Bite: A Vampire Handbook. Kevin Jackson. London, Eng: Portobello Books, 2009. 199 pp., hardcover, $19.95. ISBN 978-1-84627-211-0. Subject Headings: Vampires. Vampires-History. Vampires in literature. Vampire films-History and criticism. Grades 9 and up / Ages 14 and up. Review by Jennifer Draper. ** /4

excerpt:

Bram Stoker established almost all of the fundamental traits of the vampire as we know it, plus a few that have fallen by the way over the years. He derived his facts from more or less authentic folklore (his primary source was Emily Gerard's travel book about Transylvania, The Land beyond the Forest, 1885), as well as drawing on details from previous imaginative literature, and adding elements from his own invention.

This vampire handbook is more of an extended essay of the folklore of vampires than an actual guide. Much space is devoted to vampires in the media, and the book comes complete with movie reviews of many vampire films. Bite would be a satisfactory book for students to do a project on vampires in the media. It is not an easy book to read cover to cover as it lags in some places, getting bogged down in too much detail. The author definitely injects his opinion of the various movies and books he mentions, and that lacks an unbiased account of these media often required of a reference book. In short, this is for those really interested in vampires, but entertaining nonfiction it is not.

Recommended with reservations.

Jennifer Draper is a librarian with the Pickering Public Library in Pickering, ON.

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