Safe Return Doubtful

A classic German gothic tale from 1823. One of the first vampire stories.

Translated wonderfully into English by George Blink, for the magazine, Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations in 1823.
Blink subsequently took it to the stage, having improved upon an anonymous translation.

Set in the mountains of the Rhone-Alpes neighbouring Burgundy, it tells of a powerful lord named Walter mourning the death of his wife Brunhilda. He marries another woman, Swanhilda, but despite having two children with her, he remains fixated on his first wife. One night, while at Brunhilda’s grave, he meets a wandering sorcerer, who says he can bring Brunhilda back to life, but warns him that it will have a terrible effect…

I listened to it on the Classic Ghost Stories podcast, beautifully narrated by Tony Walker, and highly recommended.

Thou too art doomed..

My GoodReads score 4 / 5