The Vampyre; a Tale
The Vampyre is the first vampire story in English prose. John William Polidori, Byron's young physician, began it in the summer of 1816 at the Villa Diodati on Lake Geneva, during the same wet weeks of ghost-story telling that produced Frankenstein, working from a fragment Byron had abandoned. Published in 1819 and at first credited to Byron himself, the tale follows a young Englishman named Aubrey who falls under the spell of the pale, cold Lord Ruthven, travels with him to Greece and is bound by an oath that costs him everything. Ruthven, aristocratic, seductive and lethal, is the model for every gentleman vampire since. The volume includes the introduction and the letter on Byron's circle that accompanied the first printing. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Vampyre; a Tale
The Vampyre; a Tale by John William Polidori can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Vampyre; a Tale online?
Yes. The Vampyre; a Tale opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Vampyre; a Tale free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Vampyre; a Tale is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Vampyre; a Tale in the public domain?
Yes. The Vampyre; a Tale by John William Polidori is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Vampyre; a Tale?
About 51 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Vampyre; a Tale?
The Vampyre; a Tale by John William Polidori is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
