Coming Soon: The Annotated Carmilla

There is more 19th Century vampire literature than one might, at first glance, think. There are some wonderfully obscure works with fabulous lore. Be that as it may there are three main works; a short, a novella and a novel that had more impact on the genre than any other piece of 19th Century literature (and, I would argue, remain the most influential works through into the 21st Century).

John Polidori’s The Vampyre: A Tale created the prototype for the nobleman vampire, the story was the first English language vampire tale and in many respects it started the genre.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the singularly most influential vampire story ever. Through the book, and subsequent retellings, re-imaginings and downright alterations in other books, plays, TV shows, webcasts, movies and even breakfast cereal, Dracula is the source of most vampire lore.

We must not forget the influence of Carmilla, however. Not only for the influence it had on Stoker but in its own right. The story has been adapted several times and the names Carmilla and Karnstein (and anagrams of the former) crop up in many, many vampire tales.

Friend of the blog D. MacDowell Blue has created an annotated version of Carmilla and, if you look at the cover, you’ll see that I have written the preface for the book. The book will be available very soon – more details later – but for now there is a trailer. Please enjoy: