The Finno-Ugrian Vampire

The original novel was published in 2002. Translated by Peter Sherwood.

Jerne Voltampere’s Grandmother doesn’t look her age, but she is 284 years old. She looks like a young woman. No wonder, as every night she sucks the blood of assorted men. She is a vampire and wants her grandchild to follow the family tradition.

Her Granddaughter, Jerne has just returned to Budapest after a posh education at an English college, Winterwood. Reincarnations of the Bronte sisters taught her to write fairy tales. Jerne writes children’s books, but they are considered too bloody to be published. Her Grandmother is adamant: Jerne will have to give up her literary ambitions and become a vampire. In the meanwhile, she takes an undemanding job as an editor. But the married couple who run the publishing house behave more and more suspiciously.

This is a story of a death and the afterlife told by a witty and irresistible narrator. The first Budapest vampire story from the home country of Béla Lugosi.

“Younger generation, writers such as Noémi Szécsi, are reacquainting themselves with the principle of entertaining the reader.” - Tibor Fischer in the Guardian

“A linguistic tour-de-force and play on myths.” - Rosie Goldsmith, BBC journalist and presenter of Crossing Continents

“Noémi Szécsi is at the heart of the new generation of Hungarian authors.” - Goodreads.com