James Malcolm Rymer & Thomas Peckett Prest 
Varney the Vampire 

Varney the Vampire stands as a monumental collection in the Gothic literature domain, eloquently showcasing the emergence and evolution of vampire lore in Victorian England. This anthology encapsulates rigorous explorations of themes such as morality, immortality, and existential dread, articulated through a mosaic of epistolary accounts, poetic prose, and chilling narrative segments. Its resonance with the angst and aestheticism of the Victorian era invites readers to a profound journey through the darkest recesses of human fear and fascination with the supernatural, making it a cornerstone collection for enthusiasts and scholars alike. The anthology’s masterful weaving by James Malcolm Rymer and Thomas Peckett Prest, both pivotal figures in the penny dreadful phenomenon, offers a panoramic view of the cultural and literary impulses that shaped the era’s affinity for horror and melodrama. These authors, through their collaborative zeitgeist, align Varney the Vampire with pivotal gothic conventions and the public’s voracious appetite for sensationalism, thereby enriching the gothic tapestry with their serialized narratives that captivated and horrified their contemporaries. Varney the Vampire is an indispensable resource for anyone keen to delve into the origins and complexities of vampire mythology and 19th-century Gothic literature. It provides an exceptional opportunity to explore a pivotal era in literary history through a diverse array of narrative styles and thematic explorations. Readers will find in Varney not only a historical artifact but also a source of continuing relevance and intrigue that invites reflection on larger existential questions through the lens of its immortal protagonist.

About the author

James Malcolm Rymer (1814–1884) was a British nineteenth century writer of penny dreadfuls, and is the co-author with Thomas Peckett Prest of both Varney the Vampire (1847) and The String of Pearls (1847), in which the notorious villain Sweeney Todd makes his literary debut. Thomas Peckett Prest (1810–1859) was a British hack writer, journalist and musician. He was a prolific producer of penny dreadfuls. He is now remembered as the co-creator (with James Malcolm Rymer) of the fictional Sweeney Todd, the ‘demon barber’ immortalized in his The String of Pearls, as well as the co-author with Rymer of Varney the Vampire. He wrote under pseudonyms including Bos, a takeoff of Charles Dickens’ own pen name, Boz. Before joining Edward Lloyd’s publishing factory, Prest had made a name for himself as a talented musician and composer.