7 Best Short Stories – Vampires is a fascinating collection of stories that explores the mythical figure of the vampire in various facets, combining horror, suspense, and romance. Each story in this selection immerses the reader in dark and atmospheric narratives, where the supernatural intertwines with the psychological, creating characters and situations that challenge the boundary between fear and desire.
Complementing the stories, the collection includes the poems The Giaour, by Lord Byron, and Christabel, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, both rich in melancholic and supernatural atmospheres, exploring the seduction and terror associated with vampires.
This book contains the following stories:
The Vampyre – John William Polidori
Aubrey, a young Englishman, travels across Europe with the mysterious Lord Ruthven, only to discover his true nature as a vampire. This story is a landmark in vampire literature, defining many of the elements that would shape the genre.
Mrs. Amworth – E. F. Benson
The arrival of Mrs. Amworth in a quiet village raises suspicions, especially when disturbing events begin to occur. Is she a supernatural threat? This story explores the dangers hidden behind a friendly facade.
Dracula’s Guest – Bram Stoker
An English traveler ignores warnings and faces supernatural events during Walpurgis Night near Munich. This story serves as an atmospheric prologue to the classic Dracula.
Ligeia – Edgar Allan Poe
A man recalls his obsession with Ligeia, a woman of extraordinary beauty and intellect, as love and death intertwine in a poetic and dark narrative.
Clarimonde – Théophile Gautier
The young priest Romuald is seduced by the courtesan Clarimonde, who drags him into a world where desire and spiritual damnation merge. A tale of lust and spiritual conflict.
Wake not the Dead – Ernst Raupach
Walter brings his deceased wife back to life, but soon discovers the terrifying consequences of defying the forces beyond. This story delves into the horror of obsessive love.
The Tomb of Sarah – F. G. Loring
When an ancient tomb is opened, strange events lead those involved to question whether Sarah, supposedly a vampire, is truly at rest. A story that blends mystery and supernatural terror.
Sobre el autor
Bram Stoker
Irish author of Dracula, a Gothic horror classic, influential in vampire fiction. Also a theater manager and short story writer.
E. F. Benson
British writer known for ghost stories and Mapp and Lucia series, blending supernatural themes with humor, popular in horror and comedic literature.
Edgar Allan Poe
American writer, poet, and critic, known for dark Gothic tales like The Raven and The Fall of the House of Usher, a pioneer of horror and detective fiction.
Ernst Raupach
German playwright known for historical dramas and the vampire story Laßt die Todten ruhen, influential in 19th-century Prussian theater.
F. G. Loring
British naval officer and writer, pioneer of wireless telegraphy and author of The Tomb of Sarah, a classic in vampire literature.
John William Polidori
British writer and physician, author of The Vampyre, the first modern vampire story, influential in Gothic literature and vampire fiction.
Théophile Gautier
French writer and art critic, notable for La Morte Amoureuse (vampire tale) and contributions to Romanticism and the Parnassian movement.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
English Romantic poet and critic, co-author of Lyrical Ballads and famous for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan, influencing mystical themes.
Lord Byron
Romantic poet known for Don Juan and Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. His adventurous life and scandalous personal affairs made him a cultural icon.