Carmilla vs The Human Chord: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: English Fantasy fiction, Horror, Fiction

Carmilla J. Sheridan Le Fanu · 1871 ★★★★☆ 3.9 70 pages · ≈ 1 h 18 m · Challenging

“Upon a paper attached to the Narrative which follows, Doctor Hesselius has written a rather elaborate note, which he accompanies with a reference to his Essay on the strange subject which the MS. illuminates.”

First published as a serial in The Dark Blue (1871–72), Carmilla is narrated by a young woman preyed upon by a female vampire named Carmilla, later revealed to be Mircalla, Countess Karnstein (Carmilla is an anagram of…

1 film adaptation

LGBTQ fiction before Stonewall Austria Vampires -- Fiction Ireland

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The Human Chord Algernon Blackwood · 1910 ★★★★☆ 3.5 255 pages · ≈ 4 h 43 m · Challenging

“As a boy he constructed so vividly in imagination that he came to believe in the living reality of his creations: for everybody and everything he found names-real names.”

It was an innocent enough advertisement but curious. "WANTED, by Retired Clergyman, Secretarial Assistant with courage and imagination. Tenor voice and some knowledge of Hebrew essential; single; unworldly. Apply Philip…

Fantasy

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Side by side

The verdict

Readers rate Carmilla highest: Carmilla 3.9 · The Human Chord 3.5.
Carmilla is the quickest read — about 1 hours vs 4 for The Human Chord.
Carmilla has the widest readership — 224844 ratings behind its score.
The Human Chord runs the darker storyline; Carmilla stays the lighter read.

How to choose

Want a one-evening read? Carmilla ≈ 1h vs 4h for The Human Chord Just want the better-reviewed one? Carmilla 3.9 vs 3.5 from readers In the mood for something dark? The Human Chord a darker storyline than Carmilla Want something lighter? Carmilla an easier tone than The Human Chord

Scores by source

	Carmilla	The Human Chord
Goodreads	3.9 (224844)	3.5 (250)
Hardcover	3.8 (673)	—
Apple Books	4.5 (48)	—

Reception

	Carmilla	The Human Chord
Ratings	224844	250
Editions	571	49
Citations	—	2
Film adaptations	1	—
Want to read	290436	499
Reading it now	10043	30
Written reviews	33914	45
Wikipedia attention	32432	—
Pages	70	255

Questions readers ask

Which is rated higher: Carmilla or The Human Chord?

Carmilla has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Carmilla 3.9/5, The Human Chord 3.5/5).

Which is shorter to read: Carmilla or The Human Chord?

Carmilla is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Carmilla (70 pages, ≈ 1 h 18 m); The Human Chord (255 pages, ≈ 4 h 43 m).

Which is harder to read: Carmilla or The Human Chord?

Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Carmilla: Challenging; The Human Chord: Challenging.

Have both books been made into films?

Carmilla: 5 film adaptations; The Human Chord: no film adaptation on record.