John William Polidori, an Italian-English physician and writer born in 1795, was a notable figure associated with the Romantic movement. As the eldest son of Gaetano Polidori, an Italian scholar, and Anna Maria Pierce, a governess, Polidori was exposed to intellectual pursuits from a young age. He received his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1815 at the remarkably young age of 19. Polidori's literary talents and connections led him to serve as personal physician to the renowned poet Lord Byron, embarking on a European tour with him in 1816.
During their travels, Polidori found himself in the company of other literary luminaries, including Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley. It was during this time, at the Villa Diodati by Lake Geneva, that the idea for "The Vampyre" took shape. Inspired by a fragment of a story by Lord Byron, Polidori penned his own tale, which would go on to become the first vampire story in English literature. Originally published in April 1819 in the New Monthly Magazine, "The Vampyre" was falsely attributed to Lord Byron, likely to capitalize on his fame. This misattribution persisted for years, causing confusion over the true authorship of the story.
Polidori's "The Vampyre" introduced several key features of the vampire archetype that would influence vampire literature for generations to come. Notably, his portrayal of Lord Ruthven, the titular vampyre, departed from the traditional folkloric depictions of vampires as grotesque creatures. Instead, Polidori's vampyre was an aristocratic figure, seductive and charming, preying on high society. Lord Ruthven's aristocratic allure, coupled with his predatory nature and mysterious aura, set the template for the modern vampire, ushering in a new era of vampire fiction characterized by sophistication and allure.
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S02E32 Pickman's Model by H P Lovecraft
S02E31 The Black Cat by Edgar Allen Poe
S02E30 His Beautiful Hands by Oscar Cook
S02E29 Lady Ferry by Sarah Orne Jewett
S02E28 The Cold Embrace by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
S02E27 The Spider by Basil Copper
S02E26 Music Hath Charms by L T C Rolt
S02E25 The Story of Salome by Amelia B Edwards
SE02E24 Rosalind by Richmal Crompton
S02E23 The Story of A Disappearance and An Appearance by M R James
S02E22 A Christmas Carol The Spirit of Christmas Future
SO2E21 A Christmas Carol: The Spirit of Christmas Present
S02E20 A Christmas Carol: The Spirit of Christmas Past
S02E19 A Christmas Carol — Marley's Ghost
S02E18 The Ghost of Christmas Eve by J M Barrie
S02E17 The Turn Of The Screw Part 8
S02E16 The Turn Of The Screw Part 7
S02E15 The Turn Of The Screw Part 6
S0214 The Turn Of The Screw Part 5
S0213 The Turn Of The Screw Part 4
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