The Vampyre

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The First Ever Vampi(y)re Story The Vampyre was the first vampire story in English prose, and as such had a wide-ranging influence, almost singlehandedly creating the now-popular image of the vampire as an aristocratic seducer.

Aubrey, a young Englishman, meets Lord Ruthven, a man of mysterious origins who has entered London society. Aubrey accompanies Ruthven to Rome, but leaves him after Ruthven seduces the daughter of a mutual acquaintance.

Aubrey travels to Greece, where he becomes attracted to Ianthe, an innkeeper's daughter. Ianthe tells Aubrey about the legends of the vampire. Ruthven arrives at the scene and shortly thereafter Ianthe is killed by a vampire. Aubrey does not connect Ruthven with the murder and rejoins him in his travels.

The pair is attacked by bandits and Ruthven is mortally wounded. Before he dies, Ruthven makes Aubrey swear an oath that he will not mention his death or anything else he knows about Ruthven for a year and a day. Looking back, Aubrey realizes that everyone whom Ruthven met ended up suffering.

Aubrey returns to London and is amazed when Ruthven appears shortly thereafter, alive and well. Ruthven reminds Aubrey of his oath to keep his death a secret. Ruthven then begins to seduce Aubrey's sister while Aubrey, helpless to protect his sister, has a nervous breakdown.

Ruthven and Aubrey's sister are engaged to marry on the day the oath ends. Just before he dies, Aubrey writes a letter to his sister revealing Ruthven's history, but it does not arrive in time. Ruthven marries Aubrey's sister. On the wedding night, she is discovered dead, drained of her blood - and Ruthven has vanished.

Characters

- Lord Ruthven - a suave British nobleman, the vampire
- Aubrey - a wealthy young gentleman, an orphan
- Ianthe - a beautiful Greek woman Aubrey meets on his journeys with Ruthven.
- Aubrey's sister - who becomes engaged to the Earl of Marsden
- Earl of Marsden - who is also Lord Ruthven

Facts and Trivia 1. The story was an immediate popular success because it exploited the gothic horror predilections of the public. Polidori transformed the vampire from a character in folklore into the form that is recognized today-an aristocratic fiend who preys among high society.

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Other Vampire Books 1. Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu https: //www.createspace.com/6451809

2.Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley https: //www.createspace.com/6415211

Other Books of Interest

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen https: //www.createspace.com/6425513

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen https: //www.createspace.com/6428190

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen https: //www.createspace.com/6428537

Persuasion by Jane Austen https: //www.createspace.com/6427638

Love and Friendship by Jane Austen https: //www.createspace.com/6439962

Daisy Miller (1879) by Henry James https: //www.createspace.com/6445037

Oroonoko: Or, the Royal Slave by Aphra Behn https: //www.createspace.com/6447908