A History of the Vampire in Popular Culture: Love at First Bite

by Violet Fenn

Overview

Our enduring love of vampires - the bad boys (and girls) of paranormal fantasy - has persisted for centuries. Despite being bloodthirsty, heartless killers, vampire stories commonly carry erotic overtones that are missing from other paranormal or horror stories.

Even when monstrous teeth are sinking into pale, helpless throats - especially then - vampires are sexy. But why? In A History Of The Vampire In Popular Culture, author Violet Fenn takes the reader through the history of vampires in ‘fact’ and fiction, their origins in mythology and literature and their enduring appeal on tv and film. We’ll delve into the sexuality - and sexism - of vampire lore, as well as how modern audiences still hunger for a pair of sharp fangs in the middle of the night.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399009676
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	05/30/2025
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

VIOLET FENN has always been fascinated by human behaviour. She specialises in frank and straightforward investigations into the wilder areas of sexual practices and the changing cultural attitudes towards sex and mortality. She was once turned down for a job at an undertaker’s for being ‘too interested in death’.

She lives in Shropshire with her children, a menagerie of pets and endless beautiful but pointless clutter. She firmly believes that black is the happiest colour and that there is no such thing as too much red lipstick. To find out more, visit sexdeathrocknroll.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vi

Preface viii

Introduction: Release the Bats x

Chapter 1 On the Origin of Vampires 1

Chapter 2 For the Blood is the Life 30

Chapter 3 Attack of the Jazz Vampires 42

Chapter 4 My Immortal 61

Chapter 5 Virtue and Vampires 73

Chapter 6 Dead Sexy 94

Chapter 7 The Vampire Next Door 117

Chapter 8 The Enduring Glamour of the Gothic 132

Interview with Jonny Brugh 143

Interview with Dacre Stoker 146

Epilogue: The Last Sunrise 149

A Short Chronology of Vampire History 152

Bibliography 157

Filmography 159

Index 161