The Vampire
by Thomas M. Bohn
Drawing on a wealth of heretofore neglected sources from multiple languages, this book gives a fascinating account of how vampires-whose various incarnations originally developed within the folk traditions of societies throughout the world-came to be inextricably tied to Eastern Europe in the popular imagination.
Hardcover
English
Brand New
Publisher Description
Even before Bram Stoker immortalized Transylvania as the homeland of his fictional Count Dracula, the figure of the vampire was inextricably tied to Eastern Europe in the popular imagination. Drawing on a wealth of heretofore neglected sources, this book offers a fascinating account of how vampires-whose various incarnations originally emerged from the folk traditions of societies throughout the world-became identified with such a specific region. It demonstrates that the modern conception of the vampire was born in the crucible of the Enlightenment, embodying a mysterious, Eastern "otherness" that stood opposed to Western rationality.
Table of Contents
List of IllustrationsPrologue: From Original Sin to Eternal LifeIntroduction: The Vampire as an Imperial CategoryChapter 1. Vampirism in the WestChapter 2. Vampirism in the EastChapter 3. Vampirism in the HeadlinesChapter 4. Vampirism in Popular BeliefChapter 5. Vampirism in the Modern PeriodConclusion: The Vampire as Local ScapegoatBibliographyIndex
Review
"Bohn's broad and diligently compiled study ranges from the legends of medieval Iceland, through early modern Silesia and Poland, and up to the modern-day Balkans... The author has tackled an important issue of pan-European relevance." Sehepunkte
Review Quote
"Thomas M. Bohn's book on the 'historical' vampire is the rare epitome of a knowledgeable, critical and non-speculative monograph on the subject matter; it is not popular non-fiction, but still a very readable piece of academic writing... a splendid study." * Journal of Vampire Studies "One of the major contributions of Bohn's study is his meticulous historiography of vampirism in eastern Europe...Weaving together historical analysis with the process of Christianization, The Vampire: Origins of a European Myth offers an illuminating contribution to scholarship on the vampire figure." * Slavic Review "Bohn's broad and diligently compiled study ranges from the legends of medieval Iceland, through early modern Silesia and Poland, and up to the modern-day Balkans... The author has tackled an important issue of pan-European relevance." * Sehepunkte
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