Dracula: History and Myth

Vlad the Impaler’s childhood home in Sighișoara, Romania

Manning October 9, 2014 Uncategorized 4 Comments

These pictures are from my trip to Sighișoara, Romania in 2006. During this whole big trip across Transylvania I wanted to visit as many Dracula-related spots as I could. I’d heard that Vlad’s birthplace had been turned into a touristy restaurant, and as I approached it was immediately clear this was correct! One small regret I have from this trip is that, as I was backpacking and hitchhiking and traveling with very little money, I…Continue Reading →

Bust of Vlad Țepeș in Sighișoara

Manning September 15, 2014 Uncategorized No Comments

Bust of Vlad Țepeș, aka Vlad the Impaler, aka Dracula, in Sighișoara, Romania. This bust is situated across from the house where Vlad Țepeș was born in 1431. The house is now a restaurant. I took this photo in 2005; many more pics and stories from that trip coming soon…

Only Lovers Left Alive — Adam’s wall of heroes

Manning September 13, 2014 Uncategorized 83 Comments

I finally watched Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive last night, and I’ll write more about the film later, but for now I want to talk about the wall of portraits of Adam’s “heroes” on the wall in his house in Detroit. I paused the movie a few times while Eve is looking at the portraits, and my girlfriend and I identified as many people as we could, and then after the movie was over…Continue Reading →

Dracula Untold

Manning June 29, 2014 Uncategorized 1 Comment

Dracula Untold - a new film combining the life of the historical Vlad the Impaler with the fictional vampire in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula

Wow, a new movie that appears to be (mostly) about the historical Dracula! I’m cautiously optimistic! Check out the trailer for Dracula Untold: As a huge fan of horror literature, horror films, the historical Dracula, and the fictional Dracula, I’m really excited for this film. It’s like it was made for me. And check out the official site for the film! It’s beautiful and spooky!

The Vampire of Venice

Manning April 3, 2013 Uncategorized No Comments

The Vampire of Venice - skull of a supposed vampire with a brick forced between its jaws

From Frightening Archaeological Finds: 15 Odd Human Remains: Among the corpses of medieval plague victims was one very curious find: a skull with a brick shoved so forcefully between its jaws, they were broken. The technique was used on suspected vampires in Europe during this time, especially when natural biological processes after death resulted in dark blood-like liquid streaming from the mouth. Researchers have determined that not only was this elderly woman feared a vampire…Continue Reading →

Vampire on the loose in Serbia?

Manning November 30, 2012 Uncategorized No Comments

Sava Savanovic, a legendary vampire who haunts the Serbian village of Zarozje

The lore of vampires may make for a tantalizing tale, but for locals in a tiny Serbian village, the threat of a vampire on the loose is all too real. Villagers in Zarozje, Serbia, are afraid the legendary vampire Sava Savanovic is on the loose, according to ABC News. Savanovic’s home, a former water mill near a small river, recently collapsed, and villagers believe he is roaming the mountainside looking for a new home. Full…Continue Reading →

See Castlevania First

Manning April 12, 2012 Uncategorized 1 Comment

See Transylvania First! Mystical, mythical Wallachia. Tepes historical preservation society. Castlevania parody poster.

I love this parody Castlevania poster by ninjaink on deviantART: Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Transylvania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians. Wallachia is sometimes referred to as Muntenia (Greater Wallachia), through identification with the larger of its two traditional sections; the smaller being Oltenia (Lesser Wallachia). It is known as being the home of Castlevania, the ancestral castle of Count Vlad Dracula,…Continue Reading →

The Book of Were-Wolves, 1865

Manning January 21, 2012 Uncategorized No Comments

Aka “The Book of Were-Wolves, being an account of a terrible superstition” Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) was a Vicar in the Church of England in Devon, an archaeologist, folklorist, historian and a prolific author. Baring-Gould was also a bit eccentric. He reputedly taught classes with a pet bat on his shoulder… This book is one of the most cited references about werewolves. The Book of the Were-Wolf takes a rationalistic approach to the subject. The book…Continue Reading →

DRAC — a Romanian Princess’ dog, buried in a cemetery outside Paris

Manning December 29, 2011 Uncategorized 1 Comment

I was wandering around Le Cimetière des Chiens — the Dog Cemetery in Asnières-sur-Seine, just outside Paris, on a gloomy day a few weeks ago and noticed this tomb for Drac, a dog belonging to a Romanian Princess! The inscription on Drac’s tomb translates as follows: DRAC 1941-1953 Loyal companion during tragic times Precious friend in exile S. M. Queen Elisabeth Princess of Romania A little research reveals that “Queen Elisabeth, Princess of Romania” is…Continue Reading →