Carmilla (Heathen Edition)

<p><strong style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu</strong><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> (1814-1873) was an Irish author of Gothic mystery and horror fiction. In 1872 he published the Gothic novella </span><strong style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)><em>Carmilla</em></strong><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> which is noted as one of the earliest works of vampire fiction predating Bram Stoker's </span><em style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>Dracula</em><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> by 26 years and whose enduring influence can be recognized in every modern vampire tale. Serialized first in the literary magazine </span><em style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>The Dark Blue</em><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> then collected in Le Fanu's short story collection </span><strong style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)><em>In a Glass Darkly</em></strong><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)> the narrative is presented as part of the casebook of one Dr. Martin Hesselius whose departure from medical orthodoxy rank him as one of the first occult detectives in literature while the story itself is narrated by a young woman named Laura who is seduced and preyed upon by a female vampire: the novella's namesake Carmilla.</span></p>