Books by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Originally told as a series of short stories, this is a gothic masterpiece of a Victorian vampire that predates Bram Stoker's Dracula be nearly 25 years. The main character Laura is mercilessly pursued by the vampire Carmilla. This work tells the story of the friendship that the two become closest of friends even to the point that Carmilla tries to romantically advance on Laura. Although she desires companionship this is not what she wants and the truth of the vampire traits of Carmilla start to come forth. People start dying of strange maladies and other distinct evidences of vampirism start to abound as Carmilla continues to try to find companionship with Laura.

Joseph Sheridan le Fanu was the leading ghost-story writer of the nineteenth century, and he is now seen as central to the development of the genre in the Victorian era. His work is credited with turning the Gothic's focus from the external sources of horror to the inward effects of terror, thus helping to create the psychological basis for supernaturalist literature that continues to this day. First published in 1872, le Fanu's novella 'Carmilla' tells the story of a young woman falling for the chamrs of a female vampire, and predates Bram Stoker's Dracula by 25 years. Many of the earliest and most interesting vampire stories, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Joseph Sheridan le Fanu was the leading ghost-story writer of the nineteenth century, and he is now seen as central to the development of the genre in the Victorian era. His work is credited with turning the Gothic's focus from the external sources of horror to the inward effects of terror, thus helping to create the psychological basis for supernaturalist literature that continues to this day. Inspired by the Dutch painter Godfried Schalcken, 'Schalken the Painter' is a timeless Gothic tale. Many of the earliest occult stories, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

In 1815 a wealthy young Englishman, Richard Beckett, travels to France seeking increased wealth and adventure. Stopping to help a nearly overturned carriage, Richard meets a stunning but oppressed Countess who soon becomes his object of infatuation.Hoping to become her rescuer, he follows her to Paris where he becomes embroiled in a situation beyond his understanding. Staying in the Dragon Volant, an inn with a dubious past, Richard attempts to ignore the stories of three previous tenants who vanished while staying in the very room he occupies.

Before Edward and Bella, before Lestat and Louis, even before Dracula and Mina, there was the tale of Carmilla and Laura. Featuring six black-and-white illustrations by comics artist Gouveia, this volume includes the bonus Le Fanu tale, "Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter." 128 pp.