Carmilla is an 1872 Gothic novella by Irish author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. It is one of the earliest known works of vampire literature, predating Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897) by 25 years. First published as a serial in The Dark Blue (1871–72), the story is narrated by a young woman who is preyed upon by a female vampire named "Carmilla". The novella's titular character is the prototypical example of the fictional lesbian vampire, expressing romantic and predatory desires toward the protagonist. Since its publication, Carmilla has often been regarded as one of the most influential vampire stories of all time.