Robert Edward Bridges

The book itself is a masterpience, especially with the first erotic interplay between vampire and victim. To think this novel was published in 1872 is exceptional for the High Victorian literary world. The story is fascinating and very imaginative, a riveting read again and again. It has been 30 years since discovering it among the shelves of ghost stories and ranks absolutely in the top Gothic masterpieces of horror. The movie adaptations are far below the gold standard of storytelling and descriptive detail provides by Le Fanu's own hand; best to read then see the movie versions. I have always wished there had been a prologue to understand better the mesmerizing Carmilla/Mircalla character and what was the cursed origins of the evil Karnstein Family.