The Vampyre / Ernestus Berchtold; Or, the Modern Oedipus

by John Polidori

In 1816, John William Polidori travelled to Geneva as Lord Byron’s personal physician. There they met Mary Godwin (later Shelley) and her lover Percy Shelley and decided to while away a wet summer by writing ghost stories. The only two to complete their stories were Mary Shelley, who published Frankenstein in 1818, and Polidori, whose The Vampyre and Ernestus Berchtold were both published in 1819.

The Vampyre, based on a discarded idea of Byron’s, is the first portrayal of the alluring vampire figure familiar to readers of Bram Stoker and Anne Rice. Ernestus Berchtold scandalously draws on the rumours of Byron’s affair with his half-sister for a Faustian updating of the myth of Oedipus, which it combines with an account of the struggle of Swiss patriots against the Napoleonic invasion.

Along with Polidori’s work, this edition also includes stories read and written by the travellers in the Genevan summer of 1816 and contemporary responses to The Vampyre and Ernestus Berchtold.

Genres: Gothic, Fiction, Horror, 19th Century, Classics

264 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1993

Reviews

[Stephen Lorenz · Rating 3 out of 5]

but only: ,The Vampyre' -
Mit The Vampyre und Frankrenstein bestreiten Polidori und Mary Shelley einen Wettbewerb, den sie in einer Gewitternacht am Rande des Genfer Sees ihren Freunden Lord Byron und Percey Shelley zubilligen. Mit Erfolg! Ihre jeweiligen Geschichten, die das Unheimliche, auf das sich die beiden anderen verlassen haben, in Gestalten der Phantasie einfangen, werden bis auf einen Schluß ausgeschrieben. /
The Vampyre ist dabei um einiges kürzer geraten. - Es erzählt die Geschichte des jungen Engländers Aubrey, der sich mit Lord Ruthven eine zunächst schmeichelhafte, bald düstere, schwerwiegende Freundschaft einhandelt. // Besonders interessant ist der parallele Ansatz Polidoris und Shelleys, die Grausamkeit der Figuren in einer Verschiebung zu erzählen. Maß und Ursache dieser Verschiebung sind die Protagonisten selbst. Ihr Einfallsort ist aber immerzu der nächste Andere, die Schwester/ die Kinder. Sie werden von der Kreatur aufgesucht, mit tragischen Folgen.

[Cooper Renner · Rating 3 out of 5]

While "The Vampyre" is more influential than it is good, "Ernestus Berchtold" is actually quite accomplished: a tragic story set during the late 18th and early 19th century when the French armies under Napoleon were causing havoc in Europe and the Swiss and other people were fighting to remain (or become) free. Ernestus is both heroic and unwittingly tragic, a 'victim' of the fates in much the same way that Oedipus was, but without Oedipus's culpability.

[Dominique Lamssies · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quite a lovely edition of what is, unfortunantly, not very good stories. The Vampyre is one of those stories that was essential in making vampire fiction what it is today, but the horrible synthesizer music of the 80's was also necessary to make music good, doesn't mean I have to like it.

I was surprised by Ernestus Berchtold though. It's the type of story that isn't to my taste, but was quite well done was, for me, was more memorable than The Vampyr.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Polidori's gothic tale depicts one of my favorite vampires. Lord Ruthven sets the stage for modern vampires, seductive, aristocratic, ruthless, and violent. Great tale!

[Yuxi Liu · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's okay

[Debbie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so this novel is literally perfect because I am watching Nosferatu tonight. I only read The Vampyre by Polidori which I believe is before Dracula and Carmilla

I have yet to read Dracula but I did read Carmilla this short 40 page story was assigned for me to read in my Romantic Novel class and THE GOTHIC ELEMENT OF VAMPIRES AHHH!!! I listened to the audiobook which is interesting because language changes throughout the versions I think. I know my edition in the Broadview likes to keep the scholarly parts so I'm wondering why Lord Strongmore is changed to Lord Ruthven in my audiobook.


Nonetheless, the aristocratic vampire figure is quite interesting! I really enjoyed this novella and am giving it a 4 stars. This short faced paced novella (40 pages) goes by quick. I found that because my audiobook and edition of my copy the language was difficult as I was listening and following along and it messed me up quite a bit because the words didn't match but nonetheless WOW WOW WOW! THAT ENDING WAS TRULY ASTONISHING.


I don't think anyone is surprised that I like this novella because I AM A SUCKER FOR VAMPIRES!

ANYWAYS IM DUMPING A DAMON SALVATOR MEME IN HERE BECAUSE IM ALMOST DONE Re-Watching The Vampire Diaries

[Harry Hill]

Didn't entirely finish this book, but I only came for Vampyre tbh. I have the intention of coming back to the romantic era more in general where I plan to revisit Dr. Polidori's work in the future. Pretty fun

[Haley McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT A DICK

[Isadora Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

A wandering and confused tale for the first half. Best for historical research on John William Polidori, author of "The Vampyre," which, through the character of Lord Ruthaven, became a prototype of the modern vampire.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Vampyre" is more interesting for its cultural and literary echoes than for its prose. I found Ernestus Berchtold rough going.