Vampire: The Complete Guide to the World of the Undead

by Manuela Dunn-Mascetti

A paperback edition of a best-seller offers a fully illustrated guide through the traditions of vampire lore, giving practical advice on dealing with these supernatural creatures. Reprint. 35,000 first printing.

Genres: Vampires, Nonfiction, Horror, Reference, History, Paranormal, Supernatural

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointingly superficial look at the legend of the vampire. The organization of the book seemed to encourage constant repetition of information. And, the pointless style of writing the text in a manner that suggests there's an uncertainity about myth and reality was quickly irritating. The potential saving grace were the accompanying illustrations - drawings, stills, artful photos. No wonder this one had remained unread for so long on my bookshelf.

[Jevron McCrory · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want depth, you won't find it here.

This is a nicely published and presented tome that barely touches on many aspects and myths of the vampire without ever really exploring any of it. It's surface light. There are some nice paintings and images (though it was all a bit TOO archaic and old fashioned for my tastes; there are no contemporary modern blood suckers among us?) and the quality of the pages is top notch but this is barely what it states it is.

Worth a look through but purchase? There's just too many better books dedicated to our suck heads out on the market.

[Kristyn Hammond · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book is filled with unmistakeably remarkable images and quick facts about Vampires and the Undead, it is also exceptionally vague. The book discusses Vampires in the most simplistic terms, never touching on the multitude of unusual or unknown Vampire Myths.

If you're a new comer in your interest for the Undead, and a novice in Vampire myth, this book is exceptional at touching base with all the basics. I recommend it, It's an ample reference. Otherwise, you may wish to spend your time and money on something more complex.

[Becky G · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book isn't bad, however it wasn't what I was looking for going into it.
This book, imo, is a rather brief overview of the more well known vampire lore, and might be great for someone who has never consumed a book on vampire lore, but most likely will bore people who already know a bit about vampires.
The best part of this volume is the aesthetic. The graphics and photos are all pleasantly gothic and creepy, adding an eerie flare

[Noodle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book isn't inspired, or original. And that's alright. Those thick, glossy pages with all the pictures and artwork make great collaging material.

Honestly, it isn't good for much else. Tries to give an overview of all things vampire. Naturally, given that it covers folklore, history, and pop culture, it only skims the surface of each.

[Davienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good. Took us through the begins of vampire legends and on through to Dracula and Lord Ruthven. We discuss Vald Dracul and his influence on Bram Stoker while he wrote Dracula. All in all a great book for anyone interested in the origins of vampires.

[Rudy Gutierrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was difficult to distinguish weather the author believed his narrative or not as he kept fluctuating between the legends and superstitions to the science and history. Interesting but offered little to no new information on the topic. It was a slow read due to its inconsistencies.

[Agnieszka na grzbietowisku · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zastanawialiście się kiedyś co otrzymacie z połączenia książki popularnonaukowej i fanfiku?

To co przeczytałam w tej książce to właśnie taka trochę abominacja. Z jednej strony są przedrukowane jakieś stare teksty (brak podanych źródeł), są "klimatyczne" ilustracje do materiału, za to z drugiej mamy zdania stwierdzające, że dziwne wypadki to być może naprawdę wampiry i ich sprawka, że porównanie anatomii wampira i zarażonego na dżumę wyjaśniłoby wiele wątpliwości itp. Niestety nie mam teraz przy sobie książki, żeby tutaj zacytować.

I Edward, błyszczący wampir dla niezorientowanych, pojawia się tutaj w epilogu, w może 2 akapitach.

Liczyłam na ciekawe i rzetelne opracowanie wizerunku wampira w kulturze, dostałam coś o czym sama nie wiem co myśleć...

[Pablo Hernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buen libro que ilustra el mito del vampiro, tanto desde un punto de vista mágico como las varias raíces realistas que este tiene y a ido adquiriendo con el pasar del tiempo y fusión de las distintas culturas del mundo, persiguiendo sus orígenes y explicando la concepción actual que tenemos de este a causa de la ficción literaria o cineasta.

Libro muy recomendado para todo aquel que se interese por saber las bases o motivos que llevaron a crear el mito del vampiro y dejarlo grabado a fuego en cultura popular

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come for the visual aides and stay for the lessons. Ok full disclosure, I bought this for the photos and illustrations but I really enjoyed the read. It is repetitive but I believe the author put a lot of sweat equity in this. Much of the information is based on anecdotal stories easily found on the web but it's nice to have a reference of Vampire and Zombie lore.

[Iris Frago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pronto reseña

[Lashana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Monografia o wampirach. Kolejna. Tym razem kończąca historię wampirów na, mającym grono fanek, nastoletnim Edwardzie. Co ciekawe, napisana w Hiszpanii.
I właśnie te dwie rzeczy skłoniły mnie do sięgnięcia po książkę – mało wampiryczny kraj pochodzenia autorki i ciekawość, jak zamierza połączyć (i być może wytłumaczyć) fenomen nastoletniego, sparklącego nastolatka z długimi kłami, mogącego chodzić w dzień i mieć dzieci w zestawieniu z klasycznym Draculą.
Zaczyna się trochę podejrzanie – autorka wysuwa tezę, że wampiry istnieją. Potem przytacza dokumenty z Serbii i Grecji, porównuje je z anatomią człowieka i współczesną wiedzą o patologii sądowej, wyciąga wnioski, a potem…. je ignoruje.
Przez większość książki skupia się na Wampirze Polidoriego i Draculi Stockera, oraz na filmowej wersji tego drugiego, pomijając filmy (i książki) nie pasujące do wizji ekscentrycznego arystokraty-uwodziciela (jak na przykład Nosferatu, mimo że zdjęcia z tego filmu pojawiają się w Świecie). Bardziej współczesne źródła opisów i argumentów to Wywiadu z wampirem (również przedstawiający wampira jako melancholijnego eleganckiego dżentelmena), wszystkie młodsze popkulturalnym stażem wampiry jak Angel czy Edward pojawiają się dopiero w (liczącym dwie strony) epilogu. Wszystkie do wizerunku niepasujące są po prostu pomijane.
Jak się okazało, monografią książkę trudno nazwać, bo ani temat nie jest potraktowany naukowo, ani wyczerpująco. Autorka często zapowiada (lub urywa) wątki, żeby potem opisać je jednym zdaniem lub w ogóle ich nie podjąć. Lub rozodzi się na tematy, które zna każdy, kto widział choć jeden film o wampirach.
Jednak, przede wszystkim, książka jest upiornie nudna i na dodatek nie wnosi nic nowego do tematyki wampirów.
W sumie trochę szkoda ładnego wydania w sztywnej oprawie, na kredowym papierze i ze zdobionymi marginesami (pomijam kiczowate landszafty).
Odradzam zdecydowanie, nawet fanom wampirów, a raczej im przede wszystkim.


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[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It is beautiful (well, that is, if you find misty cemeteries and weeping angel statues beautiful...) and atmospheric. It's the perfect book to browse through in late October to get you in the mood! Vampire is also a nice intro to Vampire Lore and Legend. All the major players are accounted for. I've received many vampire books as gifts but this one is definitely #1.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

1st Read: February 3, 2015 - February 9, 2015

It was just OK for me in the sense that it follows similar books dealing with this same subject matter. I can't really say that I learned anything new about vampires and legends of them. People are always going to buy these types of books. You win some and you lose some.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is one of my favorites about vampire mythology. It gives the beliefs of many different cultures and time periods concerning vampires, and it goes into wonderful detail. If someone's going to write a vampire novel or series, this book is one of the best refernce books to have.

[Professor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Utterly silly book, which is not an anthropological or folkloric take on the vampire legend, survey of the vampire in fiction, history of vampire beliefs, or "non-fiction" handbook of vampire lore, but a combination of all approaches in an unsatisfactory manner.

[Jami · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this one about 12 years ago. Great info, feed my hunger well. I should find a new copy, I would like to read it again.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it...easy to read and is a great source of information...

[Fangirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

When this book came out 17 years ago, I had to buy it right away. The photographs are beautiful and it contains lots of information about vampires and their legend.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book wasn't written all that well. Some interesting parts. Gory details on the historical Vlad Dracula. However, the photographs were terrific.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tidbits on all things Vampy. Everything you need to know from the anatomy of to how to kill one.

[Kim Ciniello · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like a really bad Wiki listing. Still, entertaining to plow through picking out bits of random info.

[Malcolm Forman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book for fans of the undead

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solo per aficionados e solo perché foto e disegni sono notevoli. Il testo è superficiale e banale.

[Ivan Sanchez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una interesante revisión de la historia de los vampiros en el cine, y en otros formatos. Sin embargo es algo superficial, no apto para un aficionado como yo, aunque ciertamente interesante.

[KaWoodtiereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

intriguing look into the world of the undead