Vampire Forensics: Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring Legend »

Mark Jenkins is chief historian of the National Geographic Society’s archives and co-author of High Adventure, an illustrated history of the Society.

Mark Jenkins’s engrossing history draws on the latest science, anthropological and archaeological research to explore the origins of vampire stories, providing gripping historic and folkloric context for the concept of immortal beings who defy death by feeding on the lifeblood of others. From the earliest whispers of eternal evil in ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome, vampire tales flourished through the centuries and around the globe, fueled by superstition, sexual mystery, fear of disease and death, and the nagging anxiety that demons lurk everywhere.

In Vampire Forensics, Mark Jenkins probes vampire legend to tease out the historical truths enshrined in the tales of terror: sherds of Persian pottery depicting blood-sucking demons; the amazing recent discovery by National Geographic archaeologist Matteo Borrini of a 16th-century Venetian grave of a plague victim and suspected vampire; and the Transylvanian castle of "Vlad the Impaler," whose bloodthirsty cruelty remains unsurpassed.

Jenkins navigates centuries of lore and legend, adding new chapters to the chronicle and weaving an irresistibly seductive blend of superstition, psychology, and science sure to engross everyone from Anne Rice’s countless readers to serious students of archaeology and mythology.

The Washington Post - Michael Sims

…Jenkins has written a lively and entertaining survey of the historical and scientific materials relating to the natural phenomena that earlier centuries relentlessly misinterpreted as evidence for the undead.

A Vamp&iabovedot;re &iabovedot;n Ven&iabovedot;ce, 2006 6

Tw&iabovedot;l&iabovedot;ght Zone 7

"The Very Best Story of D&iabovedot;abler&iabovedot;e" 37

Gather&iabovedot;ngs from Graveyards 67

The Vamp&iabovedot;re Ep&iabovedot;dem&iabovedot;cs 99

Corp&iabovedot; Mort&iabovedot; 131

Terra Damnata 159

The Wanderers 187

Tales of Worldw&iabovedot;de Dev&iabovedot;lry 217

The Larvae 245

Acknowledgments 275

Notes 277

Selected Bibliography 288

Index 297