Varney is making the news

From The Delaware Valley News

'Varney the Vampire' beats 'Dracula'

Thursday, February 14, 2008

By Kevin J. Guhl

Curt Herr, who lives in a Victorian house in Ferndale, Pa., teaches gothic fiction at Kutztown University. He has written the critical edition of what he said is considered the most notorious novel of the 19th century -- James Malcolm Rymer's, Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood. The book was originally published in weekly installments from 1845-1847. It littered the streets of London, sold at a penny a page, and kept England's working class readers enthralled. The story eventually became so popular, it was reprinted in 1847 and again in 1853. However, the last edition before Herr's was in 1972. Rymer also penned the better-known penny dreadful Sweeney Todd, also known as The String of Pearls, which found fame as the 1979 Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim and is now a Tim Burton film, starring Johnny Depp.

For the complete story go to http://www.nj.com/delawarevalleynews/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1203019517178170.xml&coll=12

A letter to our customers

I hope this new year finds you all well. I want to take a few minutes to thank our loyal customers. In the four years that Zittaw Press has been around I have enjoyed, not only your support, but your understanding and sometimes even patience. My goal for Zittaw Press is simple: to resurrect forgotten Gothic novels. I don't claim to be an expert on publishing, I just think it is important to see these novel in print after 200 years. I don't have fancy equipment to typeset these books, an army of proofreaders or money for book designers. I am a professor full time with mounds of papers to correct, lectures to prepare and most importantly a family to support.



Recently Zittaw Press has been criticized for being well intentioned, but an unprofessional publisher, creating poor books. These remarks have appeared on Amazon and other websites. The criticism, while perhaps initially well intended, has become mean, pointing out Zittaw's mistakes, shortcomings and generally expressing dislike about how we do everything. We are not perfect nor have we ever claimed we are. I am a professor who wants to keep the Gothic alive, affordable and accecsible for students and scholars, not conquer the publishing world.

It is important to remember that historically Gothic novels were published fast and as cheaply as possible. If you read the originals you will see countless mistakes in typset, spelling, pagination and often even keeping characters names straight. We do try to fix these, but if we are off the mark at least we are in keeping with history.

Merry Christmas

From everyone at Zittaw Press (well Serena and I) we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful Gothic filled New Year.
Best,
Franz, Serena, MaCall and Eloise Potter
Zittaw Press

Birthday Wishes

Today Zittaw Press would like to remember Sarah Wilkinson who was born 228 years ago today. Although a marginalized author of sensational Gothic novels, she is, nonetheless, my favorite Gothic hack and will forever be remembered.

We would also like to wish Norbert Besch a happy birthday and many thanks for his passion and assistance in all things Gothic.

Finding Skeletons

Well another year is coming to an end and here at Zittaw Press we have been a lot to be thankful for...We are excited by the recently released Varney the Vampire which is selling quite well. Thank you for all the support! Clearly it was time for a scholarly edition of that sensational work. By the end of the year we hope to have the two volume collection of chapbooks, Literary Mushrooms, at the printers with a new edition of Matthew Lewis's The Bravo of Venice following in early January.

As for 2008 we have some great novels in the pipeline including several by Sheridan Le Fanu, Mrs. Yorke's The Haunted Palace, George Walker's The Three Spaniards and Sarah Wilkinson's The Fugitive Countess. We also have several surprises up our sleeve which we are working diligently on.
I would personally like to thank everyone for their continued support of Zittaw Press. We could not have done anything without you.
best,
Franz Potter

After the fires

We are back from evacuations and working hard to get out Mrs. Yorke's The Haunted Palace and fine tuning Varney the Vampire. It was unexpected and difficult being away from the house, work and Zittaw for a week, but we are back. Thank you for all the support.

Lake Arrowhead Fire

Zittaw Press has been evacuated as a fire descends down a ridge above our house. Varney the Vampire may be delayed as we cannot retrive the proof...hopefully everything will be saved and the Vampire will rise soon.
Best,
Franz Potter

Horrors and More: Zittaw News

In celebration of Halloween next month Zittaw Press is planning a special release of Mrs. R. M. P. Yorke's 1801 Gothic masterpiece The Haunted Palace; or, The Horrors of Ventoliene. Fred Frank calls this novel the "highest of high Gothics...[this] is nothing more nor less than an encyclopedia of horror."

This week has been a busy week for us all. Curt Herr's brilliant scholarly edition of Varney the Vampire is almost ready for the printers and is on track for a Halloween release. Curt has worked tirelessly on this edition and it is stocked full of useful information and will be perfect for classroom use.

Varney the Vampire

The first ever scholarly edition of Varney the Vampire, tirelessly edited by Curt Herr will hopefully be ready by Halloween. This MASSIVE 824 page 8.5x11 tome will be a wonderful (and hopefully affordable) addition to vampire studies. Curt has worked incredible hard on this volume and we would encourage all scholars to get this volume for their school's libraries and private collections.

The Abbot of Montserrat

We are pleased to announce the forthcoming edition of William Child Green's The Abbot of Montserrat (1826). Coming this late Fall or early Winter!

New Podcast: Vampires before Dracula

After a long pause and many angry emails we have finally resumed our podcasts. Find our new episode at http://readingthegothic.libsyn.com/

The Castle of Tynemouth

Jane Harvey's 1806 Gothic tale The Castle of Tynemouth is now available on Amazon.com.

A harrowing tale of the beautiful Rossetta de Norton who suffers at the hands of her evil stepmother Lady Wooler, the lecherous O'Bryen adn the manipulative Major Shipperdson. But beneath the castle in the dark winding caverns a secret lies buried that will either set Rossetta free or condemn her to a living hell.

The Spectre of Lanmere Abbey

Sarah Wilkinson's The Spectre of Lanmere Abbey and The Child of Mystery are now available! This Zittaw edition brings together two of Sarah Wilkinson's forgotten novels: The Spectre of Lanmere Abbey and The Child of Mystery. Though long forgotten and marginalized as a purveyor of literary rubbish, Sarah Wilkinson's work nevertheless belongs to that body of work which is representative of female authors in the 19th century. The Spectre of Lanmere Abbey and The Child of Mystery illustrate the versatility of Wilkinson's pen: one a Gothic novel with decaying buildings and terrifying spectres, and the other, a domestic novel of high fashion based on recent events in London. This edition includes an introduction by Franz J Potter, Wilkinson's letters to the Royal Literary Fund and a complete list of her works.

Before the Count

Before the Count, a collection of pre-Dracula tales, is now available, edited by Margo Collins. Good read, I suggest you purchase it!

Zittaw Press is back...

After a prolonged absence Zittaw Press has finally returned. This break allowed me to re-evaluate Zittaw in light of my full time commitment to academia. The balance, needless to say, has at times been precarious as my commitment to my students (who want a timely response to their papers) and our readers (who expect good quality Gothic reproductions) pull me in two directions. After careful consideration we decided to continue Zittaw Press and keep the commitment we made to our readers to offer scholarly (and affordable) editions of rare Gothic novels. While we will never be able to offer the same number of novels as Valancourt Press, we do hope that we can contribute to this growing body of Gothic reproductions.

Before the Count: British Vampire Tales, 1732-1897 is at the printers as we speak and Sarah Wilkinson's The Spectre of Lanmere Abbey and The Child of Mystery are on their way next week.

Lastly, we have just relocated from Thousand Oaks/Camarillo to Crestline California (next to Lake Arrowhead), much to the distress of our kids, but are settling in nicely. Please note the new address if you have any correspondence with us: Zittaw Press PO Box 3157 Crestline CA 92325.

Forthcoming Titles

Zittaw Press is pleased to announce the following forthcoming publications: Romance Readers and Romance Writers by Sarah Green and The Child of Mystery by Sarah Wilkinson.

Chapbook Reproductions

Today is the last day to get your chapbook reproduction, get them while you can. Zittaw Press is in the process of gathering these tales into a collection which will appear later this spring.

But for the reproductions, they are coming to an end!

The Fugitive Countess

Zittaw Press is pleased to announce that we will be publishing Sarah Wilkinson's The Fugitive Countess; or The Convent of St. Ursula in a special 200th anniversary edition.

Review of Bungay Castle in Dark Realms Magazine

Bungay Castle by Elizabeth Bonhote Edited by Curt Herr Zittaw Press ($14.95) Trade Paperback

Editor Curt Herr invites readers to rediscover a 200-year-old treasure, as he guides us on an exploration of a lesser-known but no less classic tale of gothic romance and mystery in Bungay Castle. Herr, a teacher of gothic literature, explains in his eloquent introduction that this novel, like the castle for which it was named, was "built to last." Herr points out that author Elizabeth Bonhote's reversal of gender stereotypes concept for an 18th century female writer contemporary feminist roles. Herr also footnotes the text throughout for more academic study of its importance since the novel was first published in 1796. The lovely heroine of Bungay Castle is Roseline, a young woman who seeks more to life than what is expected of her. Accompanied by her brother Edwin, she sets out to investigate ghostly sounds emanating from the castle's ancient dungeons. There they discover a true horror from their family's past tragedy, and despair. A must-read for students and fans of gothic literature, Bungay Castle is a prime example of the subtle unease and suspense of the genre.

Christine Filipak
Dark Realms Magazine
http://www.monolithgraphics.com/darkrealms.html

The End of Gothic Chapbook Reproductions

Zittaw Press sadly announces the end of the series of Gothic chapbook reproductions. For almost four years we have thoroughly enjoyed make reproductions of these rare tales of terror, but as interest in these little productions has waned, we must face reality and cease production. As of February 1st these handmade chapbooks will no longer be made.

There is no doubt that these tales of terror, though, are an important aspect of literary history and Zittaw Press is committed to ensuring that these chapbooks are preserved. Consequently we are looking into offering some of the titles as ebooks available for downloading, as well as the possibility of anthologies or collections, but at this time we are looking into all options.

We have appreciated all your support, patronage and insights. Zittaw Press will continue to publish rare 18th and 19th century Gothic fiction and hope to enable scholars and students of the Gothic access to these rare texts.

Best,
Franz and Serena Potter
Zittaw Press