Polidori, John William Biography

John William Polidori was an English author and physician born in 1795. He is best known for his contribution to the vampire genre with his short story "The Vampyre," which was published in 1819."The Vampyre" tells the story of Lord Ruthven, a mysterious and charismatic aristocrat who preys on young women. The story was an immediate success and had a significant influence on the development of the vampire genre in literature.Polidori was also known for his work as a physician and was a close associate of the famous English poet Lord Byron. He served as Byron's personal physician during a trip to Switzerland in 1816, which is famously known as the "Year Without a Summer." During this trip, Polidori wrote "The Vampyre" as part of a contest between Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Mary Shelley to see who could write the best horror story.Despite his success as a writer, Polidori's life was plagued by personal and financial problems. He passed away in 1821 at the age of 25, but his contribution to the vampire genre and his association with Lord Byron have secured his place in literary history.