About Vampires: From the Family Chronicle of the Counts Dracula-Kardi
It’s like first love—a dream among the stars, one you never wish to wake from©
A lost Gothic masterpiece, first published in 1912, now available in English for the first time.
Haunting legends veil an ancient, abandoned castle deep in the Carpathian Mountains. Whispers speak of the Witch Valley, where men vanish beneath the full moon; mist-covered lakes, where ethereal maidens rise with lifeless water lilies tangled in their hair; the ghost of a bride, forever wandering at the sealed Hunting Lodge; and strigoi who prowl the night, insatiable and unchallenged.
For young American millionaire Harry Kardi, who unexpectedly inherits Count Dracula’s ancestral estate, these tales seem like mere superstition. But what if they are true? As Harry and his friends uncover fragments of letters and diaries, they must piece together a chilling truth and confront an ancient evil that has awakened once more.
The novel’s immersive atmosphere pulls you into a dreamlike state—like sitting by a crackling fire, wrapped in a warm blanket, with a cat purring on your lap. But beware: danger lurks, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Within these pages, vintage Gothic classics emerge in full scope: grand balls, haunting beauties, terrifying monsters, ancient temples, moonlit nights—interwoven with a meticulously crafted intrigue. This novel is layered with secrets—a tale of the Indian goddess of death, Kali; a village teacher enchanted by an apparition; a beautiful countess tragically perished from an ominous pearl snake with emerald eyes.
With four intertwined timelines, past and present merge into an intricate tapestry of eerie beauty. The setting reveals fog drifting over the lake, a grim castle nestled in the mountains, and ghostly blossoms floating on dark waters. You can smell the sharp scent of hawthorn and lavender, feel the damp chill of ancient crypts, and hear the distant toll of a funeral bell. It’s an out-of-body experience—lost in the Carpathians, surrounded by endless forests and treacherous marshes, where delicate, otherworldly women—love incarnate—are revealed to be lamias, undead, cursed with eternal life and an insatiable thirst for blood.
A perfect mix of Gothic horror, supernatural suspense, sensuality, eerie elegance, and dark humor, this novel is a mesmerizing journey. Its poetic prose, gripping narrative, and masterful fusion of mysticism and intrigue make it an unforgettable read for lovers of classic vampire literature, supernatural thrillers, and haunted castle mysteries. Suitable for all ages (originally written to entertain the author’s daughters), this beautifully illustrated edition brings the story’s entrancing world to life.
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Learn More About The Author
Ekaterina Molchanova-Khomze (1861–1916)
Ekaterina Khomze (née Molchanova) came from a wealthy family of Kyakhta merchants, who amassed a vast fortune through the tea trade. (Kyakhta—a town on the border of Russia and Mongolia—was a key hub for Russian-Chinese trade in the 19th century.)
Ekaterina received an excellent education and was an avid reader. She wrote a dark vampire tale under the influence of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, viewing her literary work simply as a pastime for herself and her children—a kind of “lady’s handicraft.”
The playful nature of her authorial intentions is hinted at by her pseudonym, “Baron Olshevri – B. Olshevri,” which, when pronounced in Russian, sounds like “bolshe vri” (meaning “lie more”. This meaning was preserved in the English translation through the pseudonym as well—Marquis Orliez – M. Orliez – “more lies” ). The dedication (“Dedicated to E.L.Kh.”) is likely a reference to the names of the author’s daughters—Ekaterina and Lyudmila Khomze.
From the recollections of Lyudmila, the writer’s daughter:
“Curiously, while sitting in prison in 1919, we became acquainted with a fellow inmate and began discussing books. She told us that her husband had a favorite book, bound in black velvet and guarded as if it were a priceless treasure. That book was ‘Vampires.’ Mother would have been so pleased if she were alive to hear that.”
On the dedication page, a faint, partially erased date can be discerned: “March 19, 1912.” It is likely that on this day, Ekaterina presented the book to the person to whom she dedicated it, as this relic was first kept by Kat Khomze and, after her death, passed on to her sister Lina.
The first editions of the novel were not only published under a pseudonym but were also presented as a translation from English to further mystify the identity of the author. The characters’ names were also carefully chosen to reinforce the belief that the author was a foreigner.
Thanks to the efforts of a devoted admirer of the novel, the book has now been “returned to its origins” and translated into English, allowing it to become a beloved work for a new generation of readers.