Who Was the First Vampire in Literature?

Vampires have captivated human imagination for centuries, evolving from folklore to becoming staples of literature, film, and pop culture. While modern audiences associate vampires with figures like Dracula, their literary origins predate Bram Stoker's famous creation. But who was the first vampire in literature, and how did this archetype take shape? To answer this, we’ll delve into the early works that laid the foundation for the literary vampire as we know it today.

The Literary Birth of the Vampire

The concept of the vampire predates its literary depiction, stemming from folklore across Europe, Asia, and beyond. These creatures were often described as malevolent, undead beings that fed on the living. However, it wasn’t until the early 19th century that vampires found their way into Western literature, evolving into more complex and, at times, seductive figures.

The title of the "first vampire in literature" often goes to Lord Ruthven, a character created by John Polidori in his 1819 short story The Vampyre. However, the journey to Ruthven is paved with earlier influences and fragmented depictions.

Precursors to Literary Vampires

While The Vampyre is widely recognized as the first fully developed vampire story in Western literature, elements of vampirism appear in earlier works:

1. The "Vampire Fragment" by Lord Byron (1816)

During the infamous summer of 1816, Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, and John Polidori gathered at Villa Diodati in Switzerland. This meeting, steeped in literary history, gave birth to Frankenstein and inspired Byron to write his unfinished tale, Fragment of a Novel.

The fragment introduces a mysterious figure named Augustus Darvell, who displays vampiric qualities, such as a connection to death and an aura of danger. Though Byron never completed the story, Polidori used it as inspiration for The Vampyre, transforming Byron’s enigmatic Darvell into the fully fleshed-out Lord Ruthven.

2. Gothic Influences in Pre-19th Century Literature

Before Byron and Polidori, Gothic literature hinted at vampiric themes. Works like Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem Christabel (written in 1797, published in 1816) explored supernatural seduction and life-draining beings, though not explicitly vampires. Similarly, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s poem The Bride of Corinth (1797) features a ghostly, blood-drinking bride, an early precursor to the vampire archetype.

Lord Ruthven: The First Vampire in Literature

Polidori’s The Vampyre (1819) is widely considered the first fully realized vampire story in English literature. Lord Ruthven, the titular vampire, is a suave, aristocratic figure who preys on the innocent. Ruthven’s character marked a shift from folkloric vampires—who were often grotesque and animalistic—to the refined, seductive predator that would dominate later vampire fiction.

What Makes Lord Ruthven Significant?

• Sophistication and Charisma: Unlike the monstrous vampires of folklore, Ruthven is charming and enigmatic, traits that would influence later vampires like Count Dracula and Lestat.
• Aristocratic Origins: Ruthven’s status as a nobleman reflects societal anxieties about class and power, a theme that recurs in vampire literature.
• Cultural Impact: The Vampyre was a sensation upon its release, shaping the vampire mythos for generations to come.

Interestingly, Ruthven was widely believed to be based on Lord Byron himself, with Polidori drawing from Byron’s flamboyant and controversial reputation.

Other Early Vampires in Literature

While Lord Ruthven holds the title of the first vampire in English literature, other cultures also contributed to early vampire fiction:

1. Varney the Vampire (1845-1847)

Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood by James Malcolm Rymer (or possibly Thomas Preskett Prest) is a serialized Gothic horror story that popularized the vampire in Victorian literature. Sir Francis Varney, the protagonist, introduces key traits such as fangs and hypnotic powers, which became staples of the genre.

2. Carmilla (1872)

Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla predates Dracula by 25 years and remains one of the earliest depictions of a female vampire. The titular Carmilla is a seductive and mysterious figure who preys on young women, blending horror with themes of forbidden desire and sexuality. Her influence on later vampire literature, particularly on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, is undeniable.

Conclusion: The Legacy of the First Vampire in Literature

The honor of the first vampire in literature belongs to Lord Ruthven in Polidori’s The Vampyre, published in 1819. Polidori’s work transformed the folkloric vampire into a sophisticated, menacing figure that laid the foundation for subsequent vampire stories. However, Ruthven’s creation was not an isolated event—it was deeply influenced by Byron’s Fragment of a Novel and the Gothic sensibilities of the time.

From Ruthven to Carmilla to Dracula, the vampire archetype has evolved over centuries, adapting to cultural fears and fascinations. These early literary vampires paved the way for the complex, multifaceted creatures we see in modern stories, ensuring their eternal place in literary history.