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oeystein's review against another edition
2.0
The other tale to come out of the conversations by Lake Geneva that sparked Frankenstein, and apparently the "first modern" vampire story. This is enough reason in itself to read it, especially since it's so short. But as a story on its own merits - this is not, to the modern reader, a good read. The story has no suspense, as everything that happens is flagged well in advance, many of the plot devices are pretty incomprehensible - such as the protagonist's "giving his word" and therefore being unable to prevent the vampire's evil plan. And the language - one expects the writing to be stilted in prose from this period, but many of the sentences here are pretty near unreadable.
So read it for its historical value, but don't expect anything great.
So read it for its historical value, but don't expect anything great.
cinnamoni's review against another edition
4.0
a little confusin but crazy that not one person cared that he didnt want the lord to marry his sister since he was "insane" and then boom gets proven right after his death
juushika's review against another edition
3.0
Reread, 20201: On this reread I again spent more time reading about the work than reading the work itself. The relationship between text, paratext, and context is fascinating. It's fair to say, right, that Polidori probably didn't write the paratext? Nonetheless it provides a delightful setup: "let me introduce you to the mysterious Lord Byron, who definitely doesn't behave in these specific inflammatory and notorious ways, and is in fact an upstanding guy!; anyway here's a story about a notorious nobleman who's 100% a monster." So: interesting for the drag of Byron, and for how ineffectually it aided poor Polidori; interesting for the genesis of its publication & for how it drew from and exceeded Byron's fragment; interesting for the phenomenon that was those days in June 1816; interesting for its massive impact on genre and pop culture (and for Polidori's sake, little though it helps him, I'm glad that the aristocratic vampire archetype proved as lasting as the anatomy of a vampire presented in the introduction).
And the text itself? Totally fine! The build-up feel pretty routine by now, but Aubrey's madness is compelling. It's a less-linear counterpoint to the reveals of the plot, fuzzy, mesmeric, like Ruthven's touch and voice--"Remember your oath!"--coming as Aubrey watches Ruthven across the room.
Original review, 2013: The young Lord Aubrey meets the strange and compelling Lord Ruthven, who seems to spread moral and mortal suffering wherever he goes. The confusing history--the story was originally attributed to Lord Byron, but was written by his physician John Polidori--that surrounds The Vampyre threatens to overshadow the text itself (especially as the Gutenberg edition reprints the 1819 imprint containing an unconnected account of Lord Byron's residence in Greece) but ultimately only adds to The Vampyre's mystique. The story is a small gothic delight, not particularly complex by modern conception of the vampire trope but seminal and still interesting: Polidori was the first to introduce the vampire as a character, an individual instead of a myth, and Ruthven is as much a social as a spiritual and physical predator. Initially compelling but ominous, he eventually drives Aubrey to suffering, self-doubt, and social isolation; it's an effective, claustrophobic gothic nightmare, not undercut by the text's brevity, predictability, or unremarkable writing. The Vampyre is a product of its age, limited in retrospect but groundbreaking at the time--and still accessible, in part because of its length and in part because of its enjoyable gothic tendencies. I'm glad I finally had the chance to read it, and recommend it--particularly to fans of the gothic genre and/or vampire trope.
And the text itself? Totally fine! The build-up feel pretty routine by now, but Aubrey's madness is compelling. It's a less-linear counterpoint to the reveals of the plot, fuzzy, mesmeric, like Ruthven's touch and voice--"Remember your oath!"--coming as Aubrey watches Ruthven across the room.
Original review, 2013: The young Lord Aubrey meets the strange and compelling Lord Ruthven, who seems to spread moral and mortal suffering wherever he goes. The confusing history--the story was originally attributed to Lord Byron, but was written by his physician John Polidori--that surrounds The Vampyre threatens to overshadow the text itself (especially as the Gutenberg edition reprints the 1819 imprint containing an unconnected account of Lord Byron's residence in Greece) but ultimately only adds to The Vampyre's mystique. The story is a small gothic delight, not particularly complex by modern conception of the vampire trope but seminal and still interesting: Polidori was the first to introduce the vampire as a character, an individual instead of a myth, and Ruthven is as much a social as a spiritual and physical predator. Initially compelling but ominous, he eventually drives Aubrey to suffering, self-doubt, and social isolation; it's an effective, claustrophobic gothic nightmare, not undercut by the text's brevity, predictability, or unremarkable writing. The Vampyre is a product of its age, limited in retrospect but groundbreaking at the time--and still accessible, in part because of its length and in part because of its enjoyable gothic tendencies. I'm glad I finally had the chance to read it, and recommend it--particularly to fans of the gothic genre and/or vampire trope.
nadiahpk's review against another edition
3.0
Worthwhile if only because it is short and historically significant.
mysteriousnorse's review against another edition
2.0
This was more an idea for a story than a full story. I did like a lot of the description and the ideas of loyalty and betrayal. However; all we got were caricatures running around doing things. This book has aged very badly and the writing is difficult to follow and imagine. It is a nice, short, easy read though. Also, the idea the vampire influence makes you lose some of your inhibition should be touched on more often.
persypie's review against another edition
3.0
“I heed the death of my existence as little as that of the passing day.”
This story came to fruition from the famous literary ghost story contest between Lord Byron, Shelley, and co. that led to the creation of Frankenstein which, of course, meant I had to read it.
A disturbing vampire tale that squarely casts the vampire as a perpetrator of evil who attacks young women. Not exactly brilliant but I can definitely see where a lot of more modern interpretations have come from with the combination of this story and Dracula (written nearly 80 years later).
It does also make me curious if Polidori’s tale influenced Stoker as I suspect it might have.
This story came to fruition from the famous literary ghost story contest between Lord Byron, Shelley, and co. that led to the creation of Frankenstein which, of course, meant I had to read it.
A disturbing vampire tale that squarely casts the vampire as a perpetrator of evil who attacks young women. Not exactly brilliant but I can definitely see where a lot of more modern interpretations have come from with the combination of this story and Dracula (written nearly 80 years later).
It does also make me curious if Polidori’s tale influenced Stoker as I suspect it might have.
opalmoth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
logan_tyr's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did I ended up really enjoying it.