Invidious comparisons…
One summer evening in 1816, a group of friends got to discussing tales of the supernatural, and challenged each other to write their own story. Two defaulted, Lord Byron wrote a “fragment” entitled Augustus Darvell, Mary Godwin, later Shelley, wrote Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus, and Byron’s doctor, John Polidori, wrote this story…
The Vampyre
by John Polidori

by FG Gainsford c. 1816
…there appeared at the various parties of the leaders of the ton a nobleman, more remarkable for his singularities, than his rank. He gazed upon the mirth around him, as if he could not participate therein. Apparently, the light laughter of the fair only attracted his attention, that he might by a look quell it, and throw fear into those breasts where thoughtlessness reigned.
A young gentleman by the name of Aubrey becomes fascinated by a rather older nobleman, Lord Ruthven, because he finds Ruthven’s character impossible to guess at. Ruthven is attractive but his eyes are strangely inexpressive, giving no clue to his feelings. The susceptible, inexperienced Aubrey…
…allowing his imagination to picture every thing that flattered its propensity to extravagant ideas, he soon formed this object into the hero of a romance, and determined to observe the offspring of his fancy, rather than the person before him.

Discovering that Ruthven intends to travel abroad, Aubrey arranges to go too, and soon the men become travelling companions. But over time, Aubrey begins to realise that his friend is not necessarily a very nice man…
Aubrey could not avoid remarking, that it was not upon the virtuous, reduced to indigence by the misfortunes attendant even upon virtue, that he bestowed his alms;—these were sent from the door with hardly suppressed sneers; but when the profligate came to ask something, not to relieve his wants, but to allow him to wallow in his lust, or to sink him still deeper in his iniquity, he was sent away with rich charity.
Aubrey tries to give him the benefit of the doubt, even though he can see that Ruthven preys on young women, (in rather unspecified ways), leaving them and their families ruined and disgraced. Then Aubrey’s guardians warn him that Ruthven is a bad lot, and Aubrey decides to leave and travel alone to Greece. But here, tragedy strikes – and soon Aubrey will become convinced that his one-time friend is hiding a terrible secret…
There was no colour upon her cheek, not even upon her lip; yet there was a stillness about her face that seemed almost as attaching as the life that once dwelt there:—upon her neck and breast was blood, and upon her throat were the marks of teeth having opened the vein:—to this the men pointed, crying, simultaneously struck with horror, “A Vampyre! a Vampyre!”

* * * * * * *
I can’t help imagining the two friends, Mary Shelley and John Polidori, getting together again a couple of years later…
Mary: So, did you write a story?
John (proudly): Yes, I did! Here it is! Did you?
Mary (taking the few sheets from John’s hand): Umm… well, yes, I did. (She holds out a massive manuscript.)
John: Oh! (pauses) So… what’s it about?
Mary: Oh, you know, the usual stuff. Mad science, ethics, perceptions of difference, man usurping God as creator, existential questions of loneliness and belonging, the essence of humanity… what’s yours about?
John: Umm… well, it’s about… umm… well, a man who’s actually a vampire.
Mary: Ah! I see! (She riffles through the tiny sheaf of pages.) That should be… fun!
John: I feel a bit embarrassed now.
Mary (kindly): Oh, don’t be! At least you wrote a story. Byron only managed a “fragment”…

by Samuel John Stump 1831
Mary was right – this is… fun! Not terribly well written fun, it has to be said, and not very vampirish either, to modern eyes. However, apparently it started the whole fictional vampire obsession, so it deserves praise for that. The introduction in my Oxford World’s Classic edition tells me that originally it was published under Byron’s name by an unscrupulous publisher looking to cash in on his notoriety, and I wonder if it would have had the same impact without that. I doubt it. I did find it amusing that some people said it was Byron’s best work – bet they felt a bit foolish when it came out he hadn’t written it! Polidori nicked the basic idea from Byron’s “fragment” (which is included in the book and is much better written) and expanded it into a full short story. He was apparently also taking a bit of a swipe at Byron himself – Ruthven being the name Byron’s cast-off mistress Caroline Lamb had given him in her own fictional portrayal in her novel, Glenarvon.

by Thomas Phillips 1813
In truth, I found the story of the story more interesting than the story. Neither the porpy nor I found it scary, and while the porpy didn’t laugh at some of the clunky, over-dramatic sentences, I did. Clearly the porpy has a sweeter nature than I…
John: Mary, your book is wonderful! It’s destined to be a great classic! I predict it will become one of the foundation stones of modern literature! I shuddered, I cried, I got angry, I shivered in fear! Your creature will fire imaginations through the centuries! Bravissima!
Mary: Thanks, John! Er… your story’s quite good too!
If you’d like to read it online, here’s a link. I read it in The Vampyre and Other Tales of the Macabre, which I’ll review fully at a later date.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Oxford World’s Classics.
* * * * * * *
Fretful Porpentine rating: 😱 😱
Overall story rating: 😀 😀 😀

* * * * * * *
This was an entertaining review, FF! I’m sorry the story wasn’t more so! Porpy is sweeter not to laugh but then rated the book lower overall! Loved the conversations between Shelley and Polidori! 😊
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Glad you enjoyed it! 😀 Hahaha – yes, the porpy can be a tough audience… he doesn’t scare easily! Poor Polidori – he tried, bless him! 😉
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Yes, bless him, he was more gifted in medicine than in writing…
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Thank goodness for that! I’d have worried for his poor patients otherwise… 😉
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That’s really interesting, FIctionFan, that you found the story of the story more engaging than, well, the story. But I understand exactly what you mean. I suppose this one deserves its place as a piece of history, but the porpy doesn’t seem too terribly fretful…
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I suspect this one has only survived because of the story behind the story. It’s fine, but not special in itself – the porpy had a relaxing time of it. (But hopefully I’ll scare him into fits next week… 😉 )
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Love the imagined conversation between Mary and John. 😀 😁 John’s prose seems a bit purple. Perhaps Porpy’s pity made laughter difficult.
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Haha – I couldn’t get it out of my head while I was reading this that one day poor John must have read Frankenstein and felt a bit embarrassed! Yes, I think the porpy was wondering why I’d bothered to wake him up… 😉
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Aw, now this is another sweet picture of the Porpy!! I’ll have to come back later to check out this one, despite the fact that I don’t usually read vampire stories.
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This is the least scary vampire story of all time, I suspect, so save it for a night you’re not looking for shivers! The porpy looks lovely when his hair-do isn’t mussed, doesn’t he? 😉
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Yes, historically important, but I think it’s as well he stuck to the day job!
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Haha, yes – though one hopes he was a better doctor!
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I too loved the John and Mary sketch: more, please!
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Haha – glad you enjoyed it! I think poor John probably changed his name and went off to work in the colonies shortly after that night… 😉
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This is great, especially the imagined conversation between Mary and John. Well, at least he didn’t write a “fragment” or default!
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Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. 😀 Haha – exactly! He should be proud! Mary was just showing off… 😉
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Have you seen the film ‘Mary Shelley’ (out this year)? It depicts the genesis of this book. It’s very good if a trifle slow…
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Oh, no, I forgot about it – I’m hopeless at getting around to watching films. Glad to hear it’s good – while I’m in Shelley/Polidori mode, I must hunt it down!
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I read this a few years ago and had very similar feelings about it. Interesting from a historical point of view, but not much of a story! I remember wishing Byron had finished his ‘fragment’ as his writing was so much better.
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Yes, I liked Byron’s “fragment” too, and also the fact that he clearly got a bit snippy about Polidori’s story going out in his name. I could see his point! It’s one of those ones I’m still glad to have read, though, because of its place in literary history, and also because I enjoyed all the info in the introduction so much.
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Poor John, overshadowed by Mary… shame this didn’t work for you, but isn’t Aubrey the best name for a character?
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I know – I couldn’t help imagining the poor man’s face as he finished reading the last page of Frankenstein. 😉 Ha! Yes, and it’s just as well, since he only seems to have the one name. Polidori clearly felt he didn’t rate two…
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The story of the story is fascinating. And the vampire in the illustration by Anne Yvonne Gilbert is the most handsome vampire I’ve ever seen, even more handsome than Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt, and much more handsome the fellow with all the hair from Twilight…
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He is rather gorgeous, but I must admit I’m very taken by the portrait of John Polidori too. He could easily have played Darcy in the original production, I feel! I was disappointed in Byron though – not nearly as swoonworthy as I was expecting…
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No, Byron must have had other things going for him…
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Maybe he had a large hoard of chocolate…
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🙂
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This is so much fun and so interesting, I agree the story of the story is brilliant!
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Thank you – glad you enjoyed it! 😀 Yes, I love the idea of them all getting together and inspiring each other, even if only Mary really came up with something wonderful!
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You mean…..he doesn’t even go around gnawing on people??
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Well, it was all a bit odd – he did appear to bite one young girl, but the rest he seemed to mysteriously “ruin” in ways that were left terribly vague. I couldn’t decide if he was implying he seduced them or sucked their blood!
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There is only one way I can think of to “ruin” a young women back in those days. He’s not a vampyre, he’s a creep!
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I suspect the two thing aren’t mutually exclusive… 😉 😂
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I have a request-next time you review a classical work such as this, you MUST include the dialogue between authors and their contemporaries as well! Such a great addition to this blog haha
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Hahaha – glad you enjoyed it! Poor John – I just couldn’t help imagining his face while he was reading Frankenstein… 😉
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[…] This is a collection of fourteen stories that were first published in magazines between 1819 and 1838. The majority are from London’s New Monthly but there are a few from other London and Dublin magazines. […]
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[…] Polidori to each write a story – a challenge that only Polidori and Mary met, with Polidori’s The Vampyre perhaps owing its place in history mostly to its connection to Shelley’s Frankenstein. But this […]
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