Visions of the vampire : two centuries of immortal tales / edited by Sorcha Ní Fhlainn and Xavier Aldana Reyes.

The vampyre / John William Polidori -- Wake not the dead! / Ernst Raupach -- The white maniac / Waif Wander -- The family of the Vourdalak / Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy -- Good Lady Ducayne / Mary Elizabeth Braddon -- Luella Miller / Mary E. Wilkins Freeman -- The room in the tower / E. F. Benson -- Dracula's guest / Bram Stoker -- The cloak / Robert Bloch -- Over the river / P. Schuyler Miller -- The lady of the house of love / Angela Carter -- The master of Rampling Gate / Anne Rice -- Advocates / Suzy McKee Charnas and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro -- Let the old dreams die / John Ajvide Lindqvist.

The vampire is one of the great enemies of humanity, a nightmarish figure who feeds on the living in order to sustain themselves. Born from ancient folklore, writers in the 19th century gave form to the vampire as we know it today. Still haunting our subconscious in the 20th century, a new wave of writers continued to develop the imagery and traditions of the vampire-and the vampire continued to evolve. From John Polidori's iconic short story 'The Vampyre' and tales of parasitic female companions to experimental and freshly thrilling takes by Robert Bloch, Angela Carter, and Anne Rice, this collection sets out to present the enrapturing range of the vampire story and our undying fascination with the monster at its heart.