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A review by academicaries
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
When I saw that my local bookstore sold this edition, I immediately rushed for it. Carmen María Machado's prelude was incredibly insightful, from describing that this story is inspired by real characters, and by the Solo 9 Comet. . It's clear that Machado's expertise shone through this edition.
With regards to the artwork, I found it to be more fantastical than historical, which I didn't appreciate; some of the illustrations are anachronistic, at times seeming childish rather than sober. Nonetheless, I still admired them, and appreciated them for adding to the story's complexity.
While the story is short, it's engrossing. Knowing that Sheridan Le Fanu's story was the natural precursor to Dracula, made the reading experience all the more immersive, as well as the aforementioned historical context. While I read through the story, I was brought back in time to my first years of college, when I was studying nineteenth-century literature, the likes of Percy Shelley and Lord Byron, and how much I missed that time. It's clear to say that this is one of my favorite stories from that century, and I'm even happier to say that this is is the first work I've collected in my library from an Irish author.
With regards to the artwork, I found it to be more fantastical than historical, which I didn't appreciate; some of the illustrations are anachronistic, at times seeming childish rather than sober. Nonetheless, I still admired them, and appreciated them for adding to the story's complexity.
While the story is short, it's engrossing. Knowing that Sheridan Le Fanu's story was the natural precursor to Dracula, made the reading experience all the more immersive, as well as the aforementioned historical context. While I read through the story, I was brought back in time to my first years of college, when I was studying nineteenth-century literature, the likes of Percy Shelley and Lord Byron, and how much I missed that time. It's clear to say that this is one of my favorite stories from that century, and I'm even happier to say that this is is the first work I've collected in my library from an Irish author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Murder