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2 November 2022
The vampiric tales of the 19th Century
Austi Classics is becoming a leading publisher of vampire stories.
In the 19th century, vampire stories were all the rage. These tales of creatures who lived off the blood of the living were both creepy and fascinating, and they continue to hold a fascination for readers even today. If you're in the mood for a good scare, then why not curl up with one of these classic vampire stories from the 1800s?
The Vampyre by John Polidori
The Vampyre is considered to be the first vampire story ever written in English. It was penned by John Polidori, a physician who was part of Lord Byron's inner circle, in 1819. The story centers on Lord Ruthven, a mysterious nobleman who may or may not be a vampire. Ruthven sucks the lifeblood out of his victims, leaving them pale and gaunt. He also has a habit of seducing young women before turning on them. Can anyone stop Ruthven's reign of terror?
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Carmilla was published in 1872 by Irish author J. Sheridan Le Fanu. It tells the story of Laura, a young woman who lives with her father in a remote castle in Styria. One day, Laura meets Carmilla, a beautiful but mysterious girl her own age who has come to stay at the castle. Almost immediately, Laura feels drawn to Carmilla—perhaps too drawn. As their friendship deepens, Laura begins to suspect that Carmilla may not be entirely human...
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Any list of 19th century vampire stories needs Bram Stoker's Dracula. Published in 1897, this novel is the story of Count Dracula, a Transylvanian nobleman who moves to England in search of new blood. Soon after his arrival, people begin disappearing and strange occurrences start happening all over London. Can anybody stop Dracula before he claims more victims?
These are just a few of the many vampiric tales that were popular in the 19th century. If you're looking for a good scare, then why not give one of these classics a try?
Austi Classics has republished all of these and more. Our latest release combines The Vampyre, Carmilla and True Story of a Vampire into a single volume. It is at Amazon .
26 January 2020
Thanks for visiting. Here's Disappeared Dan's latest short story - I hope you enjoy it:
Thanks Bart and Antonio for your critiques which greatly improved Disappeared.
17 August 2019
Thinking about writing about the corporate environment and corporate life. After all, so many people work in that environment nowadays. Working out plots that are engaging because people can relate to them, and also engaging because a fast-moving plot.
My short stories are here:
I'm participating in a course at The Write Practice.