Secrets of the Vampire: A Supernatural Sourcebook of Our Legend and Lore

Let me start off by saying this book, "secrets of the vampire" has vindicated me! Bram stoker's Dracula, directed by Coppola, is one of my favorite films. In it Dracula says something like "stregoi, Moloi" to the cute little white wolf that escaped from the zoo, so adorbs. Well in the book, I read that "strigoi" and "moroi" are terms for vampires from eastern European countries. Though most of the vampires that went by these names, were prior to any particular political leanings, if you asked my Russian grandmother she would have said Stalin was a "moroi". And if there were communist vampires, I'm sure this book has answers and insight. Anyways, It goes over terminology, and a detailed history that is done so with relatively short write ups and stories. This allows the reader to flow through this history, without feeling bogged down by too much detail that can get boring. The illustrations are gorgeous, a great mix of sinister with the brush strokes of a japanese woodblock print, and a soupcon of the sheer delightful terror of an Edward Gorey illustration. The paper is weighty, and this is a hardcover book, giving this delightful read both the look and feel of a quality light tome. With both Halloween and the holidays coming up this would make a great gift for that goth teenager in your life. The one that won't stop listening to Bahaus, and wants to know where Robert Smith gets his makeup from. Or in more understandable terms 5 stars and a recommendation for avid readers of horror 13 and up.

I was very excited to get this book but I paid for a new copy and all the corners and the top and bottom of the spine are quite damaged which is disappointing to say the least. for the cost of a new copy I did expect it to arrive in pristine condition

Secrets of the Vampire provides an overview of vampire legends, lore, and literature for the young reader, roughly those of middle school age. The book includes the origins of vampire lore in the ancient world and includes stories from all over the world, not just the European origins that influence modern literature. The role of Middle Ages epidemics is covered very nicely, as are the stories of Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Bathory. Eastern European myths are explored in their own chapter, rightly so as they form the basis for much of the modern vampire lore. Specific cases of reputed vampire, such as Arnold Paole and Mercy Brown, receive sidebar discussions. These add much to how the vampire was perceived over the years. The literary legacy of Victorian writers (Stoker and Le Fanu) and the late twentieth century authors (Rice) are given prominent treatment. Cinematic vampires from Nosferatu to Buffy the Vampire Slayer are covered, though I wish Murnau's film was given greater discussion--especially his visual portrayal of the vampire as it hews closer to the Eastern European image than modern romantic views. The illustrations are very compelling but largely portray the more romantic side of the vampire. A useful glossary is included, but I would like to see an index. A ribbon marker makes this book suitable as a gift. The writing is appropriate for the targeted age range. I think this would be good for middle school libraries as well as a young person's home collection.

I would encourage parents that like a closely monitor their children's reading to look at this book before purchasing because to me it is written on an adult level. As an adult, I enjoyed it. I even read a few parts out loud too my adult family, who also liked it. But I definitely think that as a preteen I would have liked this book too, and I was advanced enough as a reader to have been able to fully appreciate it, but each child is different. I love the folklore in this book. I consider myself fairly well versed in folklore and vampire mythology but some of this was new to me. The volume is fairly thin and there's lots of kind of creepy drawings in it. I would say the artwork is very appropriate to the theme. This also covers some contemporary vampire shows from recent pop culture. To me it's really just a nod though had a few things that preteens might like. It is very far from exhaustive, mostly centering around Dracula and Edward Cullen. I had mixed feelings about this section because part of me felt like it belonged but it's just so lacking in content. I think any vampire fan will appreciate it though. Younger fans will probably get more out of the book but there's something for everyone interested, I think. It's a very well written and well organized book with lots of visual appeal.

Though containing scant pages, this slender hardcover volume aims to impress. The covers alone are gorgeous: matte with pops of silver. Really beautiful. And, there is an old-school satin book-ribbon: black, of course. Such a nice touch! Inside you are going to find a fairly comprehensive history of the vampire with an abundance of intriguing illustrations. While I knew most of this, I was surprised to find the bit about the Norse "draugar." That was a cool bit of information that I really appreciated! I love the focus on literature and film/television. The book, as a whole, emphasizes the enduring presence of this figure (especially in times of prosperity). A cool volume that a tween or teen would simple devour! Recommended!