Summary
No other supernatural creature is as shocking and as frightening as the vampire. Neither living nor dead, it creeps out of its grave to suck the blood of the living while they sleep. About 300 years ago, vampires came out of the shadows into the celebrity limelight, and tales of vampires have filled newspapers, magazines, books, and the stage ever since. Vampires explores both familiar and little-known territory about the world’s creepiest monster, covering true stories and surprising facts about different types of vampires. It looks at superstition and folklore surrounding the bloodthirsty creatures and at their portrayals in the entertainment industry. Some legendary inspirations for vampire mythology, such as Vlade Tepes and Elizabeth Bathory, are also explored.
Chapters include:
- The Making of a Vampire
- Hunting Down the Vampire
- The V-Files: Stranger Than Strange True Vampire Stories
- From Count Dracula to Vampire Lestat and Beyond
- The Vampire Underground.
Specifications
Full-color and black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Sidebars. Timeline. Endnotes. Further resources. Glossary. Index.
About the Author(s)
Author and series consulting editor Rosemary Ellen Guiley is one of the leading authorities on the paranormal. She has written 41 nonfiction books on paranormal topics, translated into 14 languages, as well as hundreds of articles. She has appeared on numerous television, documentary, and radio shows. She is a columnist for TAPS Paramagazine and a consulting editor for FATE magazine. Guiley's books include The Encyclopedia of Angels, Second Edition; The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits, Third Edition; The Encyclopedia of Saints; The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters; and The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft, and Wicca, Third Edition, all for Facts On File. She lives in Connecticut.