β Scribed by Marryat, Florence
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
edited with an introduction and notes by Greta Depledge
The Blood of the Vampire (1897) was rather overshadowed by a certain Transylvanian Count who made his debut in the same year. Although there are similarities with Dracula, Marryatβs vampire is female and drains her victimsβ life force, rather than their blood.
Harriet Brandt is the daughter of a mad scientist and a mixed-race voodoo priestess. Brought up on her parentsβ Jamaican plantation, she is forced to flee to Europe after the slaves revolt. Although everyone is initially attracted to Harriet, people who get close to her seem to sicken and die.
Marryatβs βpsychic vampireβ represents both the racial βotherβ and the New Woman of the period, both of whom were perceived as a threat to fin-de-siΓ¨cle society. This curious novel engages with key debates, such as race, womenβs rights, heredity, syphilophobia and the occult.
π SIMILAR VOLUMES
Miss Harriet Brandt, daughter of a mad scientist and a voodoo priestess, comes of age and leaves her home in Jamaica for the first time, travelling to Europe. Beautiful and talented, Harriet will gain the affections of many of the men and women she meets and a bright future seems assured for her.
*The Blood of the Vampire* (1897) was rather overshadowed by a certain Transylvanian Count who made his debut in the same year.Β Although there are similarities with Dracula, Marryatβs vampire is female and drains her victimsβ life force, rather than their blood. Harriet Brandt is the daughter of a