Catherine Rose

Carmilla Catherine Rose

Publisher Marketing: Before Dracula, before Twilight....there was only one: CARMILLA Le Fanu's novella Carmilla originally published as a novella in 1872 is the very first vampire thriller and is acknowledged as a major influence on Bram Stoker's Dracula. Le Fanu, often compared to Poe, was a Victorian writer whose tales of the occult have inspired horror writers for more than a century. In this updated version has taken the original short story and seamlessly blended new characters, darker plot lines and scenes that approach the heights of gothic romance literature. Seemingly by happenstance, the mysterious and beautiful Carmilla comes to stay with the young and virtuous Laura, who has been living a lonely existence with her father in an isolated castle. As the two become close friends, however, Laura begins to dream of nocturnal visitations, blood soaked horrors and nameless terrors. By day she seems to waste away losing her physical strength. Through much investigation, the gruesome truth about Carmilla and her family is revealed. Though the basic premise of the story of evil targeting gentle innocence is familiar to anyone who is vampire savvy, this haunting tale is surprisingly fresh, avoids cliches and builds well to its heart stopping climax. Gothic horror at its best!" Contributor Bio:  Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan Comme plusieurs de ses compatriotes ecrivains, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu n'est connu en France que pour un seul de ses romans: "Carmilla", roman gothique flamboyant. Etudiant en droit a Trinity College de 1833 a 1837, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu est appele au barreau irlandais deux ans plus tard, mais il n'y exercera jamais. Il rejoint l'equipe du "Dublin University Magazine" en 1837 et debute sa carriere comme journaliste. En 1843, il epouse Susanna Bennett dont le deces, dix ans plus tard, le plonge dans la depression. Vivant reclus, il se lance alors a corps perdu dans l'ecriture de ses histoires d'horreur, a tel point que sa timidite et son mode de vie nocturne lui valent le surnom de Prince Invisible. Il disparait le 7 fevrier 1873. J. Sheridan Le Fanu est l'un des ecrivains les plus populaires de l'ere victorienne: il s'impose comme le maitre des histoires de fantomes et du roman gothique avec "Oncle Silas" (1864, Corti, 1997), "Comment ma cousine a ete assassinee" (Mille et une nuits, 2002) et "Carmilla" (1872, Zulma, 2005).