Book of the Vampire

An examination of the vampire in legend and history, taking Bram Stoker's *Dracula* as a starting point since it is mainly responsible for the vampire's modern notoriety. Nigel Suckling examines *Dracula* 's fictional ancestry as well as the folklore and historical characters (such as Vlad the Impaler and Countess Elizabeth Bathory) that informed Stoker's many-layered monster. The books ends with a look at the vampire legend today and the resurgence of belief in such monsters. Illustrations are by that master of fantasy and science fiction art, Bruce Pennington.

*The vampire lives on and cannot die by the mere passing of time; he flourishes wherever he can fatten on the blood of the living. He throws no shadow, he makes in the mirror no reflection. He has the strength of many in his hand. He can transform himself into a wolf or become a bat. He can come in mist which he creates, or on moonlight rays as elemental dust. He can, when once he finds his way, come out from anything or into anything, no matter how close it be bound. He can see in the dark...* \- Dr Abraham Van Helsing in Bram Stocker's *Dracula*