Bucks County Professor Releases Critical Edition of Nineteenth Century's Most Notorious Vampire Novel, Penned by Sweeney Todd Author

Ferndale, Pa. Curt Herr, Professor of Gothic fiction at Kutztown University, has written the critical edition of what is considered the most notorious novel of the 19th century: James Malcolm Rymer's 'penny dreadful,' Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood .

Herr, a resident of upper Bucks County, researched the novel and related Victorian vampire lore for more than three years. "It's time Varney the Vampire gets the attention he deserves," says Herr. "Varney was close to literary extinction, overshadowed by the more famous vampire creations of Bram Stoker, Stephen King and Anne Rice." Recently saved from the graveyard of lost books, Varney the Vampire returns in this turbocharged, first-ever critical edition.

According to Herr, Rymer began writing Varney in 1845. For two years, it littered the streets of London, published in affordable weekly installments. Sold at a penny a page, it kept England's working class readers enthralled. The story eventually become so popular, it was reprinted in 1847 and again in 1853. Due to the cheap paper and poor bindings, 'penny dreadfuls' were literally read to pieces. Today, original copies are scarce, and can fetch thousands at auction.

Notably, author Rymer also penned another penny dreadful, the much better-known Sweeney Todd . Also titled The String of Pearls , this story found fame as the 1979 Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim. It is currently gaining notoriety as a Tim Burton film, starring Johnny Depp.

Chronologically, the tale of Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood precedes Bram Stoker's Dracula by fifty years. Varney has the distinction of being the first vampire novel ever written in the English language. Historically, its importance in the world of Gothic literature is astounding, but amazingly, it withered under the more commercialized and successful publications of the era. This left Varney the Vampire forgotten by readers and academics alike.

The new critical edition of Varney leaves no gravestone unturned. Editor Herr gives readers the complete tale in 237 unabridged chapters, with an introduction explaining the Penny Dreadful genre. Numerous appendices and contemporary essays of James Malcolm Rymer are also included, along with some newspaper articles written in the 1860's. They reflect a time when penny dreadfuls were considered immoral and dangerous to the populous, and make for some amusing reading.

At nearly 850 pages, Herr's edition of Varney the Vampire may be larger than the Chicago phone book. The oversized publication is a remarkable read for the vampire or Gothic enthusiast. Herr's introduction outlines the fascinating history of Penny Dreadful publishing, the struggles of author Rymer, and the confusions over exactly who authored the tale. Herr believes more than one author is responsible for this sweeping tale of the Victorian vampire. The introduction also covers the histories of other writers who survived on the conflicted and corrupted marketing craze of the penny dreadful rags.

Chapter notes explain Victorian Vampire lore in walk-through detail, confusions in the storyline, historical references, and, remarkably, characters whose names and purposes mistakenly change as the story progresses. Herr explains, "Confusions in this tale are part of its notorious reputation. In Victorian England, penny publishing was not a respected business, and it's clear why: Chapters went from pen to printing with no time for editing or revisions." Herr's guided footnotes clarify such puzzlements in the text.

The monstrous tome follows Sir Francis Varney, a horrifying vampire posing as an aristocrat. His nocturnal feeding on the blood of helpless maidens remains as terrifying to today's reader as it was in Victorian times. Stalking London's dark streets, Sir Varney battles between his hunger for blood and his deep compassion for humankind. Plagued by his vampiric nature, Varney travels through the centuries, searching for blood and belonging.

Several other penny dreadfuls popular at the time are reprinted in this critical edition, along with examples of the Gothic woodcut illustrations that lured readers to buy the dreadfuls in the depressed streets of Victorian London. This content provides helpful and evocative context for the serious scholar as well as the reader simply seeking informed entertainment.

Horror aficionados, vampire fans and Gothic scholars alike will find Varney a literary feast. The substantial volume revives the mystique of vampire lore, examining this famous monster?s relevance to contemporary social conditions and paving the way for the return of this lost Gothic literature genre to modern life.

Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood is published by Zittaw Press, and is available at Amazon.com, as well as through other book retailers. More information on this publication can be found at CurtHerr.com and www.zittaw.com. ISBN 0-9795871-5-8.