''Varney The Vampire''

By Crusader1307

While many think Bram Stoker's Novel ''Dracula'' (1897) was the first such to bring ''Vampires'' into ''The Light'' (as it were), it wasn't. Perhaps one of the first examples of a ''traditional'' Vampire - as first published in Great Britain (1845), was ''Varney The Vampire''. Written (possibly) by a collaboration of several Writers, Varney was the subject of the very popular ''Pulp Newspaper'' Genre known as a ''Penny Dreadful''. Varney's ''story'' ran for 2 years (ending in 1847). Although Varney's origins are confusing, what is gleaned – is that He was the Son of a wealthy Lord (Varney is often identified as ''Sir Varney''). A ''Royalist Supporter'' during The English Civil War of the 1640s, He betrayed one of His own to The Parliamentarians. Varney was so cursed by His victim. When Varney ''died'' – He became the titular ''Vampire''. Varney was also the very first example of the use of pointed fangs, used to puncture the neck of His victims in order for Him to drain their blood. Varney was also the ''spark'' that helped form another famous blood drinker – ''Lestat de Lioncourt'' or ''The Vampire Lestat'' of Anne Rice's ''Interview With The Vampire'' fame.