Portrait of John Stagg, poet.

John Stagg's introduction to his poem 'The Vampyre'.

Part of John Stagg's introduction to his poem 'The Vampyre', and first lines.

In 2025 I must resume work on this chap #JohnStagg 'The Blin' Bard' in the Cumbrian patois, author of #TheVampyre (1810), one of the earliest vampire tales in English.
All the vampire tropes are here, fear of 'The starting ray, the bursting light', & staking, plus some curious theories as to origin!