A new exhibition drawing on the rich collections of the University of Leeds is set to follow the bloody trail of the vampire through artistic movements and cultural moments from ancient times to the present.
Opening at Treasures of the Brotherton on Tuesday 27th October, Quite Shameless: Cultural Reflections on the Vampire features manuscripts, first editions of Gothic literature, ancient folklore, and historical items exploring the immortal fiend.
The exhibition takes its name from a letter written by Bram Stoker after the publication of Dracula, in which he joked, “Lord forgive me, I am now quite shameless!” Items from the university’s Stoker correspondence collection showcase his inspirations, including books on Transylvania, Sabine Baring-Gould’s 1865 Book of Were-Wolves, and animal skulls from the University of Leeds School of Dentistry Museum. Visitors can also view telegrams, railway timetables, wax phonograph cylinders, books on mesmerism, and Victorian pocket watches that reflect the modern technology and crazes incorporated into Dracula.
The display extends well beyond Stoker’s era, featuring Byron’s original manuscript Fragment of a Novel from 1816, a signed edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 novella Carmilla. Local Yorkshire connections are highlighted through medieval revenant tales from Byland Abbey, archaeological finds from Wharram Percy showing medieval fears of the walking dead, and archives from Hamilton Deane’s 1927 play at Leeds Grand Theatre and Northern Ballet’s 1996 production.
“This exhibition is the result of an exciting exchange of ideas, bringing together material from 14 different subject collections in collaboration with 14 stakeholders,” said Dr RJ Wade, Exhibitions Curator (Cultural Collections). “Together, we have quite shamelessly created an exhibition that is unmistakably rooted in Leeds, drawing on collections of international significance.”
Literary Archivist and co-curator Sarah Prescott added: “The vampire is unlike other monsters: it frightens and fascinates us. This exhibition explores how this came to be through some of the exceptional letters, manuscripts and books in our collections.”
Quite Shameless: Cultural Reflections on the Vampire runs at Treasures of the Brotherton in the Parkinson Building, University of Leeds, from Tuesday 27th October 2026 to Saturday 29th May 2027. Admission is free with no booking required, and the gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, with a public opening event at 5.30 pm on Tuesday 27th October.
