The Blood of the VampireHarriet Brandt is the daughter of a mad scientist and a mixed-race voodoo priestess. Brought up on her parents' Jamaican plantation, she is forced to flee to Europe after the slaves revolt. Although everyone is initially attracted to Harriet, people who get close to her seem to sicken and die. Marryat's "psychic vampire" represents both the racial "other" and the New Woman of the period, both of whom were perceived as a threat to fin-de-siecle society. This curious novel engages with key debates, such as race, women's rights, heredity, syphilophobia and the occult. |
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Anthony Pennell arms asked baby Baron Baroness Baroness's beautiful believe better blood Bobby Brimont Brussels called Captain Hill Captain Pullen Carmilla child cried Harriet darling dear Digue dinner Doctor Phillips Dr Phillips Dracula Elinor Leyton engaged everything exclaimed eyes face fancy fear feel female Fin de Siècle Florence Marryat girl give Hally hand Harriet Brandt hear heard Heyst Hotel husband hysteria hysterical kiss knew laughing leave lips London look Madame Gobelli Madame Lamont Mamma Margaret Pullen married Marryat Milliken Miss Brandt Miss Leyton Miss Wynward mother never nineteenth-century novel nurse Obeah Olga once Ouse perhaps poor Ralph Pullen Red House replied Harriet replied Margaret seen sexual shew smile soon speak suppose sure table d'hôte tell thing thought told vampire Victorian vivisecting voice walk whilst wish woman women young lady