This Victorian author was a prolific creator of penny dreadfuls, captivating readers with their suspenseful atmosphere and dark themes. His works, often published under pseudonyms, delved into horror and the macabre, shaping the popular fiction genre of his era. He crafted his narratives with a keen sense for dramatic twists, earning him a wide readership. Rymer's literary legacy lies in his masterful suspense-building and the creation of memorable characters that continue to resonate in popular culture.
Featuring the complete and unabridged tale, this two-volume edition brings to life the infamous characters of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett, who together create a darkly captivating narrative set in Victorian London. Enhanced with modern typesetting and original woodcut illustrations, it offers readers a fresh look at this classic "Penny Dreadful," renowned for its chilling themes and enduring influence on horror literature.
Featuring original woodcut illustrations and modern typesetting for enhanced readability, this edition offers the complete text of a well-known "Penny Dreadful." It includes light footnotes to clarify period slang and cultural references, making it accessible for contemporary readers while preserving the work's historical context.
Set in the mid-19th century, this extensive narrative follows the vampire Sir Francis Varney, weaving a tale that spans 876 pages and 232 chapters. As one of the earliest examples of vampire fiction, it introduces key tropes that have influenced the genre, despite some inconsistencies in the storytelling. Originally published as a series of "penny dreadfuls," it captures the fascination with the supernatural and the macabre, making it a significant work in the evolution of horror literature.
Set in the Victorian era, this edition of Varney the Vampire showcases the infamous "Penny Dreadful" genre, featuring a scandalous tale of horror and intrigue. Presented in a format true to the original 1840s booklets, it includes the original woodcut illustrations and is newly typeset for readability. This first volume comprises chapters 1-92, covering Part One of the story, with the unique spelling of "Vampyre" reflecting the period's style.
Sweeney Todd is a barber who murders his customers and turns their remains into meat pies sold at the pie shop of Mrs. Lovett, his partner in crime. His barber shop is situated in Fleet Street, London, next to St. Dunstan's church, and is connected to Lovett's pie shop in nearby Bell Yard by means of an underground passage. Todd dispatches his victims by pulling a lever while they are in his barber chair, which makes them fall backward down a revolving trapdoor and generally causes them to break their necks or skulls on the cellar floor below. If the victims are still alive, he goes to the basement and "polishes them off" by slitting their throats with his straight razor.
Set in the Victorian era, this edition of Varney the Vampire showcases the scandalous nature of "Penny Dreadful" literature. Presented in a two-volume format, this second volume includes chapters 93-237, covering Parts Two through Eleven of the narrative. It features the original woodcut illustrations and is freshly typeset in modern, readable type, making it accessible for contemporary readers while preserving the authentic 1840s aesthetic. Notably, the term "Vampyre" is used throughout the text, reflecting the period's unique style.
Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, the story follows Sir Francis Varney, a tragic figure cursed to an eternal vampiric existence after committing horrific acts during the reign of Oliver Cromwell. As he preys on the destitute Bannerworth family, the novel explores themes of revenge and damnation, while introducing iconic vampire tropes such as fangs and Gothic settings. This grisly yet humanizing portrayal of the vampire has influenced horror fiction for generations, making it a significant work in the genre.
Über ein Jahrhundert war dieser Roman verschollen. - Ein halbes Jahrhundert bevor Bram Stoker's Dracula die klassische angelsächsische Gruselszene betrat, feierte dort bereits der legendäre Varney seine schauerlich schönen Blutfeste. Varney ist der eigentliche Stammvater des schrecklichen Geschlechts der Blutsauger und Lebend-Toten. Sein Schicksal ist ebenso mysteriös wie das seiner Autoren. "Varney, der Vampir", erstmals 1842 in Form der penny bloods oder Salibury Square novels in riesiger Auflage erschienen, sprengt alle Grenzen der bekannten Horrorlandschaft. Das ganze Repertoire der literarischen Vampirologie kommt hier bereits zur vollen Entfaltung: düstere Friedhofsszenarien, aufgebrochene Gräber, fahle Mondnächte, stickige Gruftgewölbe, schrille Entsetzensschreie, schmatzende Blutsauger - all jene teuflischen Mysterien diesseits und jenseits des Grabes, die ein ganzes Land in helle Aufruhr versetzen: ein Fest des Blutes, der Leidenschaften und der totalen Aktion, ein schwarzes Juwel, hineingewebt in einen gespenstischen Gobelin aus Entsetzen, Furcht und Grauen.
