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One of the coolest new-to-me discoveries of this year is 

The Black Vampyre; A Legend of St. Domingo (1819)
, which Andrew Barger (in The Best Vampire Stories 1800-1849: A Classic Vampire Anthology) credits as quite possibly "the first black vampire story, the first comedic vampire story, the first story to include a mulatto vampire, the first vampire story by an American author, and perhaps the first anti-slavery short story.” 

Common-Place: The Journal of Early American Life has a Just Teach One” page devoted to The Black Vampyre, including the complete text with introduction and notes prepared by Duncan Faherty (Queens College and the CUNY Graduate Center) and Ed White (Tulane University), and several illuminating essays written by teachers who have included this text in their classes. You can read or download The Black Vampyre and these additional resources for free here.

Here is a spine-tinging excerpt from The Black Vampyre:

When reason and sense returned, she [The Lady] found herself in the same place; and it was also the midnight hour. She was laying by the grave of Mr. PERSONNE, and her breast was stained with blood. A wide wound appeared to have been inflicted there, but was now cicatrized. Imagine if you can, her surprise; when, by a certain carnivorous craving in her maw, and by putting this and that together, she found she was a—VAMPYRE!!! and gathered from her indistinct reminiscences, of the preceding night, that she had been then sucked; and that it was now her turn to eject the peaceful tenants of the grave! 

With this delightful prospect of immortality before her, she began to examine the graves, for subject to satisfy her furious appetite. When she had selected one to her mind, a new marvel arrested her attention. Her first husband got up out his coffin, and with all the grace so natural to his countrymen, made her a low bow in the last fashion, and opened his arms to receive her! 

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re: oct 5

Date: 2020-10-05 02:45 pm (UTC)
acciochocolate: (Halloween bats by hathor_luna)
From: [personal profile] acciochocolate
Thanks for pointing this story out. Very melodramtic!

Btw, made a post on the Bpal forum abt yr situation, but no mod has contacted me yet. I'm not sure who the active mods are any more. :(

Re: oct 5

Date: 2020-10-05 05:45 pm (UTC)
acciochocolate: (autumn cookies by bloodstnedtears)
From: [personal profile] acciochocolate
Silvertree, a mod, needs yr new email address and bpal forum name to help. We're talking via PM over there.

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