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Vampires and Vampirism : Legends from Around the World
Vampires and Vampirism is a treasured part of the folklore canon on vampires. Inside these pages are many accounts of the presence of nocturnal creatures with an unnatural hunger. Readers will discover that tales of vampires are whispered not only in the sleepy villages of easternand central Europe but also in the Middle East, the Asian sub-continent, and the isles of Great Britain. This book is the inaugural volume in the Classics of Preternatural History series.
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1914
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 10, 2024
I rarely leave a book unfinished, but this one ended up being one of them. I expected a compendium of stories and legends about vampires throughout the years, and to be fair, the book is full of them… I would say too full, as it didn’t make it interesting, just chaotic. Some stories were told in a single sentence; others seemed like an afterthought. I really don’t know how someone can collect vampire legends and make them extremely boring. I was very disappointed because I wanted to learn about the history of vampirism in different cultures, and all I got were a few naps after falling asleep while reading.
October 13, 2011
A great start if you're just getting into vampire lore. It gives you a chapter on vampires in general, followed by ways that vampires are formed and what type of people are most susceptible to becoming one, and the rest of the chapters are about vampire lore in different countries, usually told through stories from various time periods. Then there is a chapter for miscellaneous vampire things that don't fit elsewhere, a chapter on living vampires, and finally, a chapter on whether or not vampires actually exist.
It's not a book bogged down with detail after detail about vampires, but it's a start, an introduction, if you will, into the lore surrounding the vampire. From there, you can pick an area and narrow your focus if you choose.
It's not a book bogged down with detail after detail about vampires, but it's a start, an introduction, if you will, into the lore surrounding the vampire. From there, you can pick an area and narrow your focus if you choose.
November 29, 2021
Reading the reviews, I can see people find it a good compendium of vampire legends and folklore, but I found it lacking in the cultural and vampire beliefs. There are sections of around the world and you just get a very boring told story about a vampire from that region.
This was not what I was expecting. And I must confess this reading was boring. But may it was just my taste and my own fault for buying books without peeking inside.
Rating 1,5
This was not what I was expecting. And I must confess this reading was boring. But may it was just my taste and my own fault for buying books without peeking inside.
Rating 1,5
December 3, 2025
So, I'm wanting to try to locate a book on vampires I read as a youth that was in my parents' library. I cannot remember the title, but it had a bunch of woodcut images, and was oddly full of specific details
This, was not that book
This, however, is the sort of book that you could expect on the spirituality shelf in a small underfunded library in a town or town school. The single half of a shelf that is located in the lower numbers of the Dewey Decimal System. This book mostly not getting tossed out of the collection, because the shelf already looks fairly empty with it on it--and removing it would not help
This book mostly suffers from scholars going out and doing better work on the topic since this book was released prior to The Great Depression
The main issues with this book, is repeating various bits of folklore and history that some douche bag just made up in the 1800s, racism, imperialist approach to folklores, the same five stories being repeated and not being educated in fields of sciences that did not exist yet
Some of the bad information seems to come from the author not realising how recent certain social phenomenons actually were such as a specific style of yellow journalism that started in the 1800s, being attributed to happening in the 1700s. Not that there were not methods that yellow journalism happened prior to the 1800s, they manifested and spread quite a bit differently than the way Mr. Wright talked about them happening. Though, there is really no reason to fault Mr. Wright for not realising how this concept that was everywhere when this book was published was fairly recent
Other issues are how he has stories that are reskins of other stories, but made "Chinese" in a way that seems to be lazily ignorant of the various cultures being listed as "Chinese". With these folklore stories not having any sources from East Asia--and mostly just being stuff from books like this
The Islamaphobia was oddly refreshing however. As instead of the Islamaphobia we see in the 21st Century, it merely has brown people being somewhat a bit of well-meaning doofuses who are capable of building/running empires, but because they haven't accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior and God they will forever be fools. Which is still a form of Islamaphobia... but not anywhere near as mean as what I am accustomed to observing. I mean... it isn't a pleasant way to interact--but well... it just kind of shows how things have just gotten worse on that front, really
I feel kind of foolish as it took me way too long that the stories did not just seem similar to each other--but often you'd have five stories that just kept getting repeated over and over in the book. Often showing up in Chapters that they were not an overly appropriate fit to be in said chapter. It took me longer, as the stories would often change the spelling of the names of the people involved. Spend more time on certain parts--or just speed past other parts. Each chapter seems to have two or three stories that are just "the repeated story"
All of this is made worse, as the last chapter ends up being skimped upon, as it starts talking about the astral plane, psychology (referred to as The Psychic Studies--or some variations) and other stuff meant to be more grounded in the world. With the "validation" being "people keep saying this is happening"... except for all the parts where it talks about stories not really being as present in certain areas. Or the stories that it kind of has to mangle to fit the narrative
Also, a lot of the stories can also be given a different understanding with the explanation of PTSD. Though, PTSD would not be figured out until nearly half a century after this book was first published. With the knowledge that "seeing messed up stuff kind of messes a person up" being a secret of the cosmos beyond the reach of people... well... except HP Lovecraft, who comprehended the idea of PTSD and included it as an element into his horror stories about Air Conditioning and finding out you were secretly a quarter Welsh
There are better books talking about the stuff involving the Astral Plane. There are better books talking about the folklore. There are better books covering vampires
That being said... I do find this book somewhat nostalgic to read. As it very much does feel like the sort of thing you'd find tucked onto a lesser loved shelf in an underfunded library. The sort of thing as a teenager, I'd glom onto and read to feel like I hold little known secret knowledge
The edition of the book I got also listed a bunch of other books released by the publisher in the cover. I'm going to eventually get around to also grabbing those books. Most of them seem to be in the public domain, and filled with a mixture of outdated and/or racist material. One of the titles of other books to check out even refers to a group of people with a word for "Carnivore" in a North American Language--so uh... certain that one is full to the brim of valid accurate information
I kind of want those other books, as examples of "not particularly correct understandings of the material, that, however, exist in the Public Unconscious to some degree" as a sort of litmus test for other works in my studies of The Esoteric
Which, this book kind of also fits into that area of materials
Oh, and there is also the matter of how this resembles the writings of a lot of Evangelist Grifters. People who scam people with the aesthetic of Christianity by lying about things Satan does. That bit kind of also got in the way of me enjoying the book
I mean, I'm not against Christian Morality Play type deals... but like... I'm not quite at a point where I can explain where the line is on when that gets to be icky for me
I did enjoy myself for the first couple of chapters... but well... then it kind of became harder to ignore the various issues and problems in the text
I tried to enjoy it as a "well, this is a good researched work for its time"--but the five same stories being repeated over and over got in the way of that
I did try to enjoy it in a similar way as one would enjoy SCP-Foundation works and inspired works. However, it had some faulterings to be enjoyed in that manner
I dunno... I want to feel like I am not being too harsh on it... but I feel like I am being too harsh
This, was not that book
This, however, is the sort of book that you could expect on the spirituality shelf in a small underfunded library in a town or town school. The single half of a shelf that is located in the lower numbers of the Dewey Decimal System. This book mostly not getting tossed out of the collection, because the shelf already looks fairly empty with it on it--and removing it would not help
This book mostly suffers from scholars going out and doing better work on the topic since this book was released prior to The Great Depression
The main issues with this book, is repeating various bits of folklore and history that some douche bag just made up in the 1800s, racism, imperialist approach to folklores, the same five stories being repeated and not being educated in fields of sciences that did not exist yet
Some of the bad information seems to come from the author not realising how recent certain social phenomenons actually were such as a specific style of yellow journalism that started in the 1800s, being attributed to happening in the 1700s. Not that there were not methods that yellow journalism happened prior to the 1800s, they manifested and spread quite a bit differently than the way Mr. Wright talked about them happening. Though, there is really no reason to fault Mr. Wright for not realising how this concept that was everywhere when this book was published was fairly recent
Other issues are how he has stories that are reskins of other stories, but made "Chinese" in a way that seems to be lazily ignorant of the various cultures being listed as "Chinese". With these folklore stories not having any sources from East Asia--and mostly just being stuff from books like this
The Islamaphobia was oddly refreshing however. As instead of the Islamaphobia we see in the 21st Century, it merely has brown people being somewhat a bit of well-meaning doofuses who are capable of building/running empires, but because they haven't accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior and God they will forever be fools. Which is still a form of Islamaphobia... but not anywhere near as mean as what I am accustomed to observing. I mean... it isn't a pleasant way to interact--but well... it just kind of shows how things have just gotten worse on that front, really
I feel kind of foolish as it took me way too long that the stories did not just seem similar to each other--but often you'd have five stories that just kept getting repeated over and over in the book. Often showing up in Chapters that they were not an overly appropriate fit to be in said chapter. It took me longer, as the stories would often change the spelling of the names of the people involved. Spend more time on certain parts--or just speed past other parts. Each chapter seems to have two or three stories that are just "the repeated story"
All of this is made worse, as the last chapter ends up being skimped upon, as it starts talking about the astral plane, psychology (referred to as The Psychic Studies--or some variations) and other stuff meant to be more grounded in the world. With the "validation" being "people keep saying this is happening"... except for all the parts where it talks about stories not really being as present in certain areas. Or the stories that it kind of has to mangle to fit the narrative
Also, a lot of the stories can also be given a different understanding with the explanation of PTSD. Though, PTSD would not be figured out until nearly half a century after this book was first published. With the knowledge that "seeing messed up stuff kind of messes a person up" being a secret of the cosmos beyond the reach of people... well... except HP Lovecraft, who comprehended the idea of PTSD and included it as an element into his horror stories about Air Conditioning and finding out you were secretly a quarter Welsh
There are better books talking about the stuff involving the Astral Plane. There are better books talking about the folklore. There are better books covering vampires
That being said... I do find this book somewhat nostalgic to read. As it very much does feel like the sort of thing you'd find tucked onto a lesser loved shelf in an underfunded library. The sort of thing as a teenager, I'd glom onto and read to feel like I hold little known secret knowledge
The edition of the book I got also listed a bunch of other books released by the publisher in the cover. I'm going to eventually get around to also grabbing those books. Most of them seem to be in the public domain, and filled with a mixture of outdated and/or racist material. One of the titles of other books to check out even refers to a group of people with a word for "Carnivore" in a North American Language--so uh... certain that one is full to the brim of valid accurate information
I kind of want those other books, as examples of "not particularly correct understandings of the material, that, however, exist in the Public Unconscious to some degree" as a sort of litmus test for other works in my studies of The Esoteric
Which, this book kind of also fits into that area of materials
Oh, and there is also the matter of how this resembles the writings of a lot of Evangelist Grifters. People who scam people with the aesthetic of Christianity by lying about things Satan does. That bit kind of also got in the way of me enjoying the book
I mean, I'm not against Christian Morality Play type deals... but like... I'm not quite at a point where I can explain where the line is on when that gets to be icky for me
I did enjoy myself for the first couple of chapters... but well... then it kind of became harder to ignore the various issues and problems in the text
I tried to enjoy it as a "well, this is a good researched work for its time"--but the five same stories being repeated over and over got in the way of that
I did try to enjoy it in a similar way as one would enjoy SCP-Foundation works and inspired works. However, it had some faulterings to be enjoyed in that manner
I dunno... I want to feel like I am not being too harsh on it... but I feel like I am being too harsh
January 21, 2013
Given that Dracula was published in 1897, one cannot help but wonder if this little gem was published in response to the popularity of the Stoker novel.
An academic work first published in 1914, this book traces the vampire legend and belief through history and throughout the world.
Its discussions include: Babylonia, Assyria, and Greece; Great and Greater Britain; Germany and Surrounding Countries; Hungary, Bavaria, and Silesia; Servia and Bulgaria; Russia, and the Orient.
Reading this, I felt as though I were Van Helsing or Carl Kolchak researching a real threat.
An enlightening and fun exploration.
An academic work first published in 1914, this book traces the vampire legend and belief through history and throughout the world.
Its discussions include: Babylonia, Assyria, and Greece; Great and Greater Britain; Germany and Surrounding Countries; Hungary, Bavaria, and Silesia; Servia and Bulgaria; Russia, and the Orient.
Reading this, I felt as though I were Van Helsing or Carl Kolchak researching a real threat.
An enlightening and fun exploration.
March 23, 2013
From the inside flap - The Book of Vampires is the first serious study of vampirism in the English language. It assembles reports from all ages and from all countries, and discusses various theories of vampirism. (Not the first and certainly not from all countries, but a good cross section and variety.)
September 5, 2024
This is a reprint of the revised 1924 edition of this book. Dudley Wright presents legends of vampires from different countries. It is interesting to read these accounts from a 1924 point of view. Some of the stories presented were reported within 24 years of the revised edition, highlighting how serious those involved considered the problem of vampirism. The author approaches vampires with the openness of one who believes in the occult/spiritualism movement that was still active in the early 1900s. The idea of astral projection and psychic projection is taken as a reality that had been documented.
As one reads through these stories, a few common threads appear across many countries. Following the death of a person, there is are mysterious deaths of family members and/or neighbors. Upon opening the grave, the original deceased is found to be of good coloring, full of blood and not decomposing. Once the body is staked, decapitated or burned, the mysterious deaths or illnesses of the living stop. Not all the stories include the drinking of blood. Sometimes, the vampire merely appears to the living and engages in romantic trysts only for the lover to find a corpse the next morning. Sometimes the vampire causes a lack of sleep or a depression to fall upon the living.
The belief in vampires may be based on something explainable or may be a primal response to understand the unexplainable. Either way, people seem drawn to these stories as can be evidenced by the historic recounts of people across many countries in this book.
As one reads through these stories, a few common threads appear across many countries. Following the death of a person, there is are mysterious deaths of family members and/or neighbors. Upon opening the grave, the original deceased is found to be of good coloring, full of blood and not decomposing. Once the body is staked, decapitated or burned, the mysterious deaths or illnesses of the living stop. Not all the stories include the drinking of blood. Sometimes, the vampire merely appears to the living and engages in romantic trysts only for the lover to find a corpse the next morning. Sometimes the vampire causes a lack of sleep or a depression to fall upon the living.
The belief in vampires may be based on something explainable or may be a primal response to understand the unexplainable. Either way, people seem drawn to these stories as can be evidenced by the historic recounts of people across many countries in this book.
June 11, 2022
This book outlines vampire superstition and beliefs and how it varies in a number of different countries.
Also included are various stories of vampire incidences around the world.
The book is relatively short but packed full of information, although some of it seems added almost as an afterthought and in places has an unorganised feel to it.
An okay read but particular enjoyment is to be had if you have a real liking of vampires.
Also included are various stories of vampire incidences around the world.
The book is relatively short but packed full of information, although some of it seems added almost as an afterthought and in places has an unorganised feel to it.
An okay read but particular enjoyment is to be had if you have a real liking of vampires.
December 27, 2020
Good index of vampire mythology from around the world. Because it was originally published in 1914, there is no mention of sunlight as a means to kill vampires (this bit of legend was invented by the 1922 film Nosferatu)--thus there are stories that take place in daylight without consequence, although by and large the vampire is still a nocturnal creature.
January 12, 2009
This charming, long-standing treatise in early vampirology is a must-have for all paranormal-fans that want a more “nonfictional” look at the bloodthirsty night stalkers. It even goes as far as to include “accounts” of vampirism, as well as many, many sources that explain the mythology behind vampires...
For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Review site on the web, Bitten By Books for the review of Vampires and Vampirism : Legends from Around the World in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.
For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Review site on the web, Bitten By Books for the review of Vampires and Vampirism : Legends from Around the World in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.
February 18, 2010
You can only tell the same story so many times before it starts to get old. This is a collection of hundreds of vampire accounts throughout the ages, but all of them are basically the same with a few minor tweaks here and there. It was entertaining at first, hence the two stars, but I quickly lost interest.
November 19, 2013
A book for the folklorist, this little tome is light on systematically looking at who and what vampires are. A bit confusing at times: in places the vampire is little more than a ghost. Or maybe a zombie. Also, the stories at times were similar, so it did not seem to make a difference that the chapters were organized by place.
Some cool stories though.
Some cool stories though.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews