Varney the Vampire, Volume II

by Thomas Peckett Prest

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

Genres: Vampires, Horror, Classics, 19th Century

564 pages, Hardcover

First published June 9, 2014

About the author

Thomas Peckett Prest, also known as Thomas Preskett Prest, was a British hack writer, journalist and musician. He was a prolific producer of penny dreadfuls. He is now remembered as the co-creator with James Malcolm Rymer of the fictional Sweeney Todd, the 'demon barber' immortalized in his The String of Pearls. He has also been associated with the authorship of Varney the Vampire, now more often thought to be the work of Rymer. He wrote under pseudonyms including Bos, a takeoff of Charles Dickens' own pen name, Boz. Before joining Edward Lloyd's publishing factory, Prest had made a name for himself as a talented musician and composer.

Reviews

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 2
Started with the continuation of the story of the Bannerworth's having to flee their home after being tormented out of it by Varney. Varney though had his own trouble continually being hunted. I think my favourite part of the volume was when he was being hunted by the villagers fleeing from rooftop to rooftop and eventually ended up at the doorstep of Flora, the girl who he attacked in the begining. In the end she saved his life twice. At that point he was at his most vulnerable and human.

The book diverged shortly after this with the introduction of a "Wealthy foreign baron" who was quite obviously Varney in disguise. It was a little annoying that the pretext of him being the Baron was kept up for so long. Towards the end of the second volume it felt like it kinda lost pace, with the exception of one very good scene of a vampire rising from the dead in a charnel house there was very little horror or gothic. The focus instead shifted to humour and the evils of women who are only interested in money. Who sell their daughters into marriage and have no feeling for their happiness or well being. It just started to all drag on a bit.

Still so far this is probably the second best story about Vampires that I've ever read. I'm greatly enjoying the style and the dramaticness of it all. There is real tension in the writing and Rymer writes some incredibly spooky scenes.

[Aviar Savijon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Volume of the antics and situations that Varney the Vampyre seems to get into this picks up where Volume one ended. Another great written manuscript by Thomas Preskett Prest. I loved it a must read for vampyre genre lovers. This is the story that led to the rest and current vampyre themed books movies and more. I Loved it!!!!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

My copy is the 1980s edition.

[Lesley Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

After finishing this book one year and one month after starting it, this is my conclusion: A beautifully written mess! No plot, no point, no ending. If you have time for 96 chapters of confusion, then please, take up this book. And if you do not, then "You're welcome".

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

haha...still funny

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even less about Varney--or vampires, for that matter--than the previous installment. It was educational to get a sense what this book is about, but I doubt I'll suffer the remaining third part.

[Louisa Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it, though, it was a bit slow in places but the revelations and twists of the plot were so intriguing to me i just had to keep reading