Interred in shadows no more, the vampire mythos is illuminated in this captivating exploration of one of the world’s most sinister—and feared—creatures.
Join Brian Righi as he unearths the truth behind myths and beliefs, both ancient and modern. He traces the evolution of the vampire—from Dracula’s mysteriously empty grave and the enduring legend it spawned to terrifying documented cases of the real-life blood drinkers of today. Sordid and sultry, the vampire’s long and gruesome history is revealed:
—Various cultures’ beliefs and superstitions surrounding bloodthirsty immortals —Chilling true accounts of the unquenchable bloodlust of historical figures such as Vlad the Impaler and Countess Báthory —Stories and lore from villagers, as recalled from the author’s travels through Romania —Serial killers who suffered from delusions of vampirism —How the early Christian church inadvertently fed into the 18th-century Eastern European vampire scare
For many of us, the mere mention of the word "vampire" evokes images of pale Romanian counts with thick Eastern accents, slicked back hair, and tuxedo suits complete with opera capes. Younger generations might instead picture handsomely brooding teenage vampires. But while we may not readily envision vampires as being real, flesh-and-blood creatures who feast on the blood of the living, these beliefs persist into the current day, the entire world over. Brian Righi, author of Vampires Through the Ages, explains.
"The soul comes from without into the human body, as into a temporary abode, and it goes out of it anew…it passes into other habitations, for the soul is immortal." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82)
Have you lived before?
The answer to that question is yes. As a human soul you have lived before; many of us have even experienced many lifetimes... read this article
