Vampire Forensics

Vampires pervade popular culture, but for thousands of years before Bram Stoker penned "Dracula", people lived in terror of vampirical creatures - and recent discoveries shed new light on this primal fear and the legend and lore that has grown up around it. Written in conjunction with leading experts in science, anthropology, forensics, and archaeology, "Vampire Forensics" goes beyond current-day pop culture to shed new light on the subject. It explores the myriad origins of vampire stories, providing gripping historic and folkloric context for the concept of beings who seemingly defied death and fed on the lifeblood of others. From ancient whispers in Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome, legends of vampiric demons passed through the centuries and around the globe, fed by misconceptions about the afterlife, fear of disease, and the unshakable feeling that demons might dwell among us. In "Vampire Forensics", Jenkins will revisit some of the touchpoints of vampire legend to base his tale in the historical record: shards of Persian pottery depicting blood-sucking demons; the epidemic of vampire stakings in 18th century Germany that challenged notions of Europe's Age of Enlightenment; and, the castle of Transylvanian count 'Vlad the Impaler' whose bloodthirsty methods added a new dimension to the vampire story. A highlight is the amazing recent discovery by National Geographic archaeologist Matteo Borrini of a 16th century Venetian grave of a plague victim suspected of being a vampire, buried with a brick through its mouth to prevent it from terrorizing the living. Jenkins skillfully navigates centuries of myth and legend while adding new chapters to the vampire story to weave a seductive tale that blends superstition, science, and psychology.