Carmilla
Illustration from The Dark Blue by D. H. Friston, 1872 | |
| Author | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | The Dark Blue |
| Genre | Gothic, horror |
| Set in | Styria, 19th century |
| Publisher | British & Colonial Publishing, London |
Publication date | 1871–1872 |
| Publication place | Ireland |
| Pages | 108 |
| 823.8 | |
| LC Class | PR4879 .L7 |
| Text | Carmilla at Wikisource |
Carmilla is an 1872 Gothic novella by Irish author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. It is one of the earliest known works of vampire fiction, predating Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897) by 25 years. First published as a serial in The Dark Blue (1871–72), the story is narrated by a young woman who is preyed upon by a female vampire named "Carmilla". The titular character is the prototypical example of the fictional lesbian vampire, expressing romantic desires toward the protagonist. Carmilla is regarded as one of the most influential vampire stories of all time, and the work is popularly anthologised, having been adapted extensively for films, movies, operas, video games, comics, songs, cartoons, television, and other media.