Vampires: A Field Guide To The Creatures That Stalk The Night (Paperback)

by Bob Curran (Author) "Vampire. The very word conjures up visions of ruined castles in Eastern Europe; of deathly pale and saturnine noblemen, wrapped in dark cloaks; of fangs..." (more)
Key Phrases: Baobhan Sith, Eastern Europe, Dames Blanches (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
:"Vampire!" The very word conjures up visions of ruined castles, of enigmatic, pale-skinned noblemen shrouded in dark cloaks, of slumbering beauties being bloodily ravished by supernatural, nocturnal creatures. But just how accurate is that picture? How much do we really know about these mysterious entities? Surprisingly, perhaps, almost every culture can boast of its own vampire beings, few of which correspond to the stock Hollywood image-some are not even human in form, some do not drink blood, some appear in daylight. Are you ready for such horrors as the Penangal, the screaming blood-soaked lead that drifts through the Malayan jungle seeking victims; the Jaracacca, the Brazilian stalker that hides in the clothes of its victims to drink their blood or bodily fluids; or the Aswang, the scaly demon of the Philippines, who lies among the leafy roofs of huts and drinks through its tongue? And how do we dispose of vampires? Is the simple stake through the heart-much beloved of Hollywood directors-really enough, or is there something more? And does the sight of the crucifix repel all vampires-what if the vampire is Jewish (a dibbyuk)? Vampires is a unique, lavishly illustrated work that explores the rich diversity of vampire belief and lore, ranging from countries as diverse as Japan, Sweden and Ireland, looking at their historical origins, and setting them in their cultural context. Dr. Bob Curran is a native of Northern Ireland, born and raised in the Mourne Mountains area of County Down, a region steeped in folklore and legend. Throughout a varied life, he has worked in many fields-as a gravedigger, professional musician, journalist, and civil servant. He is now a history teacher and well known throughout Ireland and beyond as a writer and broadcaster. He has written extensively, in English and several other languages, on various aspects of history and folklore and acted as advisor to the Cultural Committee of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly. Bob has authored numerous titles including: Bloody Irish: Great Irish Vampire Stories and Banshees, Beasts & Brides from the Sea.

Product Details

• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: New Page Books (August 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564148076
• ISBN-13: 978-1564148070
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #250,245 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vampires: A Field Guide To The Creatures That Stalk The Night, July 16, 2007

By	Tami Brady "Whole Health Therapist" (Calgary, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Probably since the beginning of time, humans have wondered about death. Foremost in our ponderings is the key question of what happens to the dead after they pass from our world. Though our modern perception of the afterlife tends to be fairly positive with various versions of a perfect place where the good are rewarded for their behaviour, this attitude has not always been prevalent.

In nearly every country and culture of the past, death has been a terrifying prospect. Moreover, commonly the dead have been feared as potentially harmful, full of revenge, and jealous of the living. Myths, legends, and stories worldwide repeatedly recount how the dead seek to kill and cannibalize the living in order to exact revenge or to regain their valuable life energy.

Vampires: A Field Guide to the Creatures that Stalk the Night is a chilling must have reference for anyone who loves the mysterious horrors of the night. This book recounts shocking myths, creepy legends, and terrifying stories of vampire-like creatures from Germany, Austria, Sumeria, Babylonia, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Ireland, France, Scotland, Iceland, Wales, Brazil, Malaysia, India, Albania, Romania, South Africa, the United States, and Greece. I was completely mesmerized by the accounts in this book. I will also never look at Santa Claus the same way again.

4 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Skip this one., June 5, 2006

By	Shirley R. Davis "pitbullfk" (Felton, CALIFORNIA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I orginally bought this book hoping to get some information on a story I'm writing but the further into the more boring it got. I couldn't even finish it. Not something I would recommend.