THE VAMPIRE HIS KITH AND KIN by Montague Summers [1928]

In this work Summers discusses the vampire phenomena from a relentless Catholic perspective; he either belives in the literal reality of vampires, or is pulling our leg. However, this is not a hoax. This book has all of the apparatus to qualify as an academic study, including footnotes, extensive quotations in the original languages, and references to rare source documents. Of particular interest is the final chapter, which traces the development of the vampire craze in 19th century literature.

--John Bruno Hare, January 29th, 2002

A reader has contributed the following information, which clears up some of the murk about Summer's academic career and clerical background (and also supplies a middle name which is not found anywhere in his bibliography):