Eric Nuzum on The Highgate Vampire

By
Lone Stranger
Published: June 28, 2009Posted in: Sean Manchester, The Highgate Vampire
The Dead Travel Fast by Eric Nuzum

The Dead Travel Fast by Eric Nuzum

To those of you across the pond, you most likely need an introduction to Eric Nuzum. Eric is the Director of Programming and Acquisitions at National Public Radio. Formerly a VH1 pop-culture pundit, he’s lectured and written about many topics pertaining to American pop culture as well as censorship. His latest book is on the fascination with vampires and how it has become so entrenched in our culture. The Dead Travel Fast: Stalking Vampires from Nosferatu to Count Chocula was published in 2007 and is now in paperback. Nuzum goes on the road investigating the myth of the vamps, researching Dracula, watching some 600-odd terrible vampire movies, hob-nobs with vampire strippers and even drinks his own blood – with disastrous results.

The book is a hilarious road trip book and a great summer read. What made me give it 5 stars was Mr. Nuzum reduced the entire 30 year debacle known as The Highgate Vampire into 5 paragraphs with amazing accuracy. Here are the high points of his take on the Highgate Affair:

“Enter Sean Manchester and David Farrant. Up until this time, Farrant was a freelance occultist. Manchester was prancing around England in tuxedoes, frilly gothic suits and big blow-dried hair trying to make a name for himself as “Britain’s No.1 Psychic.” He was kind of like a combo of Miss Cleo and Geraldo Rivera (minus the mustache). (p.125)”

After a short recounting of the media frenzy and The Great Vampire Hunt and the obvious lack of evidence there was any vampire to begin with he states:

“If there ever was a Highate vampire, it was probably Manchester or Farrant – though not in the literal sense. In the more than three decades since, both Farrant and Manchester have

Bonkers In His Psychic DaysBonkers In His Psychic Days

repeatedly engorged themselves on the Highgate vampire’s notoriety….

These days, Farrant is still running a Web site and selling magazines about the Highgate vampire. After the Highgate vampire had been dispensed with, Sean Manchester decided to branch out into general exorcism. Since, according to canon law, only a bishop can perform exorcism, Manchester decided to become ordained in a church he founded, the Church of the Holy Grail. He now walks around in a bishop’s outfit and has a corner on the market for exorcism-conducting, vampire-killing, psychic bishops. (pp 126-127)”

I’m sure Bonky never read this book, or his tea cozy would have spun into orbit, and fingers gone into overdrive on his keyboard after being rumbled about his traveling psychic act past. Of course, if Sean had made as much noise as usual to Mr. Nuzum, I’m sure it would only serve to pique his curiosity about the online feud and general nasty business associated with Bishop Bonkers. Interesting books or NPR. broadcasts begin with such things, ya know.

In any event, this is a great book, even without the Highgate mention. Give it a look on Amazon, or read some of it on Google books. As Eric says on his website, “Order the Damn Thing.”

*Note to Bonky: Mr. Nuzum does not take comments on his blog. You have your work cut out for you trying to harass him.


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