Among the most popular authors in recent American history, Anne Rice (1941-2021) was best known for The Vampire Chronicles, a gothic fiction series revolving around the vampire Lestat. Interview with the Vampire, the opening book in the series, appeared in 1976, and drew not just readers but also critical acclaim. The Chicago Tribune noted that Rice "penetrates directly to the true fascination of the myth — the education of the vampire." Rice has also written erotica under various pen names and Christian fiction.
