For those of you who read Italian, may I wave you over to apuntate, a community which is just starting up. This will do the same as episodical, namely to post novels by instalments. It is about to start with The Count of Monte Cristo. Enjoy!

episodical has just been launched. This community will be used to for posting novels, a chapter at a time, to be read and discussed. Our first novel will be Jane Austen's controversial Mansfield Park, a tale of character and sensibility, marriage and class, wit and social critique. The reading will start on Monday 18 June and two or three chapters will be posted per week, along with links to a free audio recording so that you can listen along as well if you like.

Come and join us, and feel free to spread the word!

As eye_of_a_cat has mentioned, neither of us has the time to take on the behemoth that is running Dracula again this year, and my plans for running Clarissa, an even huger job, got put on hold. It might happen next year (it's a January start), but meanwhile there are six months to go.

I could probably manage running something simpler, and I have my eye on doing another nineteenth-century novel in instalments. Not another epistolary novel with a back-and-forth time scheme, those are the ones which are much more work, simply two or three chapters a week posted straight, in the style of Carmilla but in a dedicated community. Many nineteenth-century novels were originally serialised, so this would be quite close to the original reading experience.

At first I thought of Wilkie Collins, say The Moonstone or The Woman in White. Both of these have multiple narrators, which would allow the fun of having different character journals again. However, something I'd quite like to try this time round is linking to Librivox online free recordings of the text, so that people could listen to their chapters instead of reading them if they chose. The folks at Librivox are in middle of recording both of those novels, and I'd quite like to leave them until they're available as audiobooks.

My next thoughts were Austen's Mansfield Park and Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, both popular texts which give plenty to talk about, and both available on Librivox. At the moment, I'm leaning towards the Austen, perhaps running the Bronte afterwards. Here's why.

( "Of Rears and Vices I saw enough. Now do not be suspecting me of a pun, I entreat." )

So what do people think? Would a serialised reading of Mansfield Park attract people? Is there anyone interested in helping me run this? ETA: co-mod now found in the person of elfbystarlight. For the students among you, is it worth waiting another week or so for people to finish exams, or could we start more or less immediately? I'd probably set up a community for serialised novel readings, so that once one novel is done, another could be begun if people wished. How many chapters a week would people like? Two or three strikes me as good. We can call the character journal mansfield1814 in line with the usual form we've used for these reading groups, but we're currently a bit stuck on names for the community. Any suggestions?

...we won't be able to re-run the community this year, as a few of you (and me, to be honest) were hoping for, and as most of you will have already guessed by now. Other time commitments have just become overwhelming, and with my PhD thesis due to be submitted at one of the novel's busiest times, I can't even spare the time to monitor the community enough to do a worthwhile job of it. Sorry again, and hoping you're not too disappointed.

retrospection_ is carrying out some research on the hypertext readings of texts such as we conducted with Dracula here, so if you took part in any way, even if you just read along silently, she'd love to hear from you.

As a present for anyone missing their vampire literature, here's the short story 'Dracula's Guest' as published by Florence Stoker several years after her husband's death. It's often described as a missing/extended first chapter to Dracula, although it doesn't really fit into the structure of the novel that way. See what you think, and enjoy!

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When we started for our drive the sun was shining brightly on Munich, and the air was full of the joyousness of early summer. Just as we were about to depart, Herr Delbruck (the maitre d'hotel of the Quatre Saisons, where I was staying) came down bareheaded to the carriage and, after wishing me a pleasant drive, said to the coachman, still holding his hand on the handle of the carriage door, "Remember you are back by nightfall. The sky looks bright but there is a shiver in the north wind that says there may be a sudden storm. But I am sure you will not be late." Here he smiled and added, ( for you know what night it is... )

Newbies and oldbies alike, care to share your thoughts on the novel now it's over?

When we created this community, just over six months ago, we were expecting a few dozen people to join. At its peak, membership here reached 1800-plus. As you can imagine, then, we're pretty pleased with how things turned out! We'd like to thank all of you for making this such a lively and interesting six months; we've had a great time, and we're glad you have too. We hope that some of you will be joining us for Carmilla (see the post below) and other epistolary novels (see our userinfo) in the very near future.

Poll #862371 The future of the community
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

What would you like to see appearing in the community now that the novel's finished?

If we do open up posting access to everyone, what would you want the community's purpose to be? (Remember, there are already various communities dedicated to film versions, Gothic literature in general, and vampires)

Please feel free to add your own suggestions or clarifications in the comments.

Thanks again for a great six months!

- eye_of_a_cat and elettaria

Twenty-five years before Dracula came "Carmilla" - the tale of an exquisite and beautiful vampire and the young woman she befriends and feeds upon. Come and join us on gothic_lit, where Le Fanu's famous novella will be posted in daily instalments starting today.

Seven years ago we all went through the flames; and the happiness of some of us since then is, we think, well worth the pain we endured. It is an added joy to Mina and to me that our boy's birthday is the same day as that on which Quincey Morris died. His mother holds, I know, the secret belief that some of our brave friend's spirit has passed into him. His bundle of names links all our little band of men together; but we call him Quincey.

( In the summer of this year... )

6 November. – It was late in the afternoon when the Professor and I took our way towards the east whence I knew Jonathan was coming. We did not go fast, though the way was steeply downhill, for we had to take heavy rugs and wraps with us; we dared not face the possibility of being left without warmth in the cold and the snow. ( We had to take some of our provisions too... )

5 November, afternoon. – I am at least sane. Thank God for that mercy at all events, though the proving it has been dreadful. When I left Madam Mina sleeping within the Holy circle, I took my way to the castle. The blacksmith hammer which I took in the carriage from Veresti was useful; though the doors were all open I broke them off the rusty hinges, lest some ill-intent or ill-chance should close them, so that being entered I might not get out. ( Jonathan's bitter experience served me here... )

5 November. – With the dawn we saw the body of Szgany before us dashing away from the river with their leiter-wagon. They surrounded it in a cluster, and hurried along as though beset. The snow is falling lightly and there is a strange excitement in the air. It may be our own feelings, but the depression is strange. Far off I hear the howling of wolves; the snow brings them down from the mountains, and there are dangers to all of us, and from all sides. The horses are nearly ready, and we are soon off. We ride to the death of some one. God alone knows who, or where, or what, or when, or how it may be...

5 November, morning. – Let me be accurate in everything, for though you and I have seen some strange things together, you may at the first think that I, Van Helsing, am mad - that the many horrors and the so long strain on nerves has at the last turn my brain.

( All yesterday we travel... )

4 November, evening. – The accident to the launch has been a terrible thing for us. Only for it we should have overtaken the boat long ago; and by now my dear Mina would have been free. I fear to think of her, off on the wolds near that horrid place. We have got horses, and we follow on the track. I note this whilst Godalming is getting ready. We have our arms. The Szgany must look out if they mean to fight. Oh, if only Morris and Seward were with us. We must only hope! If I write no more, Goodbye Mina! God bless and keep you.

4 November. – This to my old and true friend John Seward, M. D., of Purfleet, London, in case I may not see him. It may explain. It is morning, and I write by a fire which all the night I have kept alive - Madam Mina aiding me. It is cold, cold; ( so cold that the grey heavy sky is full of snow... )

4 November. – Today we heard of the launch having been detained by an accident when trying to force a way up the rapids. The Slovak boats get up all right, by aid of a rope and steering with knowledge. Some went up only a few hours before. Godalming is an amateur fitter himself, and evidently it was he who put the launch in trim again. Finally, they got up the rapids all right, with local help, and are off on the chase afresh. I fear that the boat is not any better for the accident; the peasantry tell us that after she got upon smooth water again, she kept stopping every now and again so long as she was in sight. We must push on harder than ever. Our help may be wanted soon.

3 November. – We heard at Fundu that the launch had gone up the Bistritza. I wish it wasn't so cold. There are signs of snow coming; and if it falls heavy it will stop us. In such case we must get a sledge and go on, Russian fashion.

2 November, night. – All day long driving. The country gets wilder as we go, and the great spurs of the Carpathians, which at Veresti seemed so far from us and so low on the horizon, now seem to gather round us and tower in front. We both seem in good spirits; ( I think we make an effort each to cheer the other... )

2 November. – Three days on the road. No news, and no time to write it if there had been, for every moment is precious. We have had only the rest needful for the horses; but we are both bearing it wonderfully. Those adventurous days of ours are turning up useful. We must push on. We shall never feel happy till we get the launch in sight again.

2 November, morning. – It is broad daylight. That good fellow would not wake me. He says it would have been a sin to, for I slept peacefully and was forgetting my trouble. It seems brutally selfish to me to have slept so long, and let him watch all night; but he was quite right. I am a new man this morning; and, as I sit here and watch him sleeping, I can do all that is necessary both as to minding the engine, steering, and keeping watch. ( I can feel that my strength and energy are coming back to me... )

2 November, morning. – I was successful, and we took turns driving all night; now the day is on us, bright though cold. There is a strange heaviness in the air - I say heaviness for want of a better word; I mean that it oppresses us both. It is very cold, and only our warm furs keep us comfortable. At dawn Van Helsing hypnotized me; he says I answered "darkness, creaking wood and roaring water," so the river is changing as they ascend. I do hope that my darling will not run any chance of danger - more than need be; but we are in God's hands.

1 November, evening. – No news all day; we have found nothing of the kind we seek. We have now passed into the Bistritza, and if we are wrong in our surmise our chance is gone. We have overhauled every boat, big and little. Early this morning, one crew took us for a Government boat, and treated us accordingly. ( We saw in this a way of smoothing matters... )

1 November. – All day long we have travelled, and at a good speed. The horses seem to know that they are being kindly treated, for they go willingly their full stage at best speed. We have now had so many changes and find the same thing so constantly that we are encouraged to think that the journey will be an easy one. ( Dr Van Helsing is laconic... )