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Interview with the Vampire
Interview with the Vampire
#1 of 13 in The Vampire Chronicles

Interview with the Vampire

By
Anne Rice
Anne Rice
By
Anne Rice
Anne Rice
1976 • 10 pages

Ratings74

Average rating3.7

15
Book InfoReviews5Editions39Lists71Feed26

This is the story of Louis, as told in his own words, of his journey through mortal and immortal life. Louis recounts how he became a vampire at the hands of the radiant and sinister Lestat and how he became indoctrinated, unwillingly, into the vampire way of life. His story ebbs and flows through the streets of New Orleans, defining crucial moments such as his discovery of the exquisite lost young child Claudia, wanting not to hurt but to comfort her with the last breaths of humanity he has inside. Yet, he makes Claudia a vampire, trapping her womanly passion, will, and intelligence inside the body of a small child. Louis and Claudia form a seemingly unbreakable alliance and even "settle down" for a while in the opulent French Quarter. Louis remembers Claudia's struggle to understand herself and the hatred they both have for Lestat that sends them halfway across the world to seek others of their kind. Louis and Claudia are desperate to find somewhere they belong, to find others who understand, and someone who knows what and why they are.

Louis and Claudia travel Europe, eventually coming to Paris and the ragingly successful Theatre des Vampires--a theatre of vampires pretending to be mortals pretending to be vampires. Here they meet the magnetic and ethereal Armand, who brings them into a whole society of vampires. But Louis and Claudia find that finding others like themselves provides no easy answers and in fact presents dangers they scarcely imagined. Originally begun as a short story, the book took off as Anne wrote it, spinning the tragic and triumphant life experiences of a soul. As well as the struggles of its characters, Interview captures the political and social changes of two continents. The novel also introduces Lestat, Anne's most enduring character, a heady mixture of attraction and revulsion. The book, full of lush description, centers on the themes of immortality, change, loss, sexuality, and power. ([source][1]) [1]: http://annerice.com/Bookshelf-Interview.html

Tags

Genres

  • Adventure
  • Classics
  • Fantasy
  • Fiction
  • Gothic

Content Warnings

  • body horror
  • death
  • murder
  • vampires
  • Violence

Series

Series

13 primary books

#1 in The Vampire Chronicles

The Vampire Chronicles is a 13-book series with 13 primary works first released in 1976 with contributions by Anne Rice.

#1
Interview with the Vampire
#2
The Vampire Lestat
#3
The Queen of the Damned
#4
The Tale of the Body Thief
#5
Memnoch the Devil

Reviews

Popular Reviews

Reviews with the most likes.

ibnussabel
Josep

Es una obra maestra. La leí cuando iba al instituto y me encantó. La he vuelto a leer más de 20 años después y me ha vuelto a encantar.

February 23, 2022
icetbr
Daniel Vanzin

Very well written book, although the flourished, Victorian prose is lost on me. I mainly liked the overall idea of the book, and what it set in motion in the world of the vampire genre, as with the creation of the Vampire: The Masquerade RPG.

The protagonist, Louis, is kind of stupid and the ethics of the story are incredibly lack lusting. Maybe I have to give credit because of the time the events took place, but for a well read man, one who knows his Socrates, to see nothing wrong in killing indiscriminately or not to be able to see evil in degrees is disturbing. But ignorance is necessary to keep the feeling of hopelessness and dread the book sets out to establish.

The villain, Lestat, is kind of a shallow and one dimensioned, but still satisfying, depiction of a monster. There were some attempts made in order to add more nuances to his personality, with Louis evolving his opinion of him the more time they spent together. But still, Lestat is just a psychopath who enjoys torturing and killing his victims. And Louis, the vampire he sired, is too naive and inexperienced to make the distinction between what he perceives to be two inexorably bonded traits: being a vampire and being a psychopath.

I like my characters stoics, but Louis can't help but despise his vampiric nature, and Claudia to bewail in vain about her eternal childish features. But these aspects also contribute to the story being told, making it a bit more interesting as well. Lestat and Armand are the only ones who fully accepted what they are.

So, for the depiction of vampires as more then just monsters, because of Louis conflicting nature, his fear of what he is becoming, fear for his immortal soul, if it has not been dammed already, I approve this novel.

For anyone who likes vampires, read the RPG, 2nd or 3rd edition. You will forever judge everything else vampire related to the lore described in that book.

December 29, 2018
sunstiitch
Cass

I read this for my first time ever in anticipation of the show and really enjoyed it! It was unlike what I expected, though I can't really articulate what I expected, and I enjoyed it. Going in with virtually no spoilers, I was very much along for every twist and turn.

October 25, 2022
BehindthePages
Tabitha TomalaSupporter

This one is a book best savored. If you are looking for a quick read then do not read this book. However, if you have time to sink into Anne Rice's beautifully crafted world, then by all means take a chair. The story of Louis is wrought with heartbreak and joy. It is a little heady, and there were a few sections I had to read over, but I enjoyed this book because of the culture building within it. Claudia was a major part of my enjoyment as well, witnessing her evolution as her mind grew but her body did not. Without her this book would have pales on comparison. And then we have Louis, the conflicted vampire who holds onto his humanity. To watch his evolution, and the turmoil he endured throughout his undead life, it gives a new light to the world of vampires. Now a days we see the “good” side to vampirism, seemingly ignoring the actual suffering that must take place, things that are barely hinted at. We need more writers like Anne Rice , who brings a depth of realism to her creatures.

November 11, 2014

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