James Rymer

Varney the Vampyre: or, the Feast of Blood, Part 2 James Rymer

Marc Notes: Before there was 'Dracula', there was 'Varney the Vampyre', the most famous of the sensational penny dreadfuls issued by Victorian-era publishers. Printed anonymously in serial form in 1847, these gripping tales recount the exploits of a deathless creature with an insatiable appetite for blood. Although the authorship of the Varney books remains a bit of a mystery, they not only thrilled countless eager readers but also established many of the conventions and ideas associated with vampirism. Jacket Description/Back: Before there was "Dracula, " there was "Varney the Vampyre, " the most famous of the sensational penny dreadfuls issued by Victorian-era publishers. Printed anonymously in serial form in 1847, these gripping tales recount the exploits of a deathless creature with an insatiable appetite for blood. A succession of exciting episodes chronicle the horrible fates of Varney's victims as well as the terrifying experiences of the band of comrades sworn to destroy the vampire."Varney the Vampyre "not only thrilled countless eager readers but also established many of the conventions and ideas associated with vampirism.""Scarcely any copies of the original edition survive, yet this legendary "feast of blood" continues to captivate readers with its inexplicable deaths, impossible escapes, revivifications, and graveyard rituals. This volume is the second of a two-book set, both of which feature many atmospheric woodcut illustrations. Dover (2015) republication of the edition published by E. Lloyd, Salisbury Square, London, 1847. See every Dover book in print atwww.doverpublications.comBiographical Note: The authorship of the Varney books is a bit of a mystery. Thomas Peckett Prest was known as the "king of the bloods," although many scholars attribute the stories to James Malcolm Rymer, an equally famous writer of penny dreadfuls. Publisher Marketing: Before there was "Dracula, " there was "Varney the Vampyre, " the most famous of the sensational penny dreadfuls issued by Victorian-era publishers. Printed anonymously in serial form in 1847, these gripping tales recount the exploits of a deathless creature with an insatiable appetite for blood. A succession of exciting episodes chronicle the horrible fates of Varney's victims as well as the terrifying experiences of the band of comrades sworn to destroy the vampire."Varney the Vampyre "not only thrilled countless eager readers but also established many of the conventions and ideas associated with vampirism.""Scarcely any copies of the original edition survive, yet this legendary "feast of blood" continues to captivate readers with its inexplicable deaths, impossible escapes, revivifications, and graveyard rituals. This volume is the second of a two-book set, both of which feature many atmospheric woodcut illustrations. Contributor Bio:  Rymer, James Malcolm James Malcolm Rymer (1814-1884) was a British nineteenth century writer of penny dreadfuls, and is the probable author of Varney the Vampire (1847) (often attributed to fellow writer Thomas Peckett Prest) and co-author (with Prest) of The String of Pearls (1847), in which the notorious villain Sweeney Todd makes his literary debut. Contributor Bio:  Prest, Thomas Peckett Thomas Peckett Prest (AKA Thomas Preskett Prest) (probable dates 1810-1859) was a British hack writer, journalist and musician. He was a prolific producer of penny dreadfuls. He is now remembered as the creator of the fictional Sweeney Todd, the 'demon barber' immortalized in his The String of Pearls: A Romance. He has also been associated with the authorship of Varney the Vampire, now more often thought to be the work of J. M. Rymer. He wrote under pseudonyms including Bos, a takeoff of Charles Dickens' own pen name, Boz. Before joining Edward Lloyd's publishing factory, Prest had made a name for himself as a talented musician and composer.