Conceived during the famed 1816 gathering at Villa Diodati alongside Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, John William Polidori's The Vampyre stands as a landmark in Gothic literature. First published in 1819, it introduced the archetype of the aristocratic, seductive vampire to Western fiction, shaping the course of vampire narratives for generations to come. Through the enigmatic figure of Lord Ruthven, Polidori explores themes of temptation, corruption, and the destructive allure of power.
Set against a backdrop of intrigue and moral ambiguity, the tale captures the anxieties and fascinations of the Romantic era, weaving horror with social commentary. Both a gripping narrative and a foundational text, The Vampyre illuminates the origins of one of literature's most enduring myths and remains essential for readers interested in the roots of Gothic and supernatural fiction.
