In Our Time – Polidori’s ‘The Vampyre’

It’s the Year of the Vampire! A good time to share vampiric projects. In April 2022 I was excited to be a guest on BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time alongside Martin Rady (University College London) and Prof. Nick Groom (University of Macau). We were discussing John William Polidori’s ‘The Vampyre’ (links to the text).

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the myths that gave rise to this novella from 1819 by Byron’s physician, John Polidori, and the works such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula it inspired.

It’s a lively discussion on the first fictional vampire. And there’s a reading list and related links. I hope you enjoy it. OGOM’s latest book, The Legacy of John William Polidori: The Romantic Vampyre and its Progeny will be out soon.