The Carmilla was written in 1871 and was released in 1872, one year before the author's death. It is one of the first books of the 19th century with vampires and has significantly influenced many other writers who dealt with this genre of literature. It is a story of "underground" horror and unconscious intensity, without the terrifying scenes found in Bram Stoker's Dracula, who was inspired by Le Fanu's classic work. However, the Irish author manages to keep the reader's interest unabated with the sublime scenes he describes, without resorting to images of boundless terror, until the moment of final catharsis.