Literary Precedents for The Vampire Lestat

The Vampire Lestat Literary Precedents

Rice's Gothic tale is more like Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's work than Bram Stoker's. Written from the vampire's point of view rather than from that of the victim, both Yarbro and Rice portray vampires as more human than monstrous. On the other hand, where Yarbro's vampire Count Saint-Germain is absolutely heroic in the traditional sense, Lestat has many shortcomings and is even unlikable at times, more Dracula than St. Germain.

John Lindquist's Tabitha Ffloukes shows yet another kind of humane vampire. This one is such an unlucky victim himself that he is positively lovable. Unlike Rice, who constantly reminds the reader of Lestat's evil side, Lindquist presents a vampire who does not have such a side.