This was an excellent read, right up until the end, which was somewhat abrupt. (However, that could simply be a feature of Gothic novels.) The writing style is witty and highly descriptive, and the authoress successfully lampoons then-prevailing notions of class, race, and “good breeding” in general. The main character is complex, presented first as a villain and then as a tragic victim of circumstance. Finally, the psychological aspect of vampirism is explored in a way that I think is largely ignored in modern vampire fiction, which tends to focus on the gory and sensationalistic side of things.
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One aspect of the book that left me puzzled, though, is its engagement in the topic of eugenics. There is one character who presents some alarmingly eugenicist viewpoints, which are later roundly refuted by another character who is warmly described as a progressive Socialist. However, the final lines of the novel seem to regress back in favor of the eugenicist argument. I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who has some insight on this.
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I couldn’t find the book at my local library, but it is available on Gutenberg. Highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of romance, vampires, and Victorian comedy-horror.
by MutantPurpleRabbit88