Product Description

A chronicle of the origins, legends, and habits of the world's vampires, including Southeast Asia's viscera suckers and Eastern Europe's walking dead, explores the evolution of the vampire of folklore into the compelling anti-hero of literture and film.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #781658 in Books
• Published on: 1994-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 258 pages

From Booklist
The word complete in the title of this book should not be taken lightly. Guiley (Macabre's role was primarily that of researcher, it seems) runs down the history of vampires from their mythological roots to their modern-day film characterizations. Citing various sources both ancient and recent, she demonstrates the universality of belief in vampires and similar beings, and proceeding from the premise that true vampires exist but are unlike those in movies and novels, she examines the roots of the fascination with vampires, the various popular manifestations of vampires, and what exactly vampires are in the context of contemporary society. Sections on vampires in myth and folklore, entertainment, and real life as well as an exhaustive bibliography, a filmography, a glossary, and other resource lists make this an authoritative source on all aspects of the vampire. Interesting and valuable to movie fans, horror freaks, and even semiotics enthusiasts, this is definitely one vampire book to have in your collection, perhaps especially when the 75 illustrations, not available for review, are in place. Mike Tribby

Customer Reviews

Info you can't find anywhere else!
Two subjects make this book worth buying, whatever the price. First, A detailed travelogue of the Northen English town of Whitby, where Stoker spends 3 chapters of "Dracula." Guiliey takes you down "The Dracula Trail," retracing the steps Mina and Lucy & the Count take on those fateful days and nights in the harbor town!
Secondly, the inclusion of a "Vampire Date Book." This Annual Calendar of Dates to Remember will whet any vapire maven's whistle!!!

A book that helps complete any vampire home library
Her point of view and the things she brings forth fills in gaps I have always had about vampires. I recommend this as a must have.

Good Information on Vampires
This book was really informative about myths, books, films, and fact. I found it invaluable to knowing vampires in the past, present and future.