Franco Mistrali

Franco Mistrali (1833-1880) was an Italian journalist and author of historical novels. He published The Devil's Tales (1861) and in 1869 Il vampiro. Storia vera., often cited as the first Italian vampire novel. He was described as a Garibaldian, had public polemics with Giosuè Carducci and spent five years in jail after the failure of the Bank of Romagna.

Il vampiro. Storia vera. (1869) anticipated Carmilla and Stoker's Dracula in chronology and was rediscovered in the late 20th century. Fabio Giovannini located and published an excerpt (1986) and mentioned the book in later works; editions and reprints cited in the review include a 1996 Armando Editore reprint, a 2011 Keres Edizioni edition, a 2018 mention by Gian Filippo Pizzo, and a 2020 Arcoiris Edizioni reissue (Lovecraft Library series, edited by Jacopo Corazza and Gianluca Venditti).

The available review highlights Franco Mistrali (1833-1880) as author of Il vampiro. Storia vera., considered the first vampire novel written in Italy and important in 19th-century fantastica. The book anticipated works by Le Fanu and Stoker, fell into oblivion, and was rediscovered and reprinted in late 20th and early 21st centuries. The reviewer recommends it to lovers of Gothic and vampire literature, noting its original treatment of vampirism.

For:Fans of 19th-century Gothic and vampire literature, readers of Italian fantastica, and literary historians.