⭐ Quick Tip: How to Read This Book?
-
Use the Table of Contents beneath the book blurb on the right side to jump to any part of this e‑book. Only subscribed members can unlock the book's content, so make sure to log in!
James Malcolm Rymer, Thomas Peckett Prest
Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood
"Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood," attributed to James Malcolm Rymer and Thomas Peckett Prest, is a sprawling penny dreadful that established many of the conventions of the vampire genre decades before "Dracula." The story introduces Sir Francis Varney, a gaunt, aristocratic vampire with piercing eyes and long, sharp fangs, who preys upon the Bannerworth family. The narrative is an episodic and sensational saga, filled with repeated attacks, resurrections, and chases. Varney is a complex and somewhat sympathetic figure; he is tormented by his condition and his immortality, and the novel delves into his origins and his past life, providing a motive for his curse that goes beyond mere monstrosity. He possesses the now-familiar vampire traits: he drains the blood of his victims, has superhuman strength, can be warded off by religious symbols, and is vulnerable to sunlight, from which he must constantly hide. The plot is a long, convoluted series of captures, escapes, and revelations involving hidden treasure, mistaken identities, and family secrets. Despite his horrific actions, Varney's prolonged suffering and moments of remorse make him a tragic anti-hero. This seminal work was crucial in shaping the popular image of the vampire as a charismatic, recurring threat rather than a mindless creature of folklore, creating a template that all subsequent vampire literature would follow and expand upon.
Table of Contents:
No Subscription? No Problem!
Free Sample
⭐ Quick Tip: About Free Samples
-
We offer a free sample to our visitors so that they can check if they like our books before they commit!