From Demons to Dracula: The Creation of the Modern Vampire Myth by Matthew Beresford

I grabbed this book as soon as I saw it in my local library because I thought 'a scholarly book about vampires! where can you go wrong?!' Well, apparently, almost everywhere. For some reason, the author seems to regard the existence of actual vampires as a possibility, arguing that there are many elements of stories concerning vampires that cannot be explained by science. He claims that the similarity in stories and superstitions in rural communities when 'it would be nigh on impossible for communication between the isolated rural villages, is indicative that the phenomenon of vampire belief has undiscovered causes'. Contemporary scholarship is continually finding more connections and networks of communication in the past that people have not previously suspected, and the argument that Eastern European villages were completely isolated from one another in the 18th century (and even earlier) is ridiculous. The book doesn't really have any academic argument besides the idea that there is no coherent image of the vampire on which the modern one is based and that applies to all vampires at all times and in all cultures. The most profound statement seems to be 'the vampire reflects an ever-changing being that bears relevance to the culture it exists in'. Wow, amazing insight there. Though formatted like a serious study, it lacks any academic merit, and has no arguments that would not be completely obvious to anyone. It's also really sloppily written, with not-very-good grammar and overuse of certain words. A lot of room is taken up by summaries of various stories, novels and films, which weren't really analysed in any detail. There were interesting facts about superstitions and various marginally vampire-related beliefs, but that was about it. I don't actually know why I read this book to the end, except that it was absurdly easy to read. Also, not enough room given to the incredible creepyness of Nosferatu: Phantom der nacht, which is one of my favourite films ever. And my beloved kitschy vampire action flick Underworld (starring an unexpectedly sexy Michael Sheen) was mentioned only in passing.