The Vampire in Nineteenth-Century Literature: A Feast of Blood

The nineteenth century saw the rise of the vampire as a cultural shape-shifter, who embodied fears and desires of the period. This book explores the range of vampire stories, including Dracula, The Vampyre, Carmilla, and other "Other" stories, discussing topics such as race, culture, social upheaval, gender and sexuality, new knowledge and technology, and the vampire as a cultural shape-shifter.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The vampire, a creature that defied societal and economic norms of the nineteenth century, became a symbol of both fear and forbidden desires. This comprehensive volume explores the diverse range of vampires in the nineteenth century, examining their racial, cultural, social, gender, and sexual characteristics, as well as the impact of new knowledge and technology. The popularity of vampires soared throughout the century, reaching its pinnacle with Bram Stoker's iconic novel Dracula (1897). This book delves into the novel and other significant texts such as John William Polidori's The Vampyre (1819) and Sheridan Le Fanus's Carmilla (1872), while also spotlighting the many "Other" vampire stories of the period. Topics covered include the aristocratic vampire in Varney, the vampire as an addict in fiction by George MacDonald, the discipline of time in Eric Stenbock's Studies of Death, the fragile female vampires in works by Eliza Lynn Linton, the gender and sexual contract in Mary Elizabeth Braddon's "Good Lady Ducayne," cultural appropriation in Richard Burton's Vikram and the Vampire, as well as Caribbean vampires and the racialized Other in Florence Marryat's The Blood of the Vampire. By highlighting these often overlooked stories, this study sheds light on the vampire as a cultural shape-shifter whose role as "Other" provides valuable insights into Victorian culture and the fears and desires of its readers.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032001784