The collection of Victorian Vampire Stories is an anthology of works created in an era when the vampire myth began to actively penetrate literature and popular culture. These stories, written in the 19th century, reflect the fears and fantasies of Victorian society, exploring themes of death, immortality, sexuality and morality through the prism of Gothic literature.
The collection includes such iconic works as "Carmilla" by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu - one of the first stories about a female vampire that combines a mystical atmosphere with elements of a psychological thriller, and "Vampire" by John Polidori - the story that laid the foundation for the image of an aristocratic vampire, which later inspired many writers, including Bram Stoker.
These stories create a rich picture of the Victorian perception of the supernatural, combining elements of horror, romance and moral dilemmas. The authors of the anthology often used vampires as a metaphor to explore fears related to sexuality, repressed desires and violation of social norms.
The collection of Victorian Vampire Stories is not only a fascinating read for fans of Gothic literature, but also an important historical document that helps to understand how literary images of vampires evolved and became part of modern myth.
The texts of the stories in the collection are given in the original language without translation and adaptations.