Vampire Literature - Vampire Books and Stories

  • The Vampire (1748) by Heinrich August Ossenfelder - This poem that was created only few years after the vampire craze started sweeping across the Europe and official confirmation of the vampire existence by Hamburg Monarchy (case of Arnold Paole in Serbia). Poem "The Vampire" had strong erotic overtones, describing the wish of a vampire to feed of the blood of young maiden and tech her something better than Christianity.
  • The Giaour (1813) by Lord Byron - Famous English poet mentioned vampires in several of his works, but most famously in poem The Gaiour where he mentions that Vampires are beings damned to suck the blood of their living relatives.
  • The Vampyre (1819) by John William Polidor- Based on a short story by Lord Byron, Polidor created a vampire protagonist Lord Ruthven (sexual and alluring, but also dangerous) who will appear in several novels and stage plays in early 19th century.
  • The Skeleton Count, or The Vampire Mistress (1828) by Elizabeth Caroline Grey - This novel represented first work of vampire fiction written by a woman.
  • Varney the Vampire (1847) by James Malcolm Rymer- Varney the Vampire introduced public with now iconic scene of vampire entering into maiden's room through a window.
  • After Ninety Years (1880) by Milovan Glišić - 17 years before Bram Stoker's Dracula, celebrated Serbian author Milovan Glišić wrote a horror novel that described many of the Serbian and Slavic folklore vampire tales that were the basis for the creation of Dracula.
Picture Of Vampire Literature Dracula By Bram Stoker 1897
  • Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker - By combining the folklore tales about 17th century sadistic ruler Vlad the Impaler, Slavic vampire myths and religious themes, Bram Stoker managed to create one of the most iconic vampire characters of all time. Impact of Dracula meant that vampires became known in every part of the world.
  • Le prisonnier de la planète Mars (1908) by Gustave Le Rouge - Advances of early 20th century brought vampire tales that were infused with scientific and biological explanation for vampirism. In Rogue series of novels, Vampires were aliens, and J.-H. Rosnyaîné described them as genetically changed humans.
  • I Am Legend (1954) by Richard Matheson - This award winning modern take on vampires which described them as the victims of the worldwide flu disease. I Am Legend was eventually adapted into three successful movies.
  • Barnabas Collins by (1966-71) by Marilyn Ross- This series of book represented first of multi-volume vampire epic that explored various aspects of their existence.Vampire Chronicles (1976-2003) by Anne Rice explored alternate history in which vampires are very sensitive and romantic and Saint-Germain series (1978-) by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro focused much more on romance.
  • Anno Dracula series (1992-) by Kim Newman - This series explored post-modern spin on vampire theme, which can most famously be found in Joss Whedon's award winning TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
  • 'Salem's Lot (1975) by Stephen King - Award winning vampire horror novel.
  • The Southern Vampire Mysteries series (2001-) by Charlaine Harris - Combination of alternate history where vampire live in the open with mankind and fantasy themes was created instant success for this vampire series. Recently, these books were adapted into popular HBO television series True Blood.
  • The Dresden Files (2000) by Jim Butcher - In late 20th and early 21st century, urban fantasy and occult detective sub-genre reached planetary popularity. Dresden Files represent one of the most famous examples of that genre, with vampire theme that flows through majority of its novels.
  • Let the Right One In (2004) by John Ajvide Lindqvist- One of the most famous vampire horror novel of 21st century describes the relationship between 12 year old boy and 200 year old vampire child. Book received two adaptations to movie screen, both successful and acclaimed by critics and public.
  • Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter (2010) by Seth Grahame-Smith- First decade of 21st century ended with the release of groundbreaking mashup novel that told the story of Abraham Lincoln and his historical fight to establish United States of America, all while fighting a secret war against vampires.
Picture Of Vampire Literature Dracula By Bram Stoker 1897
Picture Of Vampire Literature The Vampyre 1819
Picture Of Vampire Literature The Giaour