The Brat Prince Returns
Fans of "The Vampire Chronicles" are delighted to hear Anne Rice's announcement early this year. Lestat de Lioncourt, the antihero in the majority of the series, is back. "Prince Lestat" will be the author's next book.
"It is all about Lestat and all about the vampires, and what they are doing right now, how they are coming to terms with everything that's happened to them, how Lestat is dealing with the demand from all side that he steps forward and becomes some sort of leader of the tribe," she said during a show co-hosted by her son Christopher Rice.
It had been forty years since Lestat made his first appearance in "Interview with the Vampire". Rice, who turned 73 on October 4, didn't based her series from the early works in vampire literature. In fact, fans of the genre might be be surprised that this is the only book that has no reference to Bram Stoker's "Dracula". This set a trend. (Fans of Stephenie Meyer describe the "Twilight" series as the Gothic version of "Jane Eyre".) Rice's inspiration is Gloria Holden in "Dracula's Daughter" (1936), her Countess Marya Zaleska being elegant, tragic, and sensitive.
Death begets death
"Interview with the Vampire" began in New Orleans in 1791, when Louie, a young plantation owner, wanted to end to his life. He was distraught by his brother's death, and Lestat took notice. Lestat gave Louie immortality. However, the new vampire didn't like how he turned into. Louie was unable to embrace his new life, not even tolerated Lestat's impudence. Having one more vampire was the only thing that would make him stay, and there were many to choose from the plague-infested community. But three's a crowd.
Louie became attached to Claudia, like an older brother to his younger sister. Claudia's had different feelings, though. She was an assertive woman trapped inside a child's body, and she blamed Lestat for this. She wanted Lestat out of the way and coaxed Louie into killing him. Wanting a new life together, they sailed across the Atlantic. The two first set foot in Transylvania, disappointed at discovering their kin being more primitive. Paris was their next destination, where they chanced upon Théâtre des Vampires. Both Louie and Claudia were drawn to the coven, headed by Armand, who had features of a Botticelli angel. They learned about an unwritten rule about vampire killing his own kind. Alas, some members were too nosey.
More fatal than the sun
It was no coincidence that "Interview with the Vampire" seemed like set during the Middle Age. Some of the vampires whom Louie and Claudia met received their "gift" from the Italian Renaissance artists. The residents of Théâtre des Vampires were following rules that existed for many centuries. Rice's treatment may be melodramatic, which recalled Hollywood's studio days. But she had no other influences. No mention of cross and garlic. After three centuries, Louie discovered something more fatal than sunshine. Even vampires get the blues.
