Carmilla | Adaptive Reader
Our Novels/Carmilla
Novella
High School (9–12)
Adult Learners
Horror
LGBTQ+ Voices
European Voices
1800–1899
Carmilla
by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Reading Levels
Languages
Summary
About The Author
Key Themes
Publication Year
Historical Context
Content Disclaimer
Reading Levels
Total words
27,851
Unique Words
4,072
Lexile Level
1040L
Reading Ease
Languages
English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian.
Summary
"Carmilla" by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu is a gothic novella that tells the eerie tale of a young woman named Laura who befriends the mysterious and alluring Carmilla. As their friendship deepens, Laura becomes increasingly ill, leading to the revelation that Carmilla is a vampire preying on her. The story explores themes of seduction, the supernatural, and the thin line between friendship and danger.
About The Author
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814–1873) was an Irish writer renowned for his contributions to the Gothic fiction genre. His most notable works include the novel Uncle Silas and the novella Carmilla, which is one of the earliest vampire tales and a precursor to Dracula. Le Fanu's mastery of suspense and supernatural elements has earned him a lasting legacy as a pioneer of Victorian ghost stories.
Key Themes
Vampirism, female friendship, sexuality, isolation, gothic horror.
Publication Year
1872
Historical Context
"Carmilla" by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was published in 1872 during the Victorian era, a time characterized by strict social mores and a fascination with the supernatural. The novella reflects the period's anxieties about sexuality and the unknown, as well as the burgeoning interest in Gothic literature. Its historical significance lies in its pioneering role in vampire fiction, predating Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and influencing the genre's development.
Content Disclaimer
Contains themes of vampirism, supernatural horror, and implied lesbian relationships, as well as depictions of violence and death.
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