Vampires: A Field Guide To The Creatures That Stalk The Night Review

“Vampire! The very word conjures up visions of ruined castles, of enigmatic, pale skinned nobleman shrouded in dark cloaks, of slumbering beauties being bloodily ravished by supernatural, nocturnal creatures. But just how accurate is that picture? Today , people’s perceptions of vampires have been shaped by programs, movies and books such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Blade, Angel, and The Historian. But what lurks beyond the stereotype? How much do we really know about these mysterious entities?

Vampires explores the rich diversity of vampire belief and lore, from contries as diverse as India, Sweden and Ireland. It is a unique, lavishly illustrated work and destined to become valuable reference to anyone interested in vampirology.

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.”

…so says the back of the book. Vampires: A Field Guide To The Creatures That Stalk The Night is a book I recently picked up and have come to absolutely love. Out of all the vampire encyclopedias I own this one has become a fast favorite. Curran has made this more than the average bland encyclopedia, he has filled this book up with compelling history and a vast amount of vampire information. Where many books simply cover the basics of a particular vampire species, Curran gives you an in depth look into it and an immense amount of well researched information. The author’s writing was also well done, not once did the writing feel tedious.  This is for sure an excellent book for any die hard vampire fans. It is full of wonderful history and lore about our beloved vampires.

- Moonlight

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