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Interview with the Vampire

Interview with the Vampire is a gothic horror novel by American author Anne Rice, first published in 1976.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Interview with the Vampire is a gothic horror novel by American author Anne Rice, first published in 1976. It is the debut novel of The Vampire Chronicles and follows the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac as he recounts his life story to a reporter. The book was later adapted into a 1994 film and a 2022 television series.

Plot

The novel centres on Louis de Pointe du Lac, who describes his transformation into a vampire and his relationship with Lestat de Lioncourt. The narrative is framed as a present-day interview with a journalist.

Publication and series

Interview with the Vampire was published in 1976 and became the first book in Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles. It helped establish Rice's reputation as a major writer of vampire fiction.

Adaptations

The novel was adapted into the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire, directed by Neil Jordan. It also inspired the AMC television series Interview with the Vampire, which premiered in 2022.

Themes

The work explores immortality, guilt, desire, loneliness, and the moral and emotional burdens of vampirism. Its sympathetic portrayal of vampires distinguished it from many earlier works in the genre.

Key facts

  • It is Anne Rice's debut novel and was published in 1976.
  • The story is framed as an interview in which Louis de Pointe du Lac tells a reporter about his life as a vampire.
  • The novel introduced themes that became central to The Vampire Chronicles.
  • It was adapted into a 1994 feature film directed by Neil Jordan.
  • A television adaptation premiered in 2022.
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Canadian context

The novel has had broad international readership, including in Canada, and its film and television adaptations have circulated widely in Canadian media markets.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote Interview with the Vampire?
It was written by American author Anne Rice.
When was Interview with the Vampire published?
It was first published in 1976.
What is Interview with the Vampire about?
It tells the story of the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac as he recounts his life to a reporter.
Is Interview with the Vampire part of a series?
Yes. It is the first novel in Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles.
Has Interview with the Vampire been adapted for screen?
Yes. It was adapted into a 1994 film and a television series that premiered in 2022.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interview_with_the_Vampire
    Supports: Publication year, author, debut novel status, plot framing, and series context.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Interview-with-the-Vampire-novel-by-Rice
    Supports: Debut novel status, publication year, significance in vampire fiction, and connection to The Vampire Chronicles.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interview_with_the_Vampire_(film)
    Supports: 1994 film adaptation, director, cast, and narrative basis.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Rice
    Supports: Anne Rice's authorship and later adaptation of the novel into film.
  5. Vampire Chronicles Fandom — https://vampirechronicles.fandom.com/wiki/Interview_with_the_Vampire_(TV_series)
    Supports: 2022 television adaptation and its basis on the novel.