Preface
The unprecedented success of the romance of “Varney the Vampyre,” leaves the Author [1] but little to say further, than that he accepts that success and its results as gratefully as it is possible for any one to do popular favours.
A belief in the existence of Vampyres first took its rise in Norway and Sweden [2], from whence it rapidly spread to more southern regions, taking a firm hold of the imaginations of the more credulous portion of mankind.
The following romance is collected from seemingly the most authentic sources, and the Author must leave the question of credibility entirely to his readers, not even thinking that he is peculiarly called upon to express his own opinion upon the subject.
Nothing has been omitted in the life of the unhappy Varney, which could tend to throw a light upon his most extraordinary career, and the fact of his death just as it is here related, made a great noise at the time through Europe and is to be found in the public prints for the year 1713.
With these few observations, the Author and Publisher, are well content to leave the work in the hands of a public, which has stamped it with an approbation far exceeding their most sanguine expectations, and which is calculated to act as the strongest possible incentive to the production of other works, which in a like, or perchance a still further degree may be deserving of public patronage and support.
To the whole of the Metropolitan Press for their laudatory notices, the Author is peculiarly obliged.
London Sep. 1847 Italics
__________________________
1. Varney the Vampire was published by the London-based publisher Edward Lloyd, who paid his authors by the line and had a policy against publishing writers’ names alongside their work. Because of this, it’s unclear who wrote Varney the Vampire. Some people believe it was written by James Malcolm Rymer, while others think it was Thomas Preskett Prest. Many more believe both authors had a hand in writing Varney the Vampire. Due to the many inconsistencies and mistakes throughout the work, a joint-effort seems likely because the errors may be attributable to the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing.
2. “A belief in the existence of Vampyres first took its rise in Norway and Sweden…”: This statement is inaccurate, and highlights the author(s) lack of knowledge on the subject of vampires. The belief in such creatures is integral to many cultures around the world. Ancient civilizations such as the Mesopotamians, Hebrews, ancient Greeks, and Romans had tales of demonic blood-drinking entities. [Further Reading]
__________________________