Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a biographical action-horror novel written by Seth Grahame-Smith and published on March 2, 2010, by Grand Central Publishing. The novel blends historical fiction with supernatural horror, reimagining the life of the 16th President of the United States as a dedicated vampire hunter. Presented in a journal-style format, it explores an alternate history in which Lincoln wages a hidden battle against vampires, intertwining real historical events with fictionalized supernatural elements.
Plot Summary[]
The story is framed as a "secret" diary of Abraham Lincoln, passed down to the author by a vampire named Henry Sturges. The manuscript is later discovered in a small-town dime store in Rhinebeck, New York, a nod to the author’s wife's hometown.
Lincoln’s Introduction to Vampires[]
At the age of eleven, Abraham Lincoln learns from his father, Thomas Lincoln, that vampires are real. Thomas reveals that a vampire killed Abraham’s grandfather in 1786. Years later, Lincoln’s mother, Nancy, is poisoned with a “fool’s dose” of vampire blood as punishment for Thomas's unpaid debt, leading to her untimely death. Fueled by vengeance, young Lincoln lures the vampire responsible to their farm and kills it with a homemade stake.
Training as a Vampire Hunter[]
In 1825, while investigating a vampire attack along the Ohio River, Lincoln is nearly killed but is saved by Henry Sturges, a benevolent vampire. Henry mentors Lincoln, training him in combat and providing him with the names of malevolent vampires to hunt. Lincoln embarks on a secret crusade, eliminating vampires under Henry’s guidance.
The Link Between Slavery and Vampires[]
As a young adult, Lincoln witnesses a slave auction in New Orleans, only to discover that the enslaved individuals are not being used for labor, but as a food source for vampires. He realizes that vampires thrive under the institution of slavery and vows to end both evils. His commitment to abolitionism strengthens as he continues his dual life—pursuing politics by day and hunting vampires by night.
His personal losses mount when his fiancée, Ann Rutledge, is murdered by her vampire ex-fiancé, John McNamar. With Henry’s help, Lincoln exacts revenge, but the tragedy convinces him to focus on his political career instead of vampire hunting. He later marries Mary Todd, starts a family, and is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Political and Military Struggles Against Vampires[]
While in Washington, Lincoln reconnects with writer Edgar Allan Poe, who warns that vampires, having been driven from Europe due to public outrage over figures like Elizabeth Báthory, are seeking refuge in America via the slave trade. Lincoln resigns from Congress in 1849, and Poe is later found murdered by vampires.
In 1857, Lincoln learns from Henry that the Southern vampires plan to instigate a civil war to seize control of the nation. Lincoln runs for the U.S. Senate, engaging in the historic Lincoln-Douglas debates against Stephen A. Douglas, a secret vampire ally. Though he loses, the debates propel him into national prominence, ultimately securing him the Republican nomination and presidency in 1860.
The Civil War and Vampire Influence[]
Lincoln’s election sparks Southern secession, leading to the American Civil War. Early battles favor the Confederacy due to their alliance with vampires. To cut off their food supply, Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, encouraging enslaved people to fight back against both their human oppressors and their vampire masters. This strategic move weakens the Southern vampires, turning the tide of the war.
However, Lincoln suffers a devastating personal loss when a vampire assassin infiltrates the White House and kills his 11-year-old son, Willie. Henry offers to turn Willie into a vampire, but Lincoln, despite his grief, refuses. Heartbroken and enraged, he exiles Henry and all other vampires from his life.
With the Confederacy's defeat, vampires in the South flee to Asia and South America. Lincoln finally experiences a moment of peace, only to be assassinated at Ford’s Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. Booth hopes his act will inspire a vampire uprising, but he is abandoned by his kind and ultimately hunted down and killed by Henry.
The Aftermath and Lincoln’s Undead Legacy[]
Lincoln’s body is returned to Springfield, Illinois, with Henry standing watch over him. Decades later, in 1963, Lincoln and Henry secretly attend Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial. The novel reveals that Henry transformed Lincoln into a vampire, believing that some men were simply "too interesting to die." Lincoln, now immortal, reflects on spending time at the White House as a guest of President John F. Kennedy, though the monument in his honor causes him discomfort.
Reception[]
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter received a mix of praise and critique from literary reviewers.
- The Los Angeles Times praised the book for its originality, stating that “a writer who can transform the greatest figure from 19th-century American history into the star of an original vampire tale with humor, heart, and bite is a rare find indeed.”
- Time magazine offered a more reserved review, commending Grahame-Smith’s writing style but criticizing the novel for being “a little too neat.” The review noted that while the slavery-vampirism parallel was intriguing, it lacked deeper exploration, suggesting that a richer narrative could have amplified the horror elements.
Sequel: The Last American Vampire[]
A sequel, The Last American Vampire, was released on January 13, 2015. The novel shifts focus from Lincoln to Henry Sturges, chronicling his experiences throughout major historical events of the 20th century. It expands on the mythology established in the first book while exploring new supernatural threats beyond the Civil War era.
Film Adaptation[]
A film adaptation of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter was produced by 20th Century Fox and released on June 22, 2012. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov and produced by Tim Burton, the film starred Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln. The adaptation took creative liberties, expanding the action sequences while condensing some of the historical and character-driven aspects of the novel.