Written in 1879 (18 years before "Dracula") by 19-year-old Marie Nizet, "Captain Vampire" is way ahead of its time. Although its plot has supernatural elements, and its antagonist is manifestly demonic, the novels true purpose is to bring out the horror of war. A significant work in the history of horror fiction, it is undoubtedly one of the finest literary works ever to have made use of the vampire motif.