Kindle
$0.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$20.99
Paperback
$7.95
Kindle Price: $0.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $2.04

Save: $1.55 (76%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

John William Polidori
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Vampyre Kindle Edition

by John Polidari (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 537 ratings
See all formats and editions
The Vampyre a Tale was the first vampire story written in English. John William Polidori (7 September 1795 - 24 August 1821) was an Italian physician and writer. After receiving his medical degree at age 19 he became the personnel physician to Lord Byron. He was one of the first authors to write about vampires. One evening a group of writers read a book of ghost stories aloud and they decided to try their hand at writing one. Mary Shelley began what would become Frankenstein. Byron began a story and abandoned it. Polidori used it as the basis for his own tale, "The Vampyre".
Previous page
  1. Print length
    73 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Start Publishing LLC
  5. Publication date
    November 1, 2012
  6. File size
    787 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page

Popular titles by this author

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  1. The Vampyre: A Tale
  2. The Vampyre; a Tale
  3. Vampires vs. Werewolves – Ultimate Collection: Dracula, Isle of the Undead, Four Wooden Stakes, The Mark of the Beast, The Ho
  4. 5 in 1 Vampire Love Story Box Set: Stories of Vampire Romance from Around the World
  5. The Vampyre (Annotated): Horror Classics Collection (Horror Classics Collection By Magic Tales Book 1)
  6. Creatures of the Night (Boxed Set Edition): The Greatest Tales of Vampires & Werewolves
Next page

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John William Polidori (1795-1821) was an English writer and physician, known for his involvement in the Romantic literary movement. Credited by some as the creator of the vampire genre, his novella 'The Vampyre' (1819) was the first modern vampire story. The text was written in the summer of 1816, as a result of a horror writing competition between himself and his literary friends. The same competition produced Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' (1818).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00ABDI3KU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Start Publishing LLC (November 1, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 787 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 73 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1545297185
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 537 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
John William Polidori

John William Polidori

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
537 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Royal
5.0 out of 5 stars Free book, with more than enough
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
I got it for free, it has a good introduction and has a nice ending, a good shiver went thru my spine, recommend it, but I would sell it in 3 or 2 dollars.
Helpful
 Report
Faust
3.0 out of 5 stars About what you'd expect
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023
Verified Purchase
This story is, of course old. It has extremely verbose, flowery, exaggerated prose with countless clauses and commas and just seem to go on forever and make the eye go blurry and the mind fuzzy. The characters are more concepts than actual flesh-out people. Both are to expected from a story from the time period. The latter is doubly expected because of the small size of this story. The former . . . well, if this story was written in a modern style, it would be half the length.

That aside, is this story good?
Meh.
Is it fun?
Not really.
Was it neat to see an antiquated spin on the vampire concept?
Sorta.
If you really like vampires or just want to be able to say you read this, and you have half an hour, I say go for it.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Eric
4.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining example of early vampire fiction
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
It is a story simply told but it reminds us of the days when the Vampire was seen as a monster, instead of a seductive creative we have now. The story is told from the point of view of one of his victims, Audrey. Lord Ruthven, the vampire, seems not only to drink blood but to devour potential as he tends to leave ruination upon the lives of everyone he touches. Yet he does maintain the guise of a gentleman and not a bloodless walking corpse. It is enough to fool everyone he meets, even though he seems listless, and overly British, when he's not intent on draining whichever victim he has his eye on.

Audrey is an overprivileged youth whose naivety proves an easy match for the immortal vampire.

The plot is predictable and many of the characters paper thin, Audrey's sister doesn't even receive her own name. But it is exciting with it's flowery 19th century language and worth spending an afternoon reading if you are interested in the origins of our idea of the modern vampire.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Joey
5.0 out of 5 stars Great old vampire tale
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
It’s interesting to read an early 18th century story of a vampire to see the progression of its lore. It’s a short story but the story is involving and doesn’t have the happy endings of later vampire tales.
Helpful
 Report
Virginia Henderson
3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting read
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
Verified Purchase
Was intrigued to read this and Frankenstein after watching "Mary Shelley" and found this free on Amazon.

An interesting read. Not super spooky but enough after about 40% of the way through to pique my interest and keep me reading. Had some issues keeping up. As much as I enjoy reading classics and old-timey books, I do struggle with the language.

Overall 2.5-3 stars. I liked that it wasn't overbearingly long. Would be a nice option to read during a stormy autumn night with a hot beverage.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
S. Petteway
4.0 out of 5 stars Origin of the Romantic Vampire
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2011
Verified Purchase
As another reviewer mentioned, the background of the tale is more interesting than the story itself. But this does not deny the story's power, specifically since it lies as a direct link in the shift from mythic to romantacized vampires (though Dracula is often--erroneously--attributed as such).

This is the tale of Aubrey, an innocent young nobleman who has become intrigued by the presence of Lord Ruthven (pronounced Riven), a mysterious aristocrat that has recently appeared on the London scene. Despite Ruthven's cold and detached nature, Aubrey manages to make his way into his esteem and travels across Europe with him. During their time together Aubrey comes to realize his companion's cruel and selfish nature while also noting the strange way in which everyone Ruthven comes near immediately falls into ruin.

Though the writing certainly isn't the best, it still provides an interesting enough vehicle through which the story is told. The writing lacks because Polidori was merely Lord Byron's ill-fated physician, one who had dreams of becoming a writer though he was forced into medicine by his father. He wrote "The Vampyre" based off an unfinished story of Lord Byron's and only at the request of a friend. Having read the original Byron fragment, it is interesting to see how Polidori ran with it and the made the story into something else entirely. However, he never had any intention of its publication--hence its unpolished and often meandering style.

Unfortunately, through a series of events outside of his control the story was eventually published under Lord Byron's name. This is why, for those who are curious, this text is sandwiched in-between two letters that focus almost obsessively on Lord Byron and make no mention of the story's actual author. Of course, Lord Byron didn't appreciate the use of his name, and the whole affair caused the already ridiculed physician-yearning-to-be-writer to fall even further into disrepute.

For those--like myself--who are deeply interested in the history of the vampire myth, this is a good read. I would even recommend it to those who are looking for a mildly entertaining tale (even if the ending is a sloppy let down). But if you want excellent writing quality and a frightening story to curl up to on a stormy night, I suggest you look elsewhere.
7 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
MrTruth
2.0 out of 5 stars Okay First Vampire Tale
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2017
Verified Purchase
One of the first, if not THE first English language vampire stories. Average writing. Clear story. Ending like a spooky prank. Not worth my time, really.

Recommend "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu over this, if you want a good and short 19th century vampire tale. That story will haunt you forever.
Helpful
 Report
SK Nash
5.0 out of 5 stars Our Vampire's first(?) big break in the business.
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
I can't really review a classic that birthed an entire genre of horror. Yes, it's dated. Yes, it's written in an antiquated style and language that many modern readers will find difficult. What I love about this story is seeing the roots of a monster set down into fertile earth. Polidori's Vampyre is nothing like Stoker's. It can be argued that the vampire as we know it now got its first spotlight in this book, and if you're a fan of vampires, you should read it.

I'm also not ashamed to admit that my favorite parts of this book were the stalker-ish Lord Byron fan accounts, picking through the houses he'd rented and making fun of the women swooning in his wake. Very funny, if you look at it in the light of modern Paparazzi.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Lidia Valente
5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written, highly descriptive tale.
Reviewed in Italy on December 10, 2019
Verified Purchase
Ulf'sTale, by historical novelist, John Broughton is an impressive piece of historical fiction about the age of the Vikings and Scandinavian around the year 1002 A. D. The main character is caught up in the affairs of the Dane, Cnut, whose conquest of England is followed by the creation of a Scandinavian empire. As a member of the king's family, Ulf is involved in a power struggle that takes him to great heights and the higher a man goes, the greater the fall. I strongly recommend this well-crafted, fast-paced novel.
Report
roxy martin
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic tale, perfectly parodying the tumultuous relationship Polidori had with Byron
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2016
Verified Purchase
I love this view of Byron's darker self, seen through a third party, as opposed to his own Childe Harold poems. The hero comes across romantic and a little innocent, as seen in his idylic scenes with his heroine. The Byronic anti hero is a delectably dark and sinister take on the romantic anti heroes that were so fashionable at the time, that seen from an un romantic point of view, these actions are predatory, rude and barbaric. The story also questions the romantic way of life from a first hand perspective. The story itself is beautifully gothic and well written.
Report
Konrad Keck
4.0 out of 5 stars Hard to start with, good to read
Reviewed in Germany on May 9, 2013
Verified Purchase
I wanted to read the book that came before Bram Stoker's "Dracula".

Polidori's "The Vampyre" is neither as modern nor as fancy as "Dracula" (or any other vampire story such as "Blade" or "The Twilight Saga"), but for those, who search for a more grounded or original fantasy novel "The Vampyre" is a must read!
Report
c robin thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars Old take on a familiar theme
Reviewed in Italy on December 8, 2014
Verified Purchase
Excellent short story, well worth the read! It makes for a very different and interesting take on a very familiar story, short and to the point!
Report
Rob Shepherd
4.0 out of 5 stars A good traditional telling of the vampire legend.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 26, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a good book for those that are into or like the traditional idea of what we have come to expect from the vampire (or Vampyre) legend and mythology. It's true and classic to tales of old. Great for lovers of the traditional vampiric legends, less so for the pop icon, twilight, snowflake generation.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report