Emily Gerard & Agnes Murgoci: TRANSYLVANIAN SUPERSTITIONS

Emily Gerard & Agnes Murgoci
TRANSYLVANIAN
SUPERSTITIONS
(Scripta Minora, vol. ii, 2013)

Contents:
1. Emily Gerard, Transylvanian Superstitions
2. Agnes Murgoci, The Vampire in Roumania

"Transylvanian Superstitions" written by Emily Gerard and first published in 1885  is widely held to have provided key inspiration to Bram Stoker while creating the novel Dracula.

On the other hand, "The Vampire in Roumania" by Agnes Murgoci is one of the best accounts of the belief in vampires in Romania.

“Transylvania might well be termed the land of superstition, for nowhere else does this curious crooked plant of delusion flourish as persistently and in such bewildering variety. It would almost seem as though the whole species of demons, pixies, witches, and hobgoblins, driven from the rest of Europe by the wand of science, had taken refuge within this mountain rampart, well aware that here they would find secure lurking-places, whence they might defy their persecutors yet awhile.”

--Emily Gerard, 1885

Agnes Murgoci (biography)

Dr. Agnes Murgoci (1875-1929), born Kelly, was an English zoologist and folklorist.

Born in Adelaide, South Australia, she graduated from Bedford College in 1896, obtained first class honours in zoology, and a PhD from the University of Munich. She married Gheorghe Munteanu-Murgoci, a Romanian professor of mineralogy and moved to Bucharest. She published articles on the folklore of her new home, especially early studies on vampirism, and a book, Rumania and the Rumanians. Her works appeared in the journal of the Folklore Society.