The Truth About Dracula (The Myth) [First Edition]

7 East 48 Street, New York 17: Stein and Day, Publishers , 1972. First printing indicated by statement at copyright: "First published in 1972." Black matte boards, green cloth spine wrap with horizontal gilt spine titles, light shelf wear. Author's facsimile signature in gilt to front board: "Gabriel Ronay." Pages near fine, clean; no writing. Wonderful photo plate section with two-page spread of Hungarian empire map. Original pictorial dust wrapper features haunting violet titles on black b.g., light shelf wear; unclipped 7.95, protected in new clear sleeve. Classic wrapper imagery of macabre fanged nosferatu in palish green. Iconic 1970's jacket design Tim Gaydon. Scarce near fine first edition in same wrapper. Contents: "Acknowledgements; Preface; Part One: I. Of Vampires Ancient and Modern - Table: Better Known Species Believed to Have Infested Europe in the Eighteenth Century; II. Vampire Trials; III. The Vampire in England and Scotland; Part Two: IV. A Horror Writer's Stroke of Genius; V. Identifying the Historical Dracula; VI. Renaissance Europe's Fascination with the Walachian Warlord; VII. Feast in the Forest of Impaled Corpses; VIII. The Pamphleteers' Tale of Lazy Women, Sly Monks and Insolent Diplomats; Part Three: IX. The Vampire Lady of the Carpathians; X. A Lesbian Rake's Progress; XI. Elisabeth Bathory's 'Elixor of Youth' and the Blood Healing Tradition; XII. The Price of Beauty; XIII. The Case of the 650 Missing Virgins; XIV. 1611 - A Strange Trial; Part Four: XV. Russia - Ivan the Terrible and the Justification of Despotism; XVI. Germany - Vampire Horror Fiction, Blood and the Nazi Myths; XVII. USA - Dracula and the Cold War; Epilogue; and, an Index." Presented here from enigmatic author Gabriel Ronay is a scholarly and fascinating study which traces the influential cult of the vampire. From its origins in pagan lore and Christian ritual to its depictions in modern horror cinema, Ronay identifies the true origins of Dracula. He traces the tales and lore from Ireland, Scotland and England across to Saxony, Italy, and the famed Transylvania peaks of eastern Europe to the wilds of Russa. Concise and well written digestible account of the terrific tales across Europe. Printed in the United States of America. 180 pages. Insured post.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall.