History Literature / VarneyTheVampire

''Varney'' was an enormous influence on [[VampireFiction later vampire literature]], such as ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' (1897) by Bram Stoker. Many of today's standard vampire tropes originated with Varney: Varney has fangs, [[VampireBitesSuck leaves two puncture wounds on the necks of his victims]], has hypnotic powers, and has superhuman strength. Unlike later fictional vampires, [[DaywalkingVampire he is able to go about in daylight]] and has no particular fear or loathing of crosses or garlic, though he operates mainly at night as moonlight heals him of injury. He can eat and drink in human fashion as a form of disguise, but he points out that human food and drink do not agree with him. His vampirism seems to be a fit that comes on him when his vital energy begins to run low; he is [[{{Everyman}} a regular person]] between feedings.

''Varney'' was an enormous influence on [[VampireFiction later vampire literature]], such as ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' (1897) by Bram Stoker. Many of today's standard vampire tropes originated with Varney: Varney has fangs, [[VampireBitesSuck leaves two puncture wounds on the necks of his victims]], has hypnotic powers, and has superhuman strength. Unlike later fictional vampires, [[DaywalkingVampire he is able to go about in daylight]] and has no particular fear or loathing of crosses or garlic. He can eat and drink in human fashion as a form of disguise, but he points out that human food and drink do not agree with him. His vampirism seems to be a fit that comes on him when his vital energy begins to run low; he is [[{{Everyman}} a regular person]] between feedings.

* TropeCodifier: For the tragic, sympathetic vampire. While the TitleCharacter was preceeded by Aurelia from Literature/{{Vampirismus}}, that was a short story where the vampire element was a TwistEnding. By using a different storytelling format, Varney’s condition was allowed to be more thoroughly explored.

Varney is also the first example of the "sympathetic vampire," a vampire who hates his night job but is a slave to it nevertheless -- a theme which has become popular in modern vampire fiction. Varney's conflict eventually leads him to drastic action.

* TropeMakers: It introduced most of the modern vampire concepts like hypnotic ability, super strength, puncture wounds from fang bites, and going crazy if a long time passes without feeding. Also, the concept of a reluctant vampire. Stoker was inspired quite a bit by it.

** In the Franchise/{{Marvel Universe}}, Dracula's predecessor as Lord of the Vampires was an ancient Atlantean vampire named [[http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/varnae.htm Varnae]], in a tip of the hat to the story of Varney predating that of Dracula.

** He's a major character in the Netflix's ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'' adaptation, where he is played by Creator/MalcolmMcDowell.

* LockedInTheDungeon: [[spoiler: Charles Holland]] is imprisoned in a secret dungeon for quite some time. Later, [[spoiler: Marchdale]], who is trying to murder him, winds up there instead.

* PublicDomainCharacter: Varney, while not as popular as Dracula, has seen somewhat of a renaissance recently, appearing in several webcomics including Varney the Vampire by Scott Massino and Marcio Takara, in which he is a rock star resembling Count Orlok from Nosferatu; {{SideReal}} by Philip Rice; and Dracula Unconquered by Chris Sims, Steve Downer and Josh Krach.

** He's a major character in the Netflix WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017 adaptation played by Creator/MalcolmMcDowell.

The entire text of ''Varney the Vampire'' is available [[http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/PreVarn.html for free online]].

* EitherOrTitle

* HisNameIs: As applied to money matters. The late Mr Bannerworth, who lost much of the family's wealth to gambling debts, finally figures out how to recoup his family's losses just before he dies. He tries to write down the instructions for his children. Unfortunately he only gets as far as: "The money is—" before dying on the spot.

* YouSexyBeast: Varney.

** Varney has also cropped up in one of Creator/SimonRGreen's short stories set in the {{Literature/Nightside}}, and is among the many fictional vampires Creator/KimNewman to be referenced in the ''Literature/AnnoDracula'' novels.

** Varney has also cropped up in one of Creator/SimonRGreen's stories set in the {{Literature/Nightside}}.

It's a [[VampiresAreSexGods bodice-ripper]] with [[DoorStopper 220 chapters]][[note]]nearly 667,000 words (longer than ''Literature/WarAndPeace''!)[[/note]] of riveting Victorian Gothic horror and one hell of an ending!

''Varney'' was an enormous influence on [[VampireFiction later vampire literature]], such as ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' (1897) by Bram Stoker. Many of today's standard vampire tropes originated with Varney: Varney has fangs, [[VampireBitesSuck leaves two puncture wounds on the necks of his victims]], has hypnotic powers, and has superhuman strength. Unlike later fictional vampires, [[DaywalkingVampire he is able to go about in daylight]] and has no particular fear or loathing of crosses or garlic. He can eat and drink in human fashion as a form of disguise, but he points out that human food and drink do not agree with him. His vampirism seems to be a fit that comes on him when his vital energy begins to run low; he is [[EveryMan a regular person]] between feedings.

** Varney has also cropped up in one of Creator/SimonRGreen's stories set in the {{Nightside}}.

** Varney has also cropped up in one of SimonRGreen's stories set in the {{Nightside}}.

** In the Franchise/{{Marvel Universe}}, Dracula's predecessor as Lord of the Vampires was an ancient Atlantean vampire named [[http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Varnae_%28Earth-616%29 Varnae]], in a tip of the hat to the story of Varney predating that of Dracula.

** In the Franchise/{{Marvel Universe}}, Dracula's predecessor as Lord of the Vampires was an ancient Atlantean vampire named Varnae, in a tip of the hat to the story of Varney being written before that of Dracula.

* ExpositionOfImmortality: Very early on, the Bannerworths realise that Varney resembles the ancestral portrait of Marmaduke (aka Sir Runnagate) Bannerworth, who died in 1640. This is then confirmed when Marmaduke Bannerworth's coffin is quickly discovered to be empty.

* LesbianVampire: Clara Crofton predates even Literature/{{Carmilla}} as a female Vampire who prefers female victims.

* SpookyPainting: The unnerving portrait of Varney (formerly Marmaduke or Runnagate Bannerworth, depending on the installment) that hangs in Bannerworth Hall.

* ExpositionOfImmortality: Very early on, the Bannerworths realise that Varney resembles the ancestral portrait of Marmaduke (aka Sir Runnagate) Bannerworth, who died in 1640.

* ExpositionOfImmortality: Very early on, the Bannerworths realise that Varney resembles the ancestral portrait of Sir Marmaduke (or Runnagate) Bannerworth, who died in 1640.