The stories compiled in this volume represent the foundational texts of English-language vampire literature, each contributing to the genre's rich and varied legacy. They capture the evolving fears and desires of their time, while offering timeless meditations on the nature of humanity and its darker impulses. Together, they provide a comprehensive exploration of the vampire's journey from folklore to literary icon, inviting readers to delve into the shadows of their own imaginations. The book includes: The Vampyre (1819) by John William Polidori (1795-1821) Carmilla (1872) by Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873) Good Lady Ducayne (1896) by Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835-1915), For the Blood is the Life (1905) by F. Marion Crawford (1854-1909) Luella Miller (1902) by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1852-1930) The Room in the Tower (1912) by E.F. Benson (1867-1940) Dracula's Guest (1914) by Bram Stoker (1847-1912)