In her mesmerizing Gothic horror novel Hungerstone, Kat Dunn crafts a compelling feminist reimagining of Sheridan Le Fanu’s vampire classic Carmilla. Set against the backdrop of Victorian industrialization and the stark wilderness of England’s Peak District, the novel weaves together themes of repression, appetite, and female agency into a dark tapestry of psychological and supernatural horror.
Plot and Narrative Structure
The story follows Lenore Crowther, the aristocratic wife of ambitious steel magnate Henry Crowther, as they relocate to the remote Nethershaw manor in Derbyshire. Their marriage of convenience has grown cold over ten years, shadowed by Lenore’s inability to produce an heir and a dark secret from their past. When a mysterious carriage accident brings the alluring Carmilla Kernstein to their doorstep, Lenore finds herself drawn into an increasingly dangerous web of desire and violence.
Dunn masterfully builds tension through layered revelations: Henry’s attempts to poison Lenore, his business corruption, and most significantly, Lenore’s own awakening to her suppressed appetites and desires. The narrative crescendos in a brilliantly orchestrated climax during a grouse shoot that brings all these elements to a bloody resolution.
Thematic Analysis
The Politics of Hunger
At its core, Hungerstone by Kat Dunn is an exploration of feminine hunger in all its forms – physical, emotional, sexual, and spiritual. Dunn uses the vampire mythology not merely as a supernatural element but as a powerful metaphor for women’s repressed desires in Victorian society. Lenore’s journey from self-denial to embracing her appetites parallels her liberation from societal constraints.
Industrial Horror
The novel’s setting in Sheffield’s steel industry adds a uniquely Victorian dimension to its horror. The Ajax Works, with its Bessemer converter “spewing molten metal like some hellish mouth,” becomes a metaphor for unchecked masculine appetite for power and profit. Dunn effectively contrasts this industrial voracity with the more personal hungers of her female characters.
Character Development
Lenore Crowther
Dunn’s protagonist is a masterwork of complex characterization. Initially appearing as the perfect Victorian wife – controlled, proper, and self-denying – Lenore’s carefully constructed facade gradually crumbles to reveal someone far more interesting: a survivor whose apparent passivity masks deep wells of rage and desire. Her transformation from victim to predator is both disturbing and oddly triumphant.
Carmilla Kernstein
As the catalyst for Lenore’s awakening, Carmilla is seductive yet enigmatic. Dunn cleverly subverts the traditional vampire narrative by making Carmilla not simply a monster but a liberator, albeit a dangerous one. Her relationship with Lenore is complex – part mentor, part lover, part destroyer.
Stylistic Elements and Prose
Dunn’s prose is richly atmospheric, with a Gothic sensibility that never becomes purple or overwrought. Her descriptions of Nethershaw and the surrounding moorland are particularly effective, creating a landscape that feels both beautiful and menacing. The author demonstrates remarkable control over pacing, knowing when to linger over sensuous details and when to accelerate into moments of violence or revelation.
Critical Assessment
Strengths
Masterful atmospheric writing
Complex, psychologically nuanced characterization
Clever reimagining of vampire mythology
Strong thematic coherence
Effective integration of historical detail
Areas for Improvement
Some secondary characters, particularly Henry, occasionally veer toward stereotype
The middle section could be tighter
Certain plot elements, like Cora’s storyline, feel slightly underdeveloped
Some readers might find the pacing in the first third too deliberate
Comparative Context
While Hungerstone by Kat Dunn clearly draws inspiration from Carmilla and other Victorian Gothic works, it also sits comfortably alongside contemporary feminist horror like Carmen Maria Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties and S.T. Gibson’s A Dowry of Blood. Dunn’s novel distinguishes itself through its unique industrial setting and its exploration of class dynamics in Victorian England.
Historical Accuracy and Research
Dunn’s attention to historical detail is impressive. Her portrayal of Sheffield’s steel industry, Victorian social customs, and the physical reality of life in a remote country house all feel authentic without becoming didactic. The author’s historical note reveals extensive research into everything from period menus to industrial working conditions.
Impact and Significance
Hungerstone by Kat Dunn makes a significant contribution to the growing body of feminist horror literature. By reconceptualizing vampire mythology through a lens of female empowerment and desire, Dunn creates a narrative that speaks to contemporary concerns while remaining true to its Victorian setting.
Conclusion
Hungerstone by Kat Dunn is a remarkable achievement that succeeds both as a Gothic horror novel and as a feminist exploration of appetite and agency. While not without its flaws, the novel’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. Dunn has created a work that is both intellectually stimulating and viscerally affecting, one that will likely leave readers thinking about its themes long after they’ve turned the final page.
Recommendation
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy:
Gothic horror with feminist themes
LGBTQ+ historical fiction
Complex psychological narratives
Victorian settings
Literary horror
Content Warning: Contains scenes of violence, gore, psychological manipulation, and toxic relationships.