Varney, the Vampyre Vol. 1


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.4 stars; 45 reviews)

This is volume 1 of 3.

Originally published as a penny dreadful from 1845 until 1847, when it first appeared in book form, Varney the Vampyre is a forerunner to vampire stories such as Dracula, which it heavily influenced.

Flora Bannersworth is attacked in her own room in the middle of the night, and although her attacker is seemingly shot dead, the body is nowhere to be found. The discovery of two small bite marks on Flora's neck leads Mr Marchdale, an old friend of the family, to the conclusion that she was bitten by a vampire. While Flora recovers, her brother Henry and Mr Marchdale begin their hunt for the vampire. Their suspicions soon fall on the mysterious Sir Francis Varney, who has just bought an old abbey near Bannersworth Hall, and who bears an uncanny resemblance to Marmaduke Bannersworth, a long-dead ancestor of the family. (Summary by Annika Feilbach)

Note that the original text does not have chapters labeled 41-43. The chapters have been renumbered to be consecutive in this project. (21 hr 5 min)

Chapters

Preface 2:02 Read by Annika Feilbach
Chapter 1 15:33 Read by Annika Feilbach
Chapter 2 14:16 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 3 15:04 Read by scottjns
Chapter 4 34:59 Read by Jodi Krangle
Chapter 5 25:37 Read by Jodi Krangle
Chapter 6 20:06 Read by Elisabetta Corti
Chapter 7 27:01 Read by Nancy Roberts
Chapter 8 22:22 Read by Jonathan Horniblow
Chapter 9 10:38 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter 10 11:48 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter 11 16:53 Read by Belinda Brown
Chapter 12 31:56 Read by Belinda Brown
Chapter 13 28:27 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 14 9:38 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter 15 32:57 Read by LMTobias
Chapter 16 14:56 Read by Kalynda
Chapter 17 24:31 Read by LMTobias
Chapter 18 18:43 Read by Nichole Karl
Chapter 19 28:50 Read by LMTobias
Chapter 20 13:24 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 21 17:21 Read by Marfschen
Chapter 22 17:34 Read by Lise Esch
Chapter 23 29:42 Read by Justin Brett
Chapter 24 17:13 Read by Wes Kingston
Chapter 25 29:10 Read by Wes Kingston
Chapter 26 23:47 Read by Elisabetta Corti
Chapter 27 26:58 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 28 23:04 Read by scottjns
Chapter 29 12:13 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter 30 11:06 Read by Sibella Denton
Chapter 31 22:35 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 32 15:33 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 33 20:23 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 34 23:42 Read by Kristine Bekere
Chapter 35 13:23 Read by Nichole Karl
Chapter 36 17:58 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 37 36:53 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 38 40:14 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 39 25:11 Read by Scott Carpenter
Chapter 40 32:58 Read by Scott Carpenter
Chapter 41 44:12 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 42 25:44 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 43 15:05 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 44 16:10 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 45 16:32 Read by CateranLlama
Chapter 46 13:36 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 47 8:04 Read by Nichole Karl
Chapter 48 11:54 Read by Nichole Karl
Chapter 49 11:32 Read by Nichole Karl
Chapter 50 11:21 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 51 11:13 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 52 12:09 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 53 12:21 Read by Nichole Karl
Chapter 54 14:40 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 55 17:25 Read by Anna Roberts
Chapter 56 10:47 Read by Carob
Chapter 57 16:17 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 58 25:56 Read by Lorelle Anderson
Chapter 59 18:47 Read by scottjns
Chapter 60 27:55 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 61 30:26 Read by Roger Melin
Chapter 62 16:25 Read by Roger Melin

Reviews


(5 stars)

You have to consider when a work is written. There was Polidori's Byronic vampire, some romantic poems, mostly in German or translated from the German into mediocre English verse. There was no dracula, much less the modern vampires of horror movies or paranormal romance. We also should remember this story was published in weekly installments over years. The subplots help engage readers short term--not everybody read every issue. In the end, you either embrace victorian melodrama and purple prose or you don't. This is literature for the masses in an age before tv--Dark Shadows for the 1850s

Varney the Vampire, Vol 1 Review


(4 stars)

The story is interesting but after 62 chapters is beginning to drag a bit. I'm starting to wonder what preternatural powers Varney is supposed to have? It appears he's NOT a vampire but, instead, a human acting like one and he is merely full of sideshow trickery and all word of mouth! His accomplice seems more "evil" than he is. This makes me wonder what can possibly be in a WHOLE TWO MORE VOLUMES? Is Varney a detective, in disguise, trying to catch ir round up a gang in murderes and bandits? I'll keep listening and hopefully not get bored and quit. Also, I'm not too keen on the narrators changing. Maybe one narrator per series would be more "relaxing" as some narrator voices are "annoying" and some accents are too thick.

Dreadful Penny


(5 stars)

I have to do this....grin I had heard of this tale but never found it until later years. After reading it I was amazed at the level of possibility in mangling english prose. Buried in the bizarre syntax is a passable vampire story but the true horror lies in way the author uses language. Eldritch terror cannot match the feelings conjured by this...enjoy

fabulous


(4 stars)

I really like this book. It basically is like a soap opera because it's written to be serialized so they're always introducing new things or characters and it has a narrator. The main character is a Varney, who is a vampire, but lives his life among the people.it is actually a very interesting story and I can't wait to read the rest.

Varney the Vampire


(5 stars)

this is only volume one of three. so far this is the best vampire story I have listened to. forgive me Bram Stoker. I love Dracula but this is better.

censorship


(1 stars)

you censor words like damn and ithe so called blasphemysbut don't censor out the racist stuff? I'd rather you leave it all in or at least be consistent.


(5 stars)

Please, I beseech you; don't use Librivox to practice speaking English... it's excruciating to listen to you. Other readers were wonderful.

varney the vampire vol1


(5 stars)

most enjoyable story and well read by all readers