Encyclopedia of the Vampire: The Living Dead in Myth, Legend, and Popular Culture

by S. T. Joshi (Editor)

Overview

An exhaustive work covering the full range of topics relating to vampires, including literature, film and television, and folklore.

Encyclopedia of the Vampire: The Living Dead in Myth, Legend, and Popular Culture is a comprehensive encyclopedia relating to all phases of vampirism—in literature, film, and television; in folklore; and in world culture. Although previous encyclopedias have attempted to chart this terrain, no prior work contains the depth of information, the breadth of scope, and the up-to-date coverage of this volume.

With contributions from many leading critics of horror and supernatural literature and media, the encyclopedia offers entries on leading authors of vampire literature (Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Stephenie Meyer), on important individual literary works (Dracula and Interview with the Vampire), on celebrated vampire films (the many different adaptations of Dracula, the Twilight series, Love at First Bite), and on television shows (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel). It also covers other significant topics pertaining to vampires, such as vampires in world folklore, humorous vampire films, and vampire lifestyle.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313378331
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/04/2010
Pages:	453
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 10.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

S. T. Joshi is a widely published literary critic and editor.

Editorial Reviews

A useful starting point for a student in a literature or film course doing a paper on vampires. Larger public libraries and academic libraries will want to consider it for purchase.” —Booklist

“This is an authoritative and substantial overview of an increasingly complex topic. . .” —Magonian Review of Books

“This is a useful purchase for libraries with a particular thirst for this immensely popular subject. . . . Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers.” —Choice

“This volume is good for information about the living dead in myth, legend, and popular culture from the past through today. . . . High schools and public libraries where patrons are interested in learning more about vampires will benefit from adding this to their holdings.” —Library Journal

From the Publisher

Joshi (coeditor, Supernatural Literature of the World: An Encyclopedia) brings together 217 entries by 42 authors, scholars, and educators on all aspects of vampires in literature and legend—authors, novels, short stories, films, television series, topical essays, and more. Arranged alphabetically, the volume begins with a listing of entries and a guide to related topics. Each entry is signed, although there are neither references listed for the entries nor cross-references to other entries within the encyclopedia. The emphasis is on U.S. and English authors, although a few others from around the world are included. The entries about authors lack bibliographies of the authors' works. However, the volume itself has a general bibliography organized by topic. The index enables the quick location of subjects of interest. BOTTOM LINE This volume is good for information about the living dead in myth, legend, and popular culture from the past through today, but it will not serve the serious researcher in need of references to further sources. High schools and public libraries where patrons are interested in learning more about vampires will benefit from adding this to their holdings, but academic collections would be better off with a source that has bibliographic references. [For a recent example, see The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead (3d ed., Visible Ink), reviewed in LJ 9/15/10, p. 99.—Ed.]—Sara Rofofsky Marcus, Queensborough Community Coll., Bayside, NY

Library Journal

Gr 9 Up— In 200-plus clear, essay-style A-to-Z articles, this volume covers the living dead from prehistory to the present. Numerous entries offer cross-references and/or annotated bibliographies. The articles discuss authors (Elaine Bergstrom, Edgar Allan Poe), literary works (Carrion Comfort, "Twilight"), topics ("Manga and Anime Vampire Series," "Fan Organizations"), and film and television (The Lost Boys, "The Vampire Diaries"). Supplementary material includes an "Alphabetical List of Entries," "Guide to Related Topics," and a "General Bibliography." There are no images, but readablilty is enhanced by generous margins and a clear typeface. Although this work is comprehensive in scope, consider also Melton's illustrated The Vampire Book: Encyclopedia of the Undead (Visible Ink, 2010). It's similar in coverage, but offers easier access points for researchers and recreational readers.—Cara Moffett, formerly at South College of Asheville, NC.

School Library Journal