In this 19th-century medley of the macabre, seven blood-chilling tales
feature a cast of demons, doppelgangers, werewolves, and other beastly
creatures, sure to haunt your dreams. The lead story, The Vampyre, has
influenced generations of fantasy fiction writers. One of the first
tales ever written in the romantic vampire genre, it was the result of a
friendly writing competition that also yielded Mary Shelley's classic,
Frankenstein. The story begins as a gentleman traveling in Greece
falls in love with a local beauty. When she warns him about vampires, he
scoffs at her fears -- until he's caught in the forest one night and
finds someone at his throat.
This fiendishly good collection continues with Clemence Housman's The
Werewolf, in which a white-robed maiden with a thirst for blood
encounters twin brothers -- and executes a diabolical plan. In Edward
Bulwer-Lytton's Monos and Daimonos, a reclusive young man goes to great
lengths to rid himself of the odd character pursuing him...with
horrifying results. Plus, there are four more equally thrilling tales,
including the anonymous stories, The Curse and The Victim. Must-have
reading for college students and fans of the supernatural.