Varney the Vampire, or the Feast of Blood is a Victorian-era "Penny Dreadful" that was first published as a series of weekly cheap pamphlets from 1845 to 1847. The story was written primarily by James Malcolm Rymer, although Thomas Peckett Prest is also credited as a possible author. The entire series totals nearly 220 chapters, collected and published as a single epic novel in 1847. It is considered one of the most famous and influential examples of the "Penny Dreadful" genre.
"Penny Dreadfuls" were cheap, mass-produced pamphlets featuring sensational, lurid, and often shocking stories aimed at working-class audiences in 19th century Britain. These serial publications, costing only a penny per installment, exploded in popularity as literacy rates increased among the poor and working classes. The stories, often featuring gothic, supernatural, or crime-related themes, were characterized by their graphic content, complex plots, and cliffhanger endings designed to keep readers hooked from one installment to the next.
Varney the Vampire is notable for its complex and ambivalent portrayal of its central character, Sir Francis Varney. While initially depicted as a terrifying monster who preys on young women, Varney evolves over the course of the story into a more nuanced and sympathetic figure, tormented by his own nature and desires. This multifaceted characterization of a vampire was groundbreaking for its time and foreshadowed later works like Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire.
The story itself is a sprawling, episodic tale featuring numerous subplots and characters. The quality of the writing and plotting is variable, reflecting the breakneck pace of production and the collaborative nature of its authorship. Nevertheless, Varney the Vampire stands as a pioneering work of vampire fiction, establishing many tropes and conventions that would later become staples of the genre.
In 2007, Zittaw Press released the first fully re-typeset and annotated edition of Varney the Vampire, edited by scholar Curt Herr. This definitive edition corrects numerous errors from the original text, includes extensive footnotes and commentary, and features reproductions of the original illustrations. It stands as the most comprehensive and accessible version of this seminal work of horror fiction.
To purchase a copy of Curt Herr's annotated edition of Varney the Vampire, visit: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305367166354
15 апр 2024
