Legends of Blood: The Vampire in
History and Myth by Flavia Idriceanu
An Enjoyable Book Which I Found Well Researched And Well Written.
Of all the fictional monsters that have pierced societys collective
consciousness, none has been so persistent or seductive as the vampire.
Tales of the undead preying upon the blood of the living have survived in
one form or another for thousands of years and across cultures. Legends
of Blood traces this fascinating history from the myths of Ancient Greece
and Egypt through the Gothic literature of 19th century Europe and up to
present day, emphasizing how the tales of this alluring creature tap into
humanitys most basic and primal fears. Wayne Bartlett and Flavia
Idriceanus highly readable yet impeccably researched book is a must-have
for vampire enthusiasts and scholars alike.
Drawing upon such sources as obscure and ancient myths, Romantic
literature, and the novels of Anne Rice, Legends of Blood sheds new light

on the pervasiveness of the vampire myth. Bartlett and Idriceanu illustrate
the relationships that subsist between vampires and witchcraft, religion and
sexuality, and show how the myth has adapted to the various intellectual
trends of European history. Other topics include real-life vampirism such
as the macabre tale of Elizabeth Bathory who murdered some 650 girls
and bathed in their blood to restore her legendary beauty.
Personal Review: Legends of Blood: The Vampire in History and
Myth by Flavia Idriceanu
Wayne Bartlett and Flavia Idriceanu, Legends of Blood, The Vampire in
History and Myth.
Reviewed for Praeger Publishing by Debra J. Glass, MAed, author of
Mediumship To Go (www.thelotuscircle) Mediumship To Go - Kit.
Legends In Blood, The Vampire in History and Myth is a clear, well written
study, which brings together the myth, legend, history, and literary analysis
of the vampire. The authors thoroughly examine the various themes that
have perpetuated the fascination with vampire lore, and how it has
evolved, from the beginnings of recorded history until present day. As the
subtitle suggests, the focus is on why the myth of the vampire has
continued to intrigue throughout history. The authors explain the themes
crucial to the vampire phenomenon and show the relationship between
different areas of the occult which intensify the impact: witchcraft, setting,
eroticism, religion, nature, pacts, the Magus, or wise character, etc. Aside
from its appeal to those interested in the history of vampire lore, this book
has much to offer any reader interested in how the vampire phenomenon
has affected the psyche of the masses in religion, daily life, literature, and
films.
The authors define vampirism in two ways. One definition includes the two
classic elements of the physical appearance of death combined with the
ability to return and feast on the blood of the living. The other description is
of a person who lives by preying on and exploiting others. They then
research, using historical accounts and literature, the phenomenon's
origins. The works cited, from Keats to Buffy the Vampire Slayer are
interesting and accessible to both specialists and the general reader. The
terminology used is fairly universal and easy to read.
The modern mind is still predisposed by magic. Vampire films and books,
although now viewed as fiction, remain spellbinding due to the construct of
the aspects of life and death, of immortality and eroticism that manage to
access our deepest fears. Vampire stories are centered on the power the
vampire has over its victims through the link of blood. From ancient myths
to the Bible, there is the belief that children will pay for the sins of the
parents. This belief is part of the vampire legend as well. Vampire legends
often state the un-dead will come to feed, first, upon their kin. The myth is

highly linked to ritual. If burial rituals are not properly observed, the newly
deceased will come back as an unclean being, a vampire. The authors
make use of fascinating folklore tales which describe different ways in
which a vampire is created. One is predisposition, in which an evil life is
followed by an evil death. Another states the vampire is made by
predestination, for example, suicides, a child born out of wedlock, or the
seventh child of a family, children born with a caul, or with teeth. Yet
another claims the vampire is created as a result of a violent event, nearly
always the result of a vampire attack.
As the Age of Reason attempted to squelch all things mystical, the vampire
myth swelled in literature and theater due to man's innate need for the
supernatural. The main focus of the vampire story, whether it is myth,
legend, folklore, novel or film, is caused by one basic human reaction. The
vampire accesses many of our major fears: pain, strangers, and death.
Vampire lore opens a space where the two worlds of life and death touch.
The vampire is poised between the two with access to both, but belonging
to neither, exposing those chasms which will continue to enthrall mortals
until the end of time. The literary vampire poses questions about life and
death, about the weakness of the human mind and body.
Without Christianity, the vampire myth would have died. The very
perverted nature of vampirism shuns it as taboo by Christian doctrine. The
authors examine how the church used superstition to perpetuate the
vampire myth as a form of control. The concept of vampirism is
constructed around several contrasting paradigms, particularly of women,
held by society over time. What is different is to be feared. But what is
different, is also alluring, exotic. The book explains how the vampire myth
has adapted with time, from a cemetery haunting revenant, to a Byronic
creature of mystery in a cloak.
The modern vampire has transformed the myth even further. In some
contemporary works, crucifixes hold no power over the vampire, much as,
in life, the church is no longer a dominating force. Even the sexual taboos
have changed. In Victorian vampire literature, wanton behavior, such as
that of Stoker's Lucy after she was made a vampire, was considered
taboo. Anne Rice's vampires deal with homo erotic relationships, as
connections between homosexuality and the AIDS epidemic have become
prominent.
There are a range of measures in folklore on how to deal with a vampire.
The book examines those and their historical significance and origin.
Fear of vampires has not dissipated over the centuries, rather it has
adapted to more modern fears. Fear of death is still very real and ageing is
still inexorable. Vampire myth exploits these fears, even given the
secularization of modern society.

Several features in this extremely well organized study deserve mention.
The authors provide and explain quotes from literature any vampire
enthusiast will recognize, linking them to modern vampire lore. Several
"real" vampires are detailed, including the story of the heinous Elisabeth
Bathory who murdered 650 girls and bathed in their blood in hopes of
restoring her youth and beauty. The authors include detailed notes and
references. Their interest in the subject is apparent in the concise and
interesting writing style. Included are comparisons to other supernatural
beliefs and how these beliefs tie into and mirror vampire lore. The
bibliography shows a clear command of the relevant sources. This book
would make a solid addition to anyone interested in vampire lore.
I have long been a fan of vampire literature and films. I was very pleased
with this study and, as an enthusiast, would loved to have read more,
however, the authors covered their subject matter very thoroughly and to
add more would have been superfluous. I am not aware of any other book
which handles the vampire myth in a historical, rather than sensational,
manner. An Amazon.com search yielded only one book which dealt with
modern vampire literature and films in America, and touched upon the
history, but was not as in depth as this work. I believe this book would be
invaluable to anyone writing vampire literature, from the romance novelist
to the screen writer. It also works as a social history of how superstition
and the church governed through fear, and shows the importance of ritual
in our lives. In all, this was an enjoyable book which I found well
researched and well written.
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