Find below our collection of expert-recommended books about vampires. Professor Nick Groom told us "the Gothic novel gained momentum through the nineteenth century with a fascination with vampires and werewolves." He has also written The Vampire: A New History perfect for anyone interested in vampirology.
Dracula, published in 1897, is the classic vampire book, but there has been a recent revival in the popularity of vampire literature following the publication of Stephenie Meyer's YA romance series Twilight in 2005—and the subsequent film adaptations.
“Shori is a vampire. She’s not human. She’s a vampire who has been genetically modified to have additional melanin, which was taken from people of Black heritage. This allows her to withstand daylight. And that is a big thing for vampires. It gets rid of one really crucial weakness.” Read more...
The Best Books for an Introduction to Octavia Butler
Nisi Shawl, Novelist
Twilight
by Stephenie Meyer
Stephenie Meyer's Twilight has brought a new generation of young adults to the bloodthirsty world of vampire literature. Twilight is the first of a quartet of vampire-themed fantasy romance novels. Twilight has been compared to Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings in its ability to immerse the reader in a fantasy world. The popularity of the books has meant it was adapted into a series of movies, The Twilight Saga.
Dracula
by Bram Stoker
Dracula by Bram Stoker is the classic 1897 Gothic horror story. The most famous vampire story, Dracula has underlying themes of race, religion, superstition, science, and sexuality. Find out why Dracula is one of Five Books' most recommended books. Also worth looking at are Bram Stokers Notes for Dracula which contains Stoker's research notes.
“I think Ward did a fantastic job of capturing the complicated zeitgeist in America, post-9/11. This is a vampire book that plays directly into the sort of fears raised by the terrorist attack: the ‘good’ vampires fight ‘bad’ vampires, who merge into the general population and can’t be detected (except by the smell of baby powder, hardly an infallible attribute).” Read more...
Eloisa James on Her Favourite Romance Novels
Eloisa James, Literary Scholar
“The monsters in the book are more like vampires. But the interesting thing about I Am Legend is that it is an apocalyptic survival story. The main character thinks that he is the last human being left on earth.” Read more...
Greg Garrett, Literary Scholar
Salem's Lot
by Stephen King
Salem's Lot is the second of Stephen King's books, first published in 1975. King has said that this horror novel was inspired by the most famous vampire book, Dracula and what would happen if Dracula returned in the 20th century. A new movie of Salem's Lot is due to be released in 2023.
