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Though most other works of vampire fiction do not feature Dracula as a character, there is typically a clear inspiration from Stoker, reflected in a fascination with sex and wealth, as well as overwhelmingly frequent use of ] settings and iconography. A contemporary descendant is the series of novels by ], the most popular in a genre of modern stories that use vampires as their (sometimes sympathetic) protagonists. ] writes young adult books with a similar slant. Though most other works of vampire fiction do not feature Dracula as a character, there is typically a clear inspiration from Stoker, reflected in a fascination with sex and wealth, as well as overwhelmingly frequent use of ] settings and iconography. A contemporary descendant is the series of novels by ], the most popular in a genre of modern stories that use vampires as their (sometimes sympathetic) protagonists. ] writes young adult books with a similar slant.


==Examples of Vampire Literature== ==Literature==
* ''] or The Feast of Blood'' (]) by James Malcolm Rymer, a Victorian best-seller and pot-boiler * ''] or The Feast of Blood'' (]) by James Malcolm Rymer, a Victorian best-seller and pot-boiler
* '']'' (]) by ], perhaps the most atmospheric vampire story ever * '']'' (]) by ], perhaps the most atmospheric vampire story ever
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* The '']'' (]–]) series by ], "what if?" tales extrapolating the events of ''Dracula'' if Dracula had not been stopped and had later married ]. * The '']'' (]–]) series by ], "what if?" tales extrapolating the events of ''Dracula'' if Dracula had not been stopped and had later married ].


==Vampire Films and Television== ==Films and television==
Of the various fictional monsters to be depicted in ]s throughout the ] and ], the ] has been one of the most popular. Vampires have appeared as terrifying monsters in an amazing number of movies, so much so that the depiction of vampires in popular culture is strongly based upon their depiction in movies throughout the years. Of the various fictional monsters to be depicted in ]s and ] throughout the ] and ], the ] has been one of the most popular. Vampires have appeared as terrifying monsters in an amazing number of movies, so much so that the depiction of vampires in popular culture is strongly based upon their depiction in movies throughout the years.


=== Dracula and his legacy ===
For more infomation, please refer to ]


By far, the most well-known and popular vampire in the movies is ]. An amazing number of movies have been filmed over the years depicting the evil Count, some of which are ranked among the greatest depictions of vampires on film.
⚫ ==Other Media==

* '']'' (]; starring ], remade ] with ]) – unlicensed German adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel
*'']'' (]) – the first Universal Studio Dracula film, starring ]
*'']'' (]) – Spanish-language version starring ], made simultaneously with the original Universal Studio Dracula film, using the same sets on a timeshare basis
*'']'' (]) – Follow up to the original Universal Studio Dracula film, starring ]
*'']'' (]) – The last Universal Studio Dracula film, starring ]
*'']'' (]) – Lugosi played Dracula on film for only the second and final time.
*'']'' (]; aka ''Horror of Dracula'') – the first ] Dracula film, starring ]
*'']'' (]) – attempt at filming the story quite close to Stoker's novel; ] as Dracula
*'']'' (]) – a ] of Dracula films by ]; ] as Dracula
* '']'' (]); loosely connected through Mina Harker being vampiric after an encounter with Dracula.
*'']'' (]) – action movie only loosely connected to the original ''Dracula''; ] as Dracula
*'']'' (]); Drake the vampire is supposed to have had many forms throughout the centuries, Stoker's Dracula being one of them.

=== Other movies and television ===
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' TV series (] and ])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']l'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* ''] (])
* The serials '']'' (]) and '']'' (]) from the ] ] television series '']''.
* ''] (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
** '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
** ''Bloodstone: Subspecies II'' (])
** ''Bloodlust: Subspecies III'' (])
** ''Vampire Journals'' (])
** ''Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm'' (])
* '']'' (]), ] and its television spinoff '']''
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
** ''From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money'' (])
** ''From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' ([[1996
* '']'' ([[1998
* '']'' (])
** '']'' (])
** '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
** ''Vampires: Los Muertos'' (])
** ''Vampires: The Turning'' (])
* '']'' (1998)
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (])
** '']'' (])


⚫ ==Other media==
Video game series featuring vampires primarily use Dracula or Dracula-inspired characters (such as the appearance in '']''). Konami's '']'' series is the longest running series which uses the Dracula legend, though its writers have made their own alterations to the legend. An exception to this trend is the '']'' video game series, which features vampires set in an entirely fictional world called Nosgoth. Video game series featuring vampires primarily use Dracula or Dracula-inspired characters (such as the appearance in '']''). Konami's '']'' series is the longest running series which uses the Dracula legend, though its writers have made their own alterations to the legend. An exception to this trend is the '']'' video game series, which features vampires set in an entirely fictional world called Nosgoth.


Revision as of 06:03, 4 August 2005

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It has been suggested that this article be merged with vampire. (Discuss)

Vampire fiction covers the spectrum of literary work concerned principally with the subject of vampires.

The best known work in this genre is of course Bram Stoker's gothic novel Dracula. It was not, however, the first. Myths and legends of blood-imbibing creatures capable of transmogrification predate the novel form. The immediate antecedent of Dracula is Sheridan le Fanu's classic of the genre, Carmilla. This in turn owes more than a little to John William Polidori's The Vampyre; this work was contemporaneous to Lord Byron's poem The Giaour which also treats on this subject.

Lord Byron introduced many common elements of the vampire theme to Western literature in his epic poem The Giaour (1813). These include the combination of horror and lust that the vampire feels and the concept of the undead passing its inheritance to the living (Note: In the following excerpt, corse is "corpse"):

File:ByronAlban.jpg
Lord Byron in Albanian Costume
But thou, false Infidel! shalt writhe
Beneath avenging Monkir's scythe;
And from its torment 'scape alone
To wander round lost Eblis' throne;
And fire unquenched, unquenchable,
Around, within, thy heart shall dwell;
Nor ear can hear nor tongue can tell
The tortures of that inward hell!
But first, on earth as vampire sent,
Thy corse shall from its tomb be rent:
Then ghastly haunt thy native place,
And suck the blood of all thy race;
There from thy daughter, sister, wife,
At midnight drain the stream of life;
Yet loathe the banquet which perforce
Must feed thy livid living corse:
Thy victims ere they yet expire
Shall know the demon for their sire,
As cursing thee, thou cursing them,
Thy flowers are withered on the stem.

Ironically, Byron's own wild life became the model for the protagonist Lord Ruthven in the first vampire novel, The Vampyre (1819) by John William Polidori. Polidori's Lord Ruthven seems to be the first appearance of the modern vampire, an undead, vampiric being possessing a developed intellect and preternatural charm, as well as physical attraction. By contrast, the vampire of folklore was almost invariably thought of as a hideous, unappealing creature.

An unauthorized sequel to Polidori's novel by Cyprien Bérard called Lord Ruthwen ou les Vampires (1820) was adapted by Charles Nodier into the first vampire stage melodrama, which was in turn made into an opera by German composer Heinrich Marschner.

Bram Stoker's Dracula has been the definitive description of the vampire in popular fiction for the last century. Its portrayal of vampirism as a disease (contagious demonic possession), with its undertones of sex, blood, and death, struck a chord in a Victorian England where tuberculosis and syphilis were common.

Dracula appears to be based at least partially on legends about a real person, Vlad Ţepeş (Vlad the Impaler), a notorious Wallachian (Romanian) prince of the 15th century known also as Vlad III Dracula. He was the son of Vlad II Dracul. Vlad II received the title Dracul ("The Dragon") after being inducted into the Order of the Dragon in 1431. In Romanian, Dracul means dragon or devil, and Dracula (or Draculea) means "son of the Dragon" (or "son of the Devil", though "son of the Dragon" was intended in this case). Stoker is believed to have seen a reference in an article by Emily Gerard who said that Dracula was a word meaning the Devil. (Emily Gerard, "Transylvanian Superstitions." Nineteenth Century (July 1885): 130–150). Oral tradition regarding Ţepeş includes his having made a practice of torturing enemy prisoners and hanging them, or parts of them, such as heads, on stakes around his castle or manor house. Ţepeş may have suffered from porphyria. His rumored periodic abdominal agony, especially after eating, and bouts of delirium might indicate presence of the disease.

File:DraculaLugosi1931Poster.jpg
Filmgoers met Dracula (Bela Lugosi) in 1931 in a landmark vampire film.

Stoker also probably derived inspiration from Irish myths of blood-sucking creatures. He also was almost certainly influenced by a contemporary vampire story, Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu. Le Fanu was Stoker's editor when Stoker was a theatre critic in Dublin, Ireland.

Much 20th-century vampire fiction draws heavily on Stoker's formulation; early films such as Nosferatu and those featuring Bela Lugosi or Christopher Lee are examples of this. Nosferatu, in fact, was clearly based on Dracula, and Stoker's widow sued for copyright infringement and won. As a result of the suit, most prints of the film were destroyed. She later allowed the film to be shown in England.

Though most other works of vampire fiction do not feature Dracula as a character, there is typically a clear inspiration from Stoker, reflected in a fascination with sex and wealth, as well as overwhelmingly frequent use of Gothic settings and iconography. A contemporary descendant is the series of novels by Anne Rice, the most popular in a genre of modern stories that use vampires as their (sometimes sympathetic) protagonists. Darren Shan writes young adult books with a similar slant.

Literature

Films and television

Of the various fictional monsters to be depicted in movies and television throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the vampire has been one of the most popular. Vampires have appeared as terrifying monsters in an amazing number of movies, so much so that the depiction of vampires in popular culture is strongly based upon their depiction in movies throughout the years.

Dracula and his legacy

By far, the most well-known and popular vampire in the movies is Dracula. An amazing number of movies have been filmed over the years depicting the evil Count, some of which are ranked among the greatest depictions of vampires on film.

Other movies and television


Other media

Video game series featuring vampires primarily use Dracula or Dracula-inspired characters (such as the appearance in Conker's Bad Fur Day). Konami's Castlevania series is the longest running series which uses the Dracula legend, though its writers have made their own alterations to the legend. An exception to this trend is the Legacy of Kain video game series, which features vampires set in an entirely fictional world called Nosgoth.

Other vampire tales seen in several places include: