John William Polidori Knihy

Around two hundred years ago the famous writer Lord Byron rented the mansion known as the Villa Diodati on Lake Geneva. Accompanying Byron, among others, was the 23-year-old poet Percy Shelley, his mistress, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, and Byron's physician John William Polidori. The summer would be forever known as the 'Lost Summer of 1816'. For three days they were shut up in the Villa due to cold and stormy weather, which would serve as the backdrop to the telling and writing of horror and ghost stories-the most notable of which was Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." 'Ghostly Tales from Lost Summer of 1816' is the collected writings from the guests; including "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, "The Vampyre" by John Polidori, and the unfinished tales, "Fragment of a Ghost Story" by Percy Shelley, and "A Fragment of a Novel" by Lord Byron. This collection of tales would make for a worthy addition to the shelves of fans of the horrifying and macabre. This edition includes specially-commissioned biographies of each of the authors.

John William Polidori, linked to the Romantic movement, is recognized as the pioneer of vampire fiction with his 1819 short story 'The Vampyre.' This collection features early and rare vampire stories from before the 1900s, which are now hard to find and costly. The republished editions maintain the original text and artwork, making these classic works accessible and affordable for contemporary readers.

The setting of a stormy summer night among literary giants sparked the creation of iconic works in horror fiction. Amidst torrential thunderstorms and an eerie atmosphere, Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori were inspired to write after reading German ghost stories. Byron's challenge led to Shelley crafting a forgettable tale, while Polidori began his groundbreaking work, "The Vampyre," marking the birth of the modern vampire genre. This gathering not only influenced their individual stories but also shaped the future of weird fiction.

This collection features the works of John William Polidori, an English writer and physician. Ximenes the Wreath was the first of his two published volumes of poetry and includes poems on various topics such as nature, love, and death.

Offering a unique perspective, this diary reveals insights from Byron's doctor, providing the sole contemporary account of the creation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Published in 1911, it captures the atmosphere and events surrounding the iconic novel's inception, shedding light on the influences and interactions among the key figures of the time.

The book presents a faithful reproduction of the original text, preserving its historical context and authenticity. It offers readers an opportunity to engage with the content as it was intended, capturing the essence and nuances of the original work. Ideal for those interested in classic literature and historical documents, this reproduction serves as both a reference and a means to appreciate the literary style and themes of the time.

The Diary of Dr. John William Polidori, 1816, Relating to Byron, Shelley, etc. Edited and Elucidated by William Michael Rossetti. Originally published in 1911. This books pages contain the diary entries of the Italian English physician and writer in 1816. It contains the stories and anecdotes of his journeys though Europe while accompanying Lord Byron as his personal physician. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.