Varney the Vampire

James Malcolm Rymer, Thomas Peckett Prest

• Publisher: Mint Editions
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781513294506
• eBook ISBN: 9781513294506
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Classics
• Index: Literature

Varney the Vampire (1847) is a penny dreadful novel by British writers James Malcolm Rymer and Thomas Peckett Prest. Originally serialized in cheap volumes, the novel introduced some of the most recognizable tropes of vampire fiction still used today, including the depiction of fangs and the use of a Gothic setting. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, Varney the Vampire is a story of tragedy, damnation, and revenge that pioneered many of the themes common to horror and pulp fiction today. Sir Francis Varney was condemned to an eternity of vampiric life following his actions during the reign of Oliver Cromwell. Having betrayed a royalist and killed his own son in a fit of rage, Varney was forced to suffer death and resurrection countless times over on his insatiable quest for human blood. In the nineteenth century, he targets the Bannerworths, a once-noble family fallen on hard times in their crumbling estate. Gruesome and tragic, the story manages to humanize the vampire without softening his terrifying actions or features, laying the groundwork for an action-packed romp through such legendary cities as London, Naples, and Venice. Varney the Vampire is a grisly penny dreadful novel, a quick-witted work of horror that has inspired generations of storytellers and readers alike. This edition of Varney the Vampire by James Malcolm Rymer and Thomas Peckett Prest is a classic of British horror fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• I. Midnight.—The Hail-Storm.—The Dreadful Visitor.—The Vampyre.
• II. The Alarm.—The Pistol Shot.—The Pursuit and its Consequences.
• III. The Disappearance of the Body.—Flora’s Recovery and Madness.—The Offer of Assistance from Sir Francis Varney.
• IV. The Morning.—The Consultation.—The Fearful Suggestion.
• V. The Night Watch.—The Proposal.—The Moonlight.—The Fearful Adventure.
• VI. A Glance at the Bannerworth Family.—The Probable Consequences of the Mysterious Apparition’s Appearance.
• VII. The Visit to the Vault of the Bannerworths, and its Unpleasant Result.—The Mystery.
• VIII. The Coffin.—The Absence of the Dead.—The Mysterious Circumstance, and the Consternation of George.
• IX. The Occurrences of the Night at the Hall.—The Second Appearance of the Vampyre, and the Pistol-Shot.
• X. The Return from the Vault.—The Alarm, and the Search Around the Hall.
• XI. The Communications to the Lover.—The Heart’s Despair.
• XII. Charles Holland’s Sad Feelings.—The Portrait.—The Occurrence of the Night at the Hall.
• XIII. The Offer for the Hall.—The Visit to Sir Francis Varney.—The Strange Resemblance.—A Dreadful Suggestion.
• XIV. Henry’s Agreement with Sir Francis Varney.—The Sudden Arrival at the Hall.—Flora’s Alarm.
• XV. The Old Admiral and his Servant.—The Communication from the Landlord of the Nelson’s Arms.
• XVI. The Meeting of the Lovers in the Garden.—An Affecting Scene.—The Sudden Appearance of Sir Francis Varney.
• XVII. The Explanation.—The Arrival of the Admiral at the House.—A Scene of Confusion, and Some of its Results.
• XVIII. The Admiral’s Advice.—The Challenge to the Vampyre.—The New Servant at the Hall.
• XIX. Flora in her Chamber.—Her Fears.—The Manuscript.—An Adventure.
• XX. The Dreadful Mistake.—The Terrific Interview in the Chamber.—The Attack of the Vampyre.
• XXI. The Conference Between the Uncle and Nephew, and the Alarm.
• XXII. The Consultation.—The Determination to Leave the Hall.
• XXIII. The Admiral’s Advice to Charles Holland.—The Challenge to the Vampyre.
• XXIV. The Letter to Charles.—The Quarrel.—The Admiral’s Narrative.—The Midnight Meeting.
• XXV. The Admiral’s Opinion.—The Request of Charles.
• XXVI. The Meeting by Moonlight in the Park.—The Turret Window in the Hall.—The Letters.
• XXVII. The Noble Confidence of Flora Bannerworth in her Lover.—Her Opinion of the Three Letters.—The Admiral’s Admiration.
• XXVIII. Mr. Marchdale’s Exculpation of Himself.—The Search Through the Gardens.—The Spot of the Deadly Struggle.—The Mysterious Paper.
• XXIX. A Peep Through an Iron Grating.—The Lonely Prisoner in his Dungeon.—The Mystery.
• XXX. The Visit of Flora to the Vampyre.—The Offer.—The Solemn Asseveration.
• XXXI. Sir Francis Varney and his Mysterious Visitor.—The Strange Conference.
• XXXII. The Thousand Pounds.—The Stranger’s Precautions.
• XXXIII. The Strange Interview.—The Chase Through the Hall.
• XXXIV. The Threat.—Its Consequences.—The Rescue, and Sir Francis Varney’s Danger.
• XXXV. The Explanation.—Marchdale’s Advice.—The Projected Removal, and the Admiral’s Anger.
• XXXVI. The Consultation.—The Duel and its Results.
• XXXVII. Sir Francis Varney’s Separate Opponents.—The Interposition of Flora.
• XXXVIII. Marchdale’s Offer.—The Consultation at Bannerworth Hall.—The Morning of the Duel.
• XXXIX. The Storm and the Fight.—The Admiral’s Repudiation of his Principal.
• XL. The Popular Riot.—Sir Francis Varney’s Danger.—The Suggestion and its Results.
• XLIV. Varney’s Danger, and his Rescue.—The Prisoner Again, and the Subterranean Vault.
• XLV. The Open Graves.—The Dead Bodies.—A Scene of Terror.
• XLVI. The Preparations for Leaving Bannerworth Hall, and the Mysterious Conduct of the Admiral and Mr. Chillingworth.
• XLVII. The Removal from the Hall.—The Night Watch, and the Alarm.
• XLVIII. The Stake and the Dead Body.
• XLIX. The Mob’s Arrival at Sir Francis Varney’s. The Attempt to Gain Admission.
• L. The Mob’s Arrival at Sir Francis Varney’s.—The Attempt to Gain Admission.
• LI. The Attack Upon the Vampyre’s House.—The Story of the Attack.—The Forcing of the Doors, and the Struggle.
• LII. The Interview Between the Mob and Sir Francis Varney.—The Mysterious Disappearance.—The Wine Cellars.
• LIII. The Destruction of Sir Francis Varney’s House by Fire.—The Arrival of the Military, and a Second Mob.
• LIV. The Burning of Varney’s House.—A Night Scene.—Popular Superstition.
• LV. The Return of the Mob and Military to the Town.—The Madness of the Mob.—The Grocer’s Revenge.
• LVI. The Departure of the Bannerworths from the Hall.—The New Abode.—Jack Pringle, Pilot.
• LVII. The Lonely Watch, and the Adventure in the Deserted House.
• LVIII. The Arrival of Jack Pringle.—Midnight and the Vampyre.—The Mysterious Hat.
• LIX. The Warning.—The New Plan of Operation.—The Insulting Message from Varney.
• LX. The Interrupted Breakfast at Sir Francis Varney’s.
• LXI. The Mysterious Stranger.—The Particulars of the Suicide at Bannerworth Hall.
• LXII. The Mysterious Meeting in the Ruin Again.—The Vampyre’s Attack Upon the Constable.
• LXIII. The Guests at the Inn, and the Story of the Dead Uncle.
• LXIV. The Vampire in the Moonlight.—The False Friend.
• LXV. Varney’s Visit to the Dungeon of the Lonely Prisoner in the Ruins.
• LXVI. Flora Bannerworth’s Apparent Inconsistency.—The Admiral’s Circumstances and Advice.—Mr. Chillingworth’s Mysterious Absence.
• LXVII. The Admiral’s Story of the Beautiful Belinda.
• LXVIII. Marchdale’s Attempted Villany, and the Result.
• LXIX. Flora Bannerworth and her Mother.—The Episode of Chivalry.
• LXX. The Funeral of the Stranger of the Inn.—The Popular Commotion, and Mrs. Chillingworth’s Appeal to the Mob.—The New Riot.—The Hall in Danger.
• LXXI. The Strange Meeting at the Hall Between Mr. Chillingworth and the Mysterious Friend of Varney.
• LXXII. The Strange Story.—The Arrival of the Mob at the Hall, and their Dispersion.
• LXXIII. The Visit of the Vampire.—The General Meeting.
• LXXIV. The Meeting of Charles and Flora.
• LXXV. Mutual Explanations, and the Visit to the Ruins.
• LXXVI. The Second Night-Watch of Mr. Chillingworth at the Hall.
• LXXVII. Varney in the Garden.—The Communication of Dr. Chillingworth to the Admiral and Henry.
• LXXVIII. The Altercation Between Varney and the Executioner in the Hall.—The Mutual Agreement.
• LXXIX. The Vampyre’s Danger.—The Last Refuge.—The Ruse of Henry Bannerworth.
• LXXX. The Discovery of the Body of Marchdale in the Ruins by the Mob.—The Burning of the Corpse.—The Murder of the Hangman.
• LXXXI. The Vampyre’s Flight.—His Danger, and the Last Place of Refuge.
• LXXXII. Charles Holland’s Pursuit of the Vampyre.—The Dangerous Interview.
• LXXXIII. The Mysterious Arrival at the Inn.—The Hungarian Nobleman.—The Letter to Varney.
• LXXXIV. The Excited Populace.—Varney Hunted.—The Place of Refuge.
• LXXXV. The Hungarian Nobleman gets into Danger.—He is Fired at, and Shows Some of his Quality.
• LXXXVI. The Discovery of the Pocket Book of Marmaduke Bannerworth.—Its Mysterious Contents.
• LXXXVII. The Hunt for Varney.—The House-Tops.—The Miraculous Escape.—The Last Place of Refuge.—The Cottage.
• LXXXVIII. The Reception of the Vampyre by Flora.—Varney Subdued.
• LXXXIX. Tells What Became of the Second Vampyre Who Sought Varney.
• XC. Dr. Chillingworth at the Hall.—The Encounter of Mystery.—The Conflict.—The Rescue, and the Picture.
• XCI. The Grand Consultation Broken up by Mrs. Chillingworth, and the Disappearance of Varney.
• XCII. The Misadventure of the Doctor with the Picture.
• XCIII. The Alarm at Anderbury.—The Suspicions of the Bannerworth Family, and the Mysterious Communication.
• XCIV. The Visitor, and the Death in the Subterranean Passage.
• XCV. The Marriage in the Bannerworth Family Arranged.
• XCVI. The Baron Takes Anderbury House, and Decides Upon Giving a Grand Entertainment.
• A Note About the Authors
• A Note from the Publisher