Robert Eighteen | |
---|---|
Born | 1947
Brantford, Ontario, Canada |
Died | 29 September 2020 |
Other names | Robert Eighteen-Bisang |
Alma mater | University of British Columbia |
Occupation(s) | Writer, scholar |
Known for | Writing, book collecting and bibliographic research, Transylvania Press |
Notable work | Bram Stoker's Notes for Dracula |
Partner | Matilda Bisang (1972 – his death) |
Awards | Lord Ruthven Award 2009 |
Robert Eighteen-Bisang (1947 – September 29, 2020) [1] was a Canadian author and scholar who was one of the world's foremost authorities on vampire literature and mythology. [2]
His book Bram Stoker's Notes for Dracula: A Facsimile Edition, which was written with Elizabeth Miller, won the Lord Ruthven Award. [3] The "Ruthven," as it is often called, is awarded annually for the most outstanding work in vampire fiction or scholarship.
Other books by Eighteen-Bisang include Vampire Stories, which includes vampire stories by Arthur Conan Doyle: The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, The Captain of the Polestar, John Barrrington Cowles, and The Parasite, along with The Adventure of the Illustrious Client – which Eighteen-Bisang claimed is a rationalized version of Dracula – and four more stories with tenuous connections to vampires. Publishers Weekly called the book "a stretch" and something "only completionists are likely to add this to their collections." [4]
Eighteen-Bisang grew up in Toronto, Ontario as the son of a professional poker player. In university, he was a backgammon player and won four championships. Eighteen-Bisang aspired to be a university professor, but was talked out of the position by his professors themselves, believing the position would be too restrictive for him. After a career in marketing, Eighteen-Bisang gained an interest in vampire literature and started his research, collecting and writing. [5] As an adult, Eighteen-Bisang still played in backgammon tournaments and was a member of the Vancouver Backgammon Club. [6]
Eighteen-Bisang had amassed the largest collection of vampiric literature in the world, which he housed at his personal residence. [7] [8] The collection included about 2,500 books, 2,000 comic books, 1,000 magazines and over 100 films, including a first edition of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Eighteen-Bisang is credited with proving that the novel Dracula is based on the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper. [5] [9] He also discounted that Bram Stoker based his iconic character Dracula on Vlad the Impaler, as many people believe. [10]
Eighteen-Bisang was a member of the American chapter of the Transylvanian Society of Dracula, led by president J. Gordon Melton, [11] and was a member of the Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars. [5] He founded Transylvania Press, a publishing company which "publishes high-quality vampiriana for collectors, libraries and fans." [12]
He had been invited to lecture on vampires in Dallas, London, Los Angeles, Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria. In 1997, he was guest of honor at Dracula ’97 in Los Angeles.
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Robert Eighteen | |
---|---|
Born | 1947
Brantford, Ontario, Canada |
Died | 29 September 2020 |
Other names | Robert Eighteen-Bisang |
Alma mater | University of British Columbia |
Occupation(s) | Writer, scholar |
Known for | Writing, book collecting and bibliographic research, Transylvania Press |
Notable work | Bram Stoker's Notes for Dracula |
Partner | Matilda Bisang (1972 – his death) |
Awards | Lord Ruthven Award 2009 |
Robert Eighteen-Bisang (1947 – September 29, 2020) [1] was a Canadian author and scholar who was one of the world's foremost authorities on vampire literature and mythology. [2]
His book Bram Stoker's Notes for Dracula: A Facsimile Edition, which was written with Elizabeth Miller, won the Lord Ruthven Award. [3] The "Ruthven," as it is often called, is awarded annually for the most outstanding work in vampire fiction or scholarship.
Other books by Eighteen-Bisang include Vampire Stories, which includes vampire stories by Arthur Conan Doyle: The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, The Captain of the Polestar, John Barrrington Cowles, and The Parasite, along with The Adventure of the Illustrious Client – which Eighteen-Bisang claimed is a rationalized version of Dracula – and four more stories with tenuous connections to vampires. Publishers Weekly called the book "a stretch" and something "only completionists are likely to add this to their collections." [4]
Eighteen-Bisang grew up in Toronto, Ontario as the son of a professional poker player. In university, he was a backgammon player and won four championships. Eighteen-Bisang aspired to be a university professor, but was talked out of the position by his professors themselves, believing the position would be too restrictive for him. After a career in marketing, Eighteen-Bisang gained an interest in vampire literature and started his research, collecting and writing. [5] As an adult, Eighteen-Bisang still played in backgammon tournaments and was a member of the Vancouver Backgammon Club. [6]
Eighteen-Bisang had amassed the largest collection of vampiric literature in the world, which he housed at his personal residence. [7] [8] The collection included about 2,500 books, 2,000 comic books, 1,000 magazines and over 100 films, including a first edition of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Eighteen-Bisang is credited with proving that the novel Dracula is based on the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper. [5] [9] He also discounted that Bram Stoker based his iconic character Dracula on Vlad the Impaler, as many people believe. [10]
Eighteen-Bisang was a member of the American chapter of the Transylvanian Society of Dracula, led by president J. Gordon Melton, [11] and was a member of the Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars. [5] He founded Transylvania Press, a publishing company which "publishes high-quality vampiriana for collectors, libraries and fans." [12]
He had been invited to lecture on vampires in Dallas, London, Los Angeles, Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria. In 1997, he was guest of honor at Dracula ’97 in Los Angeles.
{{
cite web}}
: Missing or empty |url=
(
help)