Who Would Like This Book:
This little gothic classic is the grandfather of all aristocratic vampire tales! The Vampyre set the tone for centuries of bloodsuckers, introducing readers to the mysterious, seductive nobleman as a monster. If you love atmospheric stories, classic horror, and all things vampire, this one's a foundational must-read. Plus, anyone curious about the juicy real-life drama between Byron, Polidori, and Mary Shelley will get an extra kick out of the story’s backstory!
Who May Not Like This Book:
This story is a product of its time, so don’t expect modern pacing or lots of dialogue. It’s written in an older, sometimes dense style and focuses more on mood and subtlety rather than gory horror or fast-moving plot. If you crave detailed character development, crisp action, or a deeply scary vibe, you might find The Vampyre a bit dry or old-fashioned. Some readers feel it reads more like a synopsis than a fleshed-out tale, and the characters can feel distant.
About:
'The Vampyre: A Tale' by John William Polidori is a short Gothic story written in 1819 which tells the tale of Lord Ruthven, a charming and mysterious vampire, and Aubrey, a young aristocrat who becomes entangled in his dark web. The story explores themes of seduction, betrayal, and the consequences of making deals with the supernatural. Polidori's writing style is atmospheric and sparse, creating a sense of foreboding and mystery around the character of Lord Ruthven, who is portrayed as a sinister figure with a diabolical charm.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers may include themes of seduction, psychological manipulation, and mortality, as well as the depiction of vampirism.
Has Romance?
The Vampyre features a moderate degree of romance, primarily expressed through manipulative relationships, tragic love, and the allure of the vampire.
From The Publisher:
"I breathe freely in the neighbourhood of this lake; the ground upon which I tread has been subdued from the earliest ages; the principal objects which immediately strike my eye, bring to my recollection scenes, in which man acted the hero and was the chief object of interest. Not to look back to earlier times of battles and sieges, here is the bust of Rousseau-here is a house with an inscription denoting that the Genevan philosopher first drew breath under its roof. A little out of the town is Ferney, the residence of Voltaire; where that wonderful, though certainly in many respects contemptible, character, received, like the hermits of old, the visits of pilgrims, not only from his own nation, but from the farthest boundaries of Europe.
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1 comment(s)
I was completely unaware of this but John Polidori was Lord Byron’s doctor. Polidori was present at the now famous gathering of Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Matthew Gregory “Monk” Lewis, and Mary Shelley, which also happens to be where “The Vampyre” has its origins.
“The Vampyre” is essentially a diss targeted at Byron in which Polidori’s like, “On the outside Lord Byron may seem like a cool, mysterious guy, but he’s actually a sh*tface who will ruin your life and the lives of the people you love.”
Also, “The Vampyre” is apparently the first story to use the titled, gentleman vampire character.
Not my favorite story, but there are some extremely interesting things going on here.
What can you read after
The Vampyre: A Tale?
About the Author:
John William Polidori (1795-1821) was an English writer and physician. He is credited as one of the creators of the vampire genre of fantasy fiction and is also known for his associations with the Romantic movement. "The Vampyre: A Tale" was the first vampire novel published in English(the first notable appearance of a vampire in creative literature being the short German poem "Der Vampir," written in 1748, by Heinrich August Ossenfelder). In the summer of 1816, Lord Byron and his guests, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Godwin (Shelley) and her half sister Claire Clermont, and Dr. John William Polidori, then Lord Byron's traveling physician, were staying at the Villa Diodati, by Lake Geneva, Switzerland. The group decided to have a friendly competition to see who could write the best horror story. It was the genesis of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and of Polidori's "The Vampyre: A Tale.""
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