Description
CARMILLA AND OTHER VAMPIRESSES
Book Summary
This volume brings together the foundational stories of the vampire archetype in 19th-century literature. Through texts by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Théophile Gautier, and Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, the work explores the female vampire figure as a symbol of forbidden desire and sexual transgression. The reader will find an anthology that connects classic horror with social criticism, revealing how the fear of female freedom was hidden behind a fascination with the supernatural.
What is it about?
The anthology delves into 18th and 19th-century literature to recover the stories that shaped the myth of the female vampire. Each tale presents the vampire woman as a being who embodies repressed sexual desire and a threat to bourgeois morality. From the cadaverous beauty of Poe's Ligeia and Berenice, through Gautier's immortal courtesan Clarimonde, to the disturbing lesbian relationship in Le Fanu's Carmilla, the stories explore the ambiguity between pleasure and pain, love and cruelty. The work not only offers Gothic horror but unveils how these narratives reflect Western society's panic over female emancipation, turning the vampire into a catalyst for the repressions of the era.
Main themes
- The female vampire as a symbol of forbidden sexual desire and transgression in 19th-century literature.
- The representation of women as dangerous and liberated figures, clashing with Anglo-Saxon bourgeois morality.
- The ambiguity between pleasure and pain, love and cruelty in romantic and erotic relationships.
- Social fear of female freedom and its expression through the horror and supernatural genres.
- The literary origins of the female vampire myth, from Poe's poetry to Le Fanu's prose.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in classic horror literature, the Gothic, and vampire stories. It is also of great value to those studying the representation of women in 19th-century literature and the symbolism of repressed desire. It is ideal for fans of authors like Poe, Gautier, and Le Fanu, as well as those seeking a critical perspective on female archetypes in the fantasy genre.
What this book offers
- A selection of foundational stories that allow for an understanding of the literary origin of the female vampire myth.
- A critical perspective that links classic horror with social criticism and gender analysis.
- The opportunity to discover or rediscover key texts by renowned 19th-century authors.
- A reading that combines the entertainment of Gothic horror with a profound reflection on morality and sexuality.
- An approach that reveals the ambiguity of pleasure and pain in human relationships through the supernatural.
Technical specifications
- Author: Various Authors
- Publisher: DEL NUEVO EXTREMO
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: CLASSIC FICTION, CLASSIC HORROR AND GHOST STORIES
- Collection: VAMPIRES
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: October 2021
- Number of pages: 384
- Weight: 400 g
Editorial review
This anthology offers a necessary look at a literary archetype that has shaped the horror genre and fantastic narrative. The selection of stories, which includes pieces by Poe, Gautier, and Le Fanu, allows the reader to trace the evolution of the female vampire myth and its symbolic weight. The value of the work lies not only in the quality of the texts but in the critical context that unites them, showing how classic horror can be a vehicle for exploring social and gender tensions. It is a highly recommended read for both specialists and fans seeking to delve into the roots of the genre.