J. Sheridan LeFanus Carmilla stands as one of the richest, most literate and most enduring stories in the history of the vampire sub-genre. Many rate it higher than Bram Stokers Dracula, and while that estimation is at least debatable, there is no debate that Carmilla has exerted a mighty influence, consciously or not, on most vampire fiction to follow in its wake, Dracula not excepted. Indeed, Stokers original early chapter in his masterpiece, later published independently as Draculas Guest, is...
J. Sheridan Le Fanus lesser known novel, Checkmate, involves self-interest, dishonesty, deception, revenge, and murder. Sir Reginald Arden, worried by mortgages on Mortlake Hall, is arranging marriage of his daughter Alice, unbeknownst to her, to Lord Wynderbroke, a middle-aged, wealthy peer. Some time previously Sir Reginald had ostracized his fiery, proud, spendthrift son Richard, but nonetheless he temporarily recruits his sons efforts in disguising the family discord from Lord Wynderbroke....
