{"product_id":"9781601637130","title":"Vampires: A Field Guide to the Creatures That Stalk the Night","description":"\"“Vampire!” The very word conjures up visions of ruined castles, of enigmatic,  pale-skinned noblemen shrouded in dark cloaks, of slumbering beauties being  bloodily ravished by supernatural, nocturnal creatures. But just how accurate is  that picture? How much do we really know about these mysterious entities? Surprisingly, perhaps, almost every culture can boast of its own vampire beings,  few of which correspond to the stock Hollywood image-some are not even human  in form, some do not drink blood, some appear in daylight. Are you ready for  such horrors as the Penangal, the screaming blood-soaked lead that drifts  through the Malayan jungle seeking victims; the Jaracacca, the Brazilian stalker  that hides in the clothes of its victims to drink their blood or bodily fluids; or the  Aswang, the scaly demon of the Philippines, who lies among the leafy roofs of  huts and drinks through its tongue?  And how do we dispose of vampires? Is the simple stake through the  heart—much beloved of Hollywood directors—really enough, or is there  something more? And does the sight of the crucifix repel all vampires—what if  the vampire is Jewish (a dibbyuk)?  Vampires is a unique, lavishly illustrated work that explores the rich diversity of  vampire belief and lore, ranging from countries as diverse as Japan, Sweden and  Ireland, looking at their historical origins, and setting them in their cultural  context.  Dr. Bob Curran is a native of Northern Ireland, born and raised in the Mourne  Mountains area of County Down, a region steeped in folklore and legend.  Throughout a varied life, he has worked in many fields—as a gravedigger,  professional musician, journalist, and civil servant. He is now a history teacher  and well known throughout Ireland and beyond as a writer and broadcaster. He  has written extensively, in English and several other languages, on various  aspects of history and folklore and acted as advisor to the Cultural Committee of  the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly. He currently lives in Coleraine,  County Derry, with his wife and family.  Ian Daniels works professionally as a painter and illustrator.  His work includes  themes of earth \u0026amp; spirit, nature, dreaming, memory, ghosts and ancient  mythology. His previous illustration projects range from children's fairytales to  fantasy fiction \u0026amp; gothic romance including book covers for Edgar Allen Poe,  Marion Zimmer Bradley, Orson Scott Card and Poul Anderson. He has also  illustrated two collections of fairytales, 'Classic Celtic Fairytales' and 'Tales of  the Celtic Otherworld' which feature many of his visionary paintings. Ian lives in  Kent, England","brand":"Red Wheel\/Weiser","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47112819278064,"sku":"9781601637130","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781601637130_p0.jpg?v=1769901952","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781601637130","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}