Sheridan Le Fanu – författare

'Succeeds in inspiring a mysterious terror better than any other writer' M.R. James

In an isolated castle deep in the Austrian forest, Laura leads a solitary life with only her ailing father for company. Until one moonlit night, a horse-drawn carriage crashes into view, carrying an unexpected guest - the beautiful Carmilla.

So begins a feverish friendship between Laura and her mysterious, entrancing companion. But as Carmilla becomes increasingly strange and volatile, prone to eerie nocturnal wanderings, Laura finds herself tormented by nightmares and growing weaker by the day...

Pre-dating Dracula by twenty-six years, Carmilla is the original vampire story, steeped in sexual tension and gothic romance.

English author Montague Rhodes James (1862–1936) is considered by many aficionados the unquestioned master of the modern ghost story, and several of his tales have served as source material for multiple creepy film versions. He broke new ground by abandoning many of the conventions of gothic mysteries and substituting contemporary settings, situations, and characters. Nevertheless, as a Cambridge medieval scholar, James was steeped in the esoteric lore of the Middle Ages, and he applied that scholarship brilliantly to his stories.

The four stories in this compilation not by James are meant to serve as prime illustrations of the best work of a few of his contemporaries and immediate antecedents.

Contents include:Casting the Runes – M. R. JamesWailing Well – M. R. JamesRats – M. R. JamesMezzotint – M. R. JamesCount Magnus – M. R. JamesNumber 13 – M. R. JamesOh, Whistle and I’ll Come – M. R. JamesThe Monkey’s Paw –W. W. JacobsGreen Tea – Sheridan Le FanuThe Screaming Skull – F. Marion CrawfordHow Love Came to Professor Guildea – Robert Hichens

First published in 1872, Carmilla is a classic gothic novella and one of the earliest examples of vampire fiction.Fast-paced and gripping, the story follows the protagonist Laura, who lives in a secluded castle in the woods with her father. One day, a carriage accident brings a young woman named Carmilla into their lives, and she is taken in as a guest. As time goes on, Laura becomes increasingly drawn to Carmilla, despite her strange behavior and the eerie occurrences happening in the castle. As their relationship deepens, Laura begins to suspect that Carmilla may not be who she seems, and that her presence may be linked to a series of mysterious deaths in the surrounding area.Carmilla has had a significant influence on the image of the vampire in popular culture, especially in its depiction of same-sex desire. The novel''s depiction of the relationship between Carmilla and Laura, which is both sensual and dangerous, was considered subversive for its time and Carmilla is now considered the original prototype for the lesbian vampire. With elements of horror, mystery, and the supernatural, Carmilla is a gripping tale of love and terror that remains celebrated and influential today.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.

Dramatisations and readings of Sheridan Le Fanu''s best-known Gothic masterpiecesOne of the leading ghost story writers of the Victorian era, Sheridan Le Fanu is renowned for his chilling tales of mystery and horror. His pioneering lesbian vampire novella Carmilla was a major influence on Bram Stoker''s Dracula, and spawned numerous film adaptations including Hammer Horror''s Karnstein Trilogy.Opening this anthology is a dramatisation of that classic tale, starring Anne-Marie Duff as Laura, the lonely girl living in a solitary Austrian castle, who strikes up a dangerous friendship with the mysterious, bewitching Carmilla. It is followed by Ian MacDiarmid''s reading of ''Schalken the Painter'', the eerie story of a 17th Century Flemish artist in love with his master''s daughter.Le Fanu''s suspenseful Gothic thriller, Uncle Silas, about a young heiress placed under the guardianship of her father''s disgraced brother, is dramatised with a full cast including Teresa Gallagher, George Cole, Joan Sims and Dorothy Tutin. Also featured is The Le Fanu Ballads, a supernatural portmanteau drama bridging Le Fanu''s era and our world today. Based on the short stories ''The Watcher'', ''Madam Crowl''s Ghost'', ''Schalken the Painter'' and ''Mr Justice Harbottle'', and set in a basement nightclub in Dublin, it stars Paul Chahidi, Haydn Gwynne and Jonathan Forbes.One unabridged readings conclude our collection. In ''The Ghost and the Bonesetter'', read by Sean Barrett, a terrified house-sitter receives an unusual request from the tyrannical spirit of a local squire.Cast and creditsWritten by Sheridan Le FanuFirst published 1838 (''The Ghost and the Bonesetter''), 1839 (''Schalken the Painter''), 1847 (''The Watcher''), 1864 (Uncle Silas), 1871 (''Madam Crowl''s Ghost''), 1872 (Carmilla, ''Mr Justice Harbottle'')CarmillaCast: Anne-Marie Duff, Brana Bajic, David Warner, Celia Imrie, Jacqueline Pearce, Nigel Anthony, Roger May, Kenneth CranhamDramatised by Don McCamphill. Produced by Lawrence JacksonFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 June 2003Schalken the PainterRead by Ian McDiarmid. Produced by Lawrence JacksonFirst broadcast BBC Radio 7, 29-30 May 2006Uncle SilasCast: Teresa Gallagher, Graham Crowden, Dorothy Tutin, Joan Sims, Kathleen Byron, Tessa Worsley, John Hartley, Jonathan Keeble, Roger May, Geoffrey Whitehead, Stephen Critchlow, George Cole, Jane Whittenshaw, George A Cooper, Becky Hindley, Pauline Letts, David Collings, John Evitts, Linda Regan, Joan LittlewoodDramatised by Alan Drury. Directed by Enyd WilliamsFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8-22 October 1995The Le Fanu BalladsCast: Paul Chahidi, Haydn Gwynne, Jonathan Forbes, Ruth Everett, Matthew Durkan, Alexandra Hannant, Rebecca Crankshaw, Chris Jack, Michael Begley, Neil McCaul. Sheridan Le Fanu''s ghost stories adapted by Neil BrandDirected by Tracey Neale.Music composed and played by Neil Brand, with ''Nuala''s Ballad'' sung by Ruth EverettFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 April 2022The Ghost and the BonesetterRead by Sean Barrett. Produced by Gemma JenkinsFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 September 2001© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd