Most of the vast audience attracted to the subject of Dracula know him only in his fictional, one-dimensional form: vampire! Yet the truth behind the historical character--voevode, warlord--of 15th C. Romania is at least as equally fascinating as any contrived account of his supernatural persona. Vlad Dracula faithfully follows his life story as hostage, fugitive, prince, and prisoner, as well as his legend. His principality of Wallachia was caught between two voracious predators: the kingdom of Hungary and the Ottoman empire. They tried to break Dracula with overwhelming force and terror. But Dracula turned their own tactics against them, and against criminals and factions in his own land, earning the name Tepes--The Impaler--in the process. He was a strange mix of husband, father, soldier, statesman, and berserker. He annihilated 50,000 people--one-tenth of his own population. Cursed by his native Orthodox Christian Church, he indeed evolved into a legend. But even today he is Romania's Robin Hood.

1456, the night of Vlad’s coronation: a dastardly plot, a joint venture between the Ottoman Empire and Catholic Hungary to kill the Impaler’s beloved, sets off some of the worst atrocities in history, enshrining the name Dracula as a synonym for terror. He drank the blood of his victims, and filled the castles of the land with wretches destined for the stake: Scourge of the Saxons, champion of the peasants, national hero who saved his country from Islamic conquest, Vlad was all of these, and much, much more... His name has become a byword for cruelty, Vlad’s draconian policies the horror of Europe. But who was the man behind the legend? Written off by historians, the Dacians were thought to have vanished immediately after the Roman conquest of Dacia, but Vlad, Son of the Devil, would revive the ancient Gaulish pride, bringing hope to the oppressed Wallach remnants of Transylvania through a dastardly series of impalements: he would become known in Romanian as Vlad Țepeș, the Impaler! A man more terrifying than any vampire.

Centuries after the Ark of the Covenant was delivered to a secret church in Ethiopia, a young prince stood before a great Turkish army. It was on that battlefield that he would lose his life, then his soul. Prince Vlad Tepes the III would come to be the greatest villain of all time, Dracula. His selfish lust for power led him to misery and suffering under the Devil's false promises. Dracula's death at the hand of a Texas Bowie Knife was a con. The movies, books, and stories of Dracula are but a glimpse into his life. It is only when he finally gives himself fully to the Devil's will that his suffering eases. The Devil pulls off the greatest con on the human race and the priests in Ethiopia are waiting. All will be revealed when vanity reaches a pinnacle of decadence. "The fact that you're skeptical about my identity is a testament to the Devil's con."

Discover the story behind the legend of Dracula in Vlad the Impaler: The Man Behind Dracula's Myth. This comprehensive book delves into the life of Vlad III of Wallachia, the brutal 15th-century ruler whose reign of terror inspired the infamous vampire lore. Learn about the historical figure, Vlad the Impaler, his rise to power, his methods of psychological warfare through impalement, and his fierce defense against the Ottoman Empire. Uncover how his ruthless tactics laid the foundation for Bram Stoker’s Dracula and explore the evolution of Vlad from a bloodthirsty prince to a Gothic horror icon. Perfect for history buffs, vampire enthusiasts, and those intrigued by the intersection of history, myth, and folklore. This book offers a captivating blend of fact, fiction, and the lasting cultural impact of one of history’s most terrifying figures. Vlad the Impaler: The Man Behind Dracula’s Myth is a must-read for those looking to separate the truth from the supernatural legend. Available now for fans of historical biographies and Gothic tales alike.

This comprehensive bibliography covers writings about vampires and related creatures from the 19th century to the present. More than 6,000 entries document the vampire's penetration of Western culture, from scholarly discourse, to popular culture, politics and cook books. Sections by topic list works covering various aspects, including general sources, folklore and history, vampires in literature, music and art, metaphorical vampires and the contemporary vampire community. Vampires from film and television--from Bela Lugosi's Dracula to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood and the Twilight Saga--are well represented.

“Vlad from Dracula’s Castle” is a story inspired from a real life of a man, born in Dracula’s Castle, in Transylvania, Romania. He begun his sexual experience at 11 year of age, having in his life a lot of love relations, much more than a usual man. Although he had all these women as his lovers, he was not in love with all of them: he loved just actress Amaliya, a beautiful black woman Lilly, and finally a woman Olga. He suffered a terrible accident with his motorcycle, and Olga took care of him. Thinking about his life and his love relations with so many women, he got confused in his mind, and became a monk in a monastery, to expiate his sins, but in half a year, as soon as the rest of the monks found out that he is born in Dracula’s Castle, he was cast out from the monastery. Finally, he returned to his previous civil life, and got married on Olga, whom he helped to get rid of narcotics.

There is something about a shapeshifter—a person who can transform into an animal—that captures our imagination; that causes us to want to howl at the moon, or flit through the night like a bat. Werewolves, vampires, demons, and other weird creatures appeal to our animal nature, our “dark side,” our desire to break free of the bonds of society and proper behavior. Real or imaginary, shapeshifters lurk deep in our psyches and remain formidable cultural icons. The myths, magic, and meaning surrounding shapeshifters are brought vividly to life in John B. Kachuba’s compelling and original cultural history. Rituals in early cultures worldwide seemingly allowed shamans, sorcerers, witches, and wizards to transform at will into animals and back again. Today, there are millions of people who believe that shapeshifters walk among us and may even be world leaders. Featuring a fantastic and ghoulish array of examples from history, literature, film, TV, and computer games, Shapeshifters explores our secret desire to become something other than human.

Make no myth-take-this book is indispensable. The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology explores the gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, monsters and angels of the myths from every corner of the globe. Additionally, it explores the parallels between every culture and the striking similarities in mythic figures and the structure, action, wording, and result of the stories themselves. * Covers Egyptian, Celtic, Teutonic, Norse, Japanese, Mexican, Native American, and other myths * Features information on The Hero's Journey-the cycle of myth according to Jung, Campbell, and others * Appendixes include a glossary of terms and both a general and a subject Index

The undead are everywhere. They're not just in movies and books, but in commercials, fetish clubs, and even in your breakfast cereal. Bloodsuckers have become some of the most recognizable bad guys in the modern world, and Eric Nuzum wanted to find out why. He was willing to do whatever it took —even drinking his own blood—in his quest to understand the vampire phenomenon. And he found the answer in Goth clubs, darkened parks, haunted houses, and . . . chain restaurants. In The Dead Travel Fast, Nuzum delivers a far-reaching look at vampires in pop culture from Bram to Bela to Buffy, and at what vampires and vampirism have come to mean to us today. And the blood? Let's just say it doesn't go with eggs.

Both concise and wide-ranging, this encyclopedia covers massacres, atrocities, war crimes, and genocides, including acts of inhumanity on all continents; and serves as a reminder that lest we forget, history will repeat itself. The 400-plus entries in Atrocities, Massacres, and War Crimes: An Encyclopedia provide accessible and concise information on the difficult subject of abject human violence committed on all continents. The entries in this two-volume work describe atrocities, massacres, and war crimes committed in the 20th century, thereby documenting how human beings have repeatedly proven their capability to commit horrific acts of inhumanity even in relatively recent times and within the modern era. The encyclopedia covers countries, treaties, and terms; profiles individuals who had been formally indicted for war crimes as well as those who have committed mass atrocities and gone unpunished; and addresses human rights violations, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace.