The little-known novella that paved the way for Dracula and the vampire craze, decades before Bram Stoker's iconic tale hit the scene.
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Published in 1816, 'The Vampyre' by John Polidori is considered the first modern vampire story, predating Dracula by over 80 years.
The novella was inspired by a scandalous love affair and written as a challenge among a group of famous authors, including Mary Shelley and Lord Byron - talk about literary drama!
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John Polidori, Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, 'The Vampyre'