In our thirty-third episode, we examine the persistence of the vampire in literature, focusing on John William Polidori’s The Vampyre (1819) and Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight (2005). Despite their distance in time, both works present strikingly similar portrayals of the vampire. We discuss what continues to make this figure so enduring and culturally resonant.

Referenced content: 

• Dr. Rebecca Marks' substack on vampires: https://substack.com/@culturedump/note/c-153724554 
• The Nightmare is a 1781 oil painting by the Swiss artist Henry Fuseli
• Secrets: How Vampires Work podcast episode Kali mentions: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stuff-you-should-know/id278981407?i=1000584320844
• Article Kali quotes on John Polidori's life: https://themillions.com/2023/04/the-haunted-writing-life-of-john-polidori.html

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Introduction music featured by Antonín Dvořák's String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, B. 179 "American": I. Allegro ma non troppo (1893), performed by the Cleveland Quartet (Telarc, 1991).