‘The Vampyre’ and Other Writings

by John William Polidori

A fascinating but shadowy figure of Romanticism, John Polidori was the sensitive but fierce writer behind one of literature's most notorious characters—the vampyre. This short story reveals the seductive figure of evil, who continues to exert a powerful influence over popular culture and who cemented Polidori's status within the Gothic tradition. This collection also makes available many of Polidori's lesser-known and hard-to-find works, including a medical thesis on nightmares, an essay on the source of pleasures, poetry and personal diaries, and the novel Modern Oedipus . These works combine to help illuminate and deepen the reader's understanding of Romanticism and the Gothic.

Genres: Horror, Classics, Vampires, Gothic, Fiction, Short Stories, Supernatural

33 pages, Nook

First published October 28, 2014

About the author

John William Polidori was an Italian English physician and writer, known for his associations with the Romantic movement and credited by some as the creator of the vampire genre of fantasy fiction.

Polidori was the oldest son of Gaetano Polidori, an Italian political émigré scholar, and Anna Maria Pierce, a governess. He had three brothers and four sisters.

He was one of the earliest pupils at recently established Ampleforth College from 1804, and in 1810 went up to the University of Edinburgh, where he wrote a thesis on sleepwalking and received his degree as a doctor of medicine on 1 August 1815 at the age of 19.

In 1816 Dr. Polidori entered Lord Byron's service as his personal physician, and accompanied Byron on a trip through Europe. At the Villa Diodati, a house Byron rented by Lake Geneva in Switzerland, the pair met with Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, and her husband-to-be, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and their companion (Mary's stepsister) Claire Clairmont.

One night in June, after the company had read aloud from the Tales of the Dead, a collection of horror tales, Byron suggested that they each write a ghost story. Mary Shelley worked on a tale that would later evolve into Frankenstein. Byron wrote (and quickly abandoned) a fragment of a story, which Polidori used later as the basis for his own tale, The Vampyre, the first vampire story published in English.

Rather than use the crude, bestial vampire of folklore as a basis for his story, Polidori based his character on Byron. Polidori named the character "Lord Ruthven" as a joke. The name was originally used in Lady Caroline Lamb's novel Glenarvon, in which a thinly-disguised Byron figure was also named Lord Ruthven.

Polidori's Lord Ruthven was not only the first vampire in English fiction, but was also the first fictional vampire in the form we recognize today—an aristocratic fiend who preys among high society.

Dismissed by Byron, Polidori travelled in Italy and then returned to England. His story, "The Vampyre", was published in the April 1819 issue of New Monthly Magazine without his permission. Whilst in London he lived and died in Great Pulteney Street (Soho). Much to both his and Byron's chagrin, "The Vampyre" was released as a new work by Byron. Byron even released his own Fragment of a Novel in an attempt to clear up the mess, but, for better or worse, "The Vampyre" continued to be attributed to him.

His long, Byron-influenced theological poem The Fall of the Angels, was published anonymously in 1821.

He died in August 1821, weighed down by depression and gambling debts. Despite strong evidence that he committed suicide by means of prussic acid, the coroner gave a verdict of death by natural causes.

His sister Frances Polidori married exiled Italian scholar Gabriele Rossetti, and so John is the uncle of Maria Francesca Rossetti, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Michael Rossetti and Christina Rossetti, though they were born after his death.

His sister Charlotte made a transcription of his Diaries, but censored "peccant passages" and destroyed the original. Based only on the transcripton, The Diary of John Polidori was edited by William Michael Rossetti and first published in 1911 by Elkin Mathews (London). A reprint of this book, The diary of Dr. John William Polidori, 1816, relating to Byron, Shelley, etc was published by Folcroft Library Editions (Folcroft, Pa.) in 1975. Another reprint by the same title was printed by Norwood Editions (Norwood, Pa.) in 1978.

A number of films have depicted John Polidori and the genesis of the Frankenstein and "Vampyre" stories in 1816: Gothic directed by Ken Russell (1986), Haunted Summer directed by Ivan Passer (1988) and Remando al viento (English title: Rowing with the Wind) directed by Gonzalo Suárez (1988). He also appears as a minor and unsympathetic character in the Tim Powers horror novel The Stress o

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before DRACULA...
Before NOSFERATU...
Even before BUFFY...

There was LORD RUTHVEN in John Polidori’s 1819 short story, The Vampyre. Originally attributed to Lord Byron, this is an exceptional gothic story and I was quite surprised at the amount of like I found myself feeling for this little gem.

Besides being double plus good, this atmospheric tale is historically important as it is the earliest example of the romantic vampire genre. Thus it is a classic of both gothic and vampire fiction.


Now don't go sprinting off because I used the term “romantic vampire” fiction. There is nothing sparkly, sappy or EMOtistic about this tale. Nothing sweet here unless you get off on the sugary, tangy taste of mind-numbing fear (...in which case, shame on you SICKO). In fact, I was actually amazed at how truly dark it was.

However, the term "romantic" is properly applied here. Lord Ruthven’s outward appearance is described as handsome, mysterious with haunting grey eyes who uses his charm and magnetic personality to insinuate himself into the cream of London society. From that standpoint, he is the progenitor of the “Vampire Lestat” school of fang-banger.

But that is only the outside. On the inside and all the way down to his gooey, undead center, Lord Ruthven is a walking, talking warehouse of evil, corruption and sadism and there is not a single redeeming aspect to his personality. I found the outward angel and the inner devil to be a perfect combination for this eerie, gothic tale.

I don’t want to give the plot away as the story is only 30 to 35 pages long but I thought it was dark and all kinds of creepilicious and had my full attention throughout. The writing is excellent, the tension remains high throughout and the ending is very tasty. If you are fan of traditional, dare I say classic, vampire fiction...this is a must read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! 4.0 to 4.5 stars.

P.S. Regarding my first pic above, I want to say again...BUFFY please come back and stake JUST ONE MORE...PLEEEAASE!! We really need you!!!

[Dimitra · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐✨/5 ⭐
I don't if my copy was THAT good or what but this was way better than Frankenstein for me!
& THE TEA that you learn from this book!!
GIMME MORE 🫖

[:3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

i feel as though the ratings for this short story do not give credit for when the story was written. for its time makes this story a marvelous read.

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

FP Digital Library | Well. That was a five page story stub artificially inflated into a short story by using 20 words where one will do. No idea why this edition includes two weird letters disputing Lord Byron's (well-earned) bad reputation, but the whole thing was a mess anyway, so why not?!

[naya · Rating 3 out of 5]

before dracula even before carmilla john william polidori wrote 'the vampyre' (1819) the first ever vampire story. ★: 2.5

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy read as the origin of a genre

I found this short story after rereading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which led me to Lita Judge's graphic novel, Mary's Monster, which introduced me to John Polidori. This is another progeny of Lord Byron's challenge to write a ghost story during their sojourn at the stormy lake. In that sense, it is the bother of Frankenstein, born together from that same party. Like it's more well-known siblings it is portends the beginning of the genre. The gentleman Vampire who seduces his prey reverberates from this stone in the pond through the present.

I was also fascinated by apparent connections to Lord Byron, the catalyst of these siblings, who seems to find refelection in Lord Ruthven, and clearly is not a flattering depiction.

The story lacks the depth of later incarnations of the creature but bears reading as the modern parent.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but without a good narrative

I am trying to read a lot of the early vampire stories, and this happens to be one of them. It was written by an associate of Byron, for the same challenge that produced Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. However, Polidori wasn’t that great of a writer, and it shows in this story. The idea for the story is really good, but the way it’s told isn’t exciting or moving. This is interesting for the history, but not for much else.

[Shaun Rylands · Rating 1 out of 5]

Finished reading The Vampyre by John William Polidori. A novella that extends the legends of Byron’s Giaour, Southey’s Thalabia and the writings of Tournefort and Calmet. Lord Ruthven preys on his victims’ psychologies, by draining their spirits, corrupting their minds, and ruining their reputations.

[Camelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only bought this book for "The Vampyre", a short story of a young man (who I think is in love with his sister?). The writing style was a bit hard to comprehend, very pompous and alert. Considering it came out in 1819, it's a decent read if you're interested in vampiric literature. For the moment, I won't be reading the rest of his short stories, it's a pass for me.

[Vickie Woodard · Rating 4 out of 5]

BASIC TALE

Polidori has some renown as diarist of Lord Byron.
I'm not surprised that someone who knew of Mary Shelley's novel would write about a monster as well.
Be sure to read the introduction. It provides some history of vampire lore.

[Paul Narvaez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Ground zero for the classic Vampire story.
This was written in 1819 whereas Bram Stoker wrote Dracula during the 1890's (70 years later).

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

[dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding voice] of course the Greeks invented vampirism as well

[breads · Rating 3 out of 5]

are all vampires Lord Byron fanfic?

[chloe 🪻 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m lord ruthven’s #1 hater

[A.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

We’ve all heard of the crazy weekend in which, challenged to write a scary story: Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, Byron wrote some ghost story fragments, Shelley wrote "A Fragment of a Ghost Story" published posthumously and Polidori wrote ‘The Vampyre’.
It is an interesting read.
“In many parts of Greece it is considered as a sort of punishment after death, for some heinous crime committed whilst in existence, that the deceased is not only doomed to vampyrise, but compelled to confine his infernal visitations solely to those beings he loved most while upon earth…”
Lord Ruthven shows up in English society. He is weighed down by ennui; so much so that the paleness of his skin never changes, that he is drawn to female laughter to silence it – an effect of awe at his appearance. He seems to speak only to the most chaste and highest in domestic virtue. As a result of his extraordinary behaviour, he is invited everywhere. Lol
The main character, Aubrey, hears of Lord Ruthven and determines to be his friend. He is rich, the Lord is poor so they travel together to Europe.
I loved this quote:
“…it was time for him to perform the tour, which for many generations has been thought necessary to enable the young to take some rapid steps in the career of vice towards putting themselves upon an equality with the aged, and not allowing them to appear as if fallen from the skies, whenever scandalous intrigues are mentioned as the subjects of pleasantry or of praise, according to the degree of skill shewn in carrying them on.”
In Rome Aubrey has mail from his guardians. They tell him the gossip. Evidently every woman who had anything to do with the Lord has been effectively destroyed.
“… that all those females whom he had sought, apparently on account of their virtue, had, since his departure, thrown even the mask aside, and had not scrupled to expose the whole deformity of their vices to the public gaze.”
Goodness… one wonders, what were they doing? He and Ruthven argue. Ruthven is courting a young woman in Rome but when asked, laughs at the idea that he might marry her. Aubrey warns the family against him and then falls out with Ruthven. He continues his travels onward to Greece, where he falls in love with Ianthe, a local Greek girl. She tells him vampire stories and is killed by one. Aubrey is too late to save her but keeps a knife found at the scene.
He falls ill and the Lord returns to nurse him. Travelling home, they are attacked by bandits, the Lord is shot, dies and his body is left (as per his instructions) so that the first light of the moon may touch it. It disappears. But before he died, he made Aubrey swear an oath to keep his life a secret.
Later he finds a sheath among Lord Ruthven’s possession that matches the one with Ianthe. Lord Ruthven IS the vamyre.
All the old vampire traits are there: pale skin, attractiveness (glamour), blood drinking from the neck of beautiful young women, super strength and control of the elements. He seems impervious or unconscious of pain. Interestingly, Lord Ruthven can day walk; he is not confined to the earth or a crypt during the daylight hours. In fact, religion matters nothing to him. Dammit, I keep accusing modern versions of changing vampire canon; oopsies.
Ruthven is actually pretty scary for the way he just toys with people. The women he destroys, the families he breaks apart, and the money he gives in seeming charity to the reckless only allows them to abase themselves further. He’s wicked. “…his charity and pleasure which proved the ruin of all…”
Even the oath that he makes Aubrey swear is a final twist for when Aubrey gets home, his adored sister has a new fiancé.

[Heidi’s Zee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An oath to ruination

[O · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tale of a young man who befriends a man who has the nature of luring young women, and subsequently dining upon them. Upon realising this, Aubrey distances himself from Lord Ruthven, however because of his charming nature cannot seem to pull away willingly. Lord Ruthven "dies" and Aubrey returns to his family and beloved sister, only to find himself once more face to face with Lord Ruthven and the young Ms Aubrey is serious danger.

I found this book to be at a good pace, the anxiety and downward spiral of his sanity because of teh Vampire was very enthralling and I found it quite entertaining. A good read indeed.

[Penney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick little read after reading Dracula. There are author notes before and after the story about when his path has crossed with Lord Byron. Lord Ruthven was a fine enough character but I wasn't satisfied with the story that Aubrey would be so bound by his oath to not tell anybody what he knew about Ruthven's nature in the face of his sister being married to him! .

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read only "The Vampyre" if you're really interested in early vampire tales, do not read for the prose. It's dull, distant, emotionless, tedious. I managed to get right to the end of the book, about page 186 (John William Polidori's diary) and I could not continue, I'm not strong enough. It seems the writer is just as dull as his prose.

[F · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE first story written in the English language (I believe) about vampires. It’s a short, but exciting, story. Frankly, reading the introduction with Pollidori’s relationship with Lord Byron was more interesting than the story since I knew who vampires were, and where the story was going.

But, man. Lord Byron sucks.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the first (if not THE first) literary vampires.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it because it was mentioned in several of the books I've read. It was good for something written so long ago.

[Eileanór Bláth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prima di Carmilla, prima di Dracula e mooolto prima di Lestat, il breve racconto di Polidori è una pietra miliare della letteratura gotica. <3

[Mariana Anaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todo bien hasta que el final se describe como en tres llenas. Pero aparte de eso, me encantó!