The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion
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Carmilla
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The Gothic Project - Carmilla - Wk 2
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I agree wholeheartedly, “loose ends” was what most struck me about the end. The mother, along with her servants, coachman, and all the demonic-looking attendants, just vanished. I wondered about that: there were so many other ways Carmilla could have inserted herself into households (such as claiming to have been waylaid by highwaymen and presenting herself on the doorstep). In fact, why introduce her into genteel households at all—why can't she just ooze out of her coffin and wander the countryside at will, since she can pass through dirt and walls?Laura’s father seemed to have taken her on the expedition to Karnstein just so that they could fortuitously meet the general on the road, followed by the baron. The whole "picnic amid the ruins" thing seemed like an authorial ploy, and was dropped once they arrived.
Regarding Laura’s getting well, I don’t think it was too clearly articulated, but LeFanu seems to subscribe to the lore that distinguishes among different types or levels of bites. He says something about vampires having some victims they like to woo and suck from in stages, while others they just suck dry and strangle.
I was wondering about the General’s ward: why wasn’t there any worry that after her death, she would gradually become a vampire through the same process that Mircalla did? Maybe she needs the stake-and-beheading treatment as well.
I liked the way this story was written; the scenes and descriptions were nicely vivid, but it just seemed a bit lazy and hasty at the end.
Mod
It makes me want to read other things he's written. Hopefully, the ending is not an example of us usual.
I enjoyed this book greatly! The pace of the story was much better than the earlier examples of the genre that we have read, and LeFanu's prose was non-intrusive bordering on elegant. My greatest criticism is also about the loose ends. What happened to Carmilla's "mother" and atttendants and why were they necessary in the first place? Carmilla obviously had made victims of several other women in the surrounding area, so why did she resort to the subterfuge of damsel in distress with Laura and with the General's daughter? Overall, these are minor criticisms; I hope to read more of LeFanu's stories in the future.
Mod
A researcher found out that the correspondence between the doctor and "Laura" was real. Le Fanu had the letters in his home. "Laura," who was an early feminist named Veronika Hausle, described her tumultuous relationship with a woman named Marcia Maren. Veronika passionately loved her, but Marcia may have also been abusive to her in some way. The notes are not clear. Marcia was executed, for a reason also not explained in the notes.
Machado blames Le Fanu for "erasing" Veronika by changing her story. I disagree with her there. While I would like to know Veronika's real story (might have to look it up when I have more time), Le Fanu was a writer of horror fiction. Of course he's going to read the letters and say "What if Marcia was a vampire? Let's write it that way..." because that is what a fiction writer does; he was not a biographer.
If you get a chance, pick up Machado's edition of the book. You can read her introduction in 20 minutes in your local bookstore.
Oops, it looks as if Carmen Maria Machado’s book may be itself a fiction based on LeFanu! Not sure what’s true, but here’s a thread casting doubt on her evidence: https://www.reddit.com/r/books/commen....
Very interesting, but it looks as if Machado, who is a well-known writer of horror fiction, is playing a meta game with “Carmilla.” Her intro is a fiction wrapping around Le Fanu’s fiction: https://vol1brooklyn.com/2019/04/29/v....
Mod
Mod
This was the only edition my library had. I was not impressed by the editor's notes, not at all. I don't like it when throughout the story she imposed her opinions on me. That's not editing, at least that's not what we do here. I'm not a fan of Machado, to say the least. She actually ticked me off.🤷♀️
Mod
I just followed that link and read this:
"Its fictional, playing on the same presentation Le Fanu also used to present the story. Marcia Maren is an anagram of Carmen Maria."
I'm not happy.
Mod
Mod
Exactly so.
1) Why do you think Laura's father was taking her and Carmilla to Karnstein?
2) Twice we've heard about Carmilla's so-called "mother." Once when she appears on the road in front of Laura & her father's home and now in the General's story. Who is this woman? What happened to her?
3) When the General relays the story of his ward, why do you think Laura and/or her father weren't more alarmed by the similarities between her experience and the General's story?
4) Was anybody else kind of underwhelmed by the end of the book? While I think it was a quick easy read, it felt to me that there were a lot of loose ends. Did you feel the same way or where you satisfied with the ending?
5) How did Laura get well when the General's ward (as well as others previously)?
6) What did you think about the book overall?