Carmilla
by Sheridan Le Fanu (The Dark Blue, 1871-1872)
![Illustration by M. Fitzgerald from Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu](https://www.derelictspacesheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Le-Fanu_Carmilla-206x300.jpg)
A very early vampire novella, constrained by attitudes of the time yet nonetheless pursuing a lesbian angle and affording an uncommon measure of female empowerment. Le Fanu for the most part hints subtly at the supernatural, but resorts at last to exposition.