the rest of it is also worth reading, I think - it’s every inch the archetypal vampire novel. It’s more consistently executed than Dracula is and predates it by a couple of years. If you like Gothic fiction, you can’t miss this - although most of you will probably have read it already.
As for the characters - Laura is impressively passive, one of those standard damsels in distress who don’t do anything interesting themselves although interesting things happen in their vicinity. Carmilla is, naturally, the most interesting character. You might find her familiar, as she’s been copied in almost all stories featuring female vampires for the past century. She’s vividly portrayed here in all her yandere glory.
…I kind of want to write a yandere story interspersed with Carmilla quotes now. Maybe someday.
If you like, read it here. It’s in the public domain! Or if you want a physical book, or to check out some of Le Fanu’s other works, buy the collection (with free shipping worldwide!) here. It’s the same edition I have.
9 years ago | 38 notes
