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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
It's been a long time since I read any LeFanu, but I grew up near his childhood home in Abington, so he featured a lot in the class of a particular teacher who placed a lot of stress on local history. This seemed to lead to her taking an interest in things horror, so the class library featured gloriously garish books on the subject, covering topics like Dracula, Edgar Allan Poe, Hack The Ripper (Hack The Ripper? That's a typo but I don't want to edit it out... ) complete with bloodcurdling illustrations.
Of the stories in this collection, I'm sure I read the first three - Mr Justice Harbottle in particular struck a chord as I think it was the first in a subgenre of ghost stories featuring wicked judges I ever encountered. They're great stories, though they can be a bit involved in terms of getting to the central narrator, with introductions by the guy who found the journals of the guy who wrote the letters to the guy who once met this fellow with a peculiar tale to relate, and so on. Green Tea in particular seems almost archetypal in terms of chilling ghostly encounter.
The Room At The Dragon Volant I don't think I ever read before, though I do remember one of the teacher's books going into detail about Victorian terror of premature burial, so chances are it was discussed. I wonder if there was a whole genre of sensational novels and novellas about callow but good-hearted but headstrong youths going to the continent and being lead elaborately astray by rogues both beautiful and foul, all in league. Certainly it's an entertaining romp and a precursor of certain types of noir, I would think. Our hero is fortunate to escape with his life and a lesson in the excesses of sin - a modern hero might find himself corrupted to the point of destruction. Though maybe they had that sort of instructive fable, too.
Carmilla I definitely never read, though I've certainly heard of it. Deliciously creepy and sinister tale of vampirism in a remote mountain schloss, Carmilla herself is a compelling creation with her naked lust for the young heroine, feeding off her vitality as much as her blood, an emotional parasite as well a a bloodsucking one.
Great to be reminded why LeFanu is regarded as such an influential writer in the gothic/ghost/horror genre. Wonderfully written stories of atmosphere and unease.
Of the stories in this collection, I'm sure I read the first three - Mr Justice Harbottle in particular struck a chord as I think it was the first in a subgenre of ghost stories featuring wicked judges I ever encountered. They're great stories, though they can be a bit involved in terms of getting to the central narrator, with introductions by the guy who found the journals of the guy who wrote the letters to the guy who once met this fellow with a peculiar tale to relate, and so on. Green Tea in particular seems almost archetypal in terms of chilling ghostly encounter.
The Room At The Dragon Volant I don't think I ever read before, though I do remember one of the teacher's books going into detail about Victorian terror of premature burial, so chances are it was discussed. I wonder if there was a whole genre of sensational novels and novellas about callow but good-hearted but headstrong youths going to the continent and being lead elaborately astray by rogues both beautiful and foul, all in league. Certainly it's an entertaining romp and a precursor of certain types of noir, I would think. Our hero is fortunate to escape with his life and a lesson in the excesses of sin - a modern hero might find himself corrupted to the point of destruction. Though maybe they had that sort of instructive fable, too.
Carmilla I definitely never read, though I've certainly heard of it. Deliciously creepy and sinister tale of vampirism in a remote mountain schloss, Carmilla herself is a compelling creation with her naked lust for the young heroine, feeding off her vitality as much as her blood, an emotional parasite as well a a bloodsucking one.
Great to be reminded why LeFanu is regarded as such an influential writer in the gothic/ghost/horror genre. Wonderfully written stories of atmosphere and unease.
Reads like a combination of Dumas and Poe. Great stuff.
Five supernatural (or are they?) tales from Le Fanu, the best of which, is the longest; The Room in the Dragon Volant, an amusing historical romance set in a politically unstable France, complete with mysterious beautiful woman in distress, gentleman hero, mysterious circumstances, oriental magic, conspiracy, secrets and jealousies. This story is eclipsed in fame by the last, Carmilla, despite it really being not as good; that's what feeding Victorians with such sensations as lesbian vampires will do! The story builds a tremendous mood of Goffick mystery and horror only to blow it with the denouement which has no tension at all. Such a waste.
The other stories are less memorable but not bad and I would suggest that any fan of the Goffick or supernatural really needs to read this collection.
The other stories are less memorable but not bad and I would suggest that any fan of the Goffick or supernatural really needs to read this collection.
Essentially this can be divided into 3 sections:
Green Tea\The Familiar\Mr. Justice Harbottle
3 short similar stories where people may or may not be plagued by supernatural elements. They are interesting but lack a really great atmosphere.
The Room in the Dragon Volant
A long and rather dull mystery story. A real disappointment.
Carmilla
The main reason to read this selection. It is one of the most influential horror stories ever written. This does unfortunately mean that many elements are too well known to the modern reader but it is still fascinating.
Green Tea\The Familiar\Mr. Justice Harbottle
3 short similar stories where people may or may not be plagued by supernatural elements. They are interesting but lack a really great atmosphere.
The Room in the Dragon Volant
A long and rather dull mystery story. A real disappointment.
Carmilla
The main reason to read this selection. It is one of the most influential horror stories ever written. This does unfortunately mean that many elements are too well known to the modern reader but it is still fascinating.