The basis for vampiric legend is in many instances derived from the revenants of folklore. With that rich history, no doubt writers of the day were inspired to create mesmerizing bloodsuckers who would capture public imagination with zealous enchantment. In this chapter, we explore the most famous of those early tales and the authors who helped establish the vampire as we know it today. Like any species, there's much to be learned about its evolution, which in this case, is furthered by several individuals who ventured deep into the dark side of the human psyche.