The Resurrection of the Vampyre

By June Pulliam

Polidori, John, et al. Lord Ruthven, The Vampire (246 p.) and The Return of Lord Ruthven, The Vampire (263 p.)  Adapted in English by Frank J. Morlock.  Encino, CA: Blackcoat Press, 2004.

12/21/2004

Aficionados of horror, particularly of the vampire tale, will know of the famous writing contest held at a Swiss villa among Mary Shelley, Lord Byron and John Polidori, the contest that spawned both Frankenstein and Polidori’s story, “The Vampire,” whose central villain, Lord Ruthven, is a thinly veiled representation of his soon to be former friend, Lord Byron. This unusual two-volume collection, adapted by Frank J. Morlock, includes not only “The Vampyre,” but also several 19th century plays based on Polidori’s story, and two original short stories by Morlock himself (editor and translator of this collection).  

Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula is commonly held to be the most influential of vampire texts, and mistakenly believed by some to be the first vampire story to inspire stage drama (John Balderston and Hamilton Deane’s play of the same name) and later film.  It is true that Dracula is the most influential of all vampire texts. It has inspired countless works of alternative literature, and anyone wishing to write a vampire novel not based on Stoker’s story must nevertheless give a nod to this Ur text. However, I had never realized to what degree Polidori’s masterful 1816 story was so influential.

First published in The New Monthly Magazine in 1819, and mistakenly attributed to Lord Bryon, “The Vampyre” inspired French author Charles Nodier’s 1820 adaptation, as well as a vaudeville play by Eugene Scribe. In 1850, Alexander Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte-Cristo, would write a play that was sequel to Polidori’s original story.  People more familiar with Dracula will appreciate similarities between Stoker’s vampire and those represented in these works.  Count Dracula is not the only aristocratic spoiler of virginal young flesh.

Also included in each volume is an original short story by Morlock where, fittingly enough, literary and historical characters intersect. In “The Adventure of the Beneficent Vampire,” Sherlock Holmes and Lord Ruthven (known as Lord Rivven) must fight Count Dracula. And Alexandre Dumas meets Lord Ruthven in “Entretien with a Vampire.” Morlock’s introduction to each volume is also notable in that he does an excellent job of discussing the early history of the vampire as literary character, tapping a new vein, if you will, rather than warming up the same tired factoids about vampires.

All and all, this unusual and original collection of vampire fiction is something that any serious scholar of the undead should have on his or her bookshelf.  While many who considered themselves fairly well educated in the literature of the fantastic would know of Polidori’s story, it is doubtful that they would be acquainted with any of these plays by well known authors such as Nodier, Dumas or Scribe. Indeed, Morlock is to be commended for finding and making available these plays to the English speaking public.