Vikram and the Vampire; or, Tales of Hindu Devilry  (Paperback, Sir Richard Francis Burton)

Original Source: The stories are based on the Sanskrit text known as the Vetala Panchavimshati or Twenty-five Tales of the Vetala. The tales are attributed to the legendary storyteller Vikramaditya and his encounters with the Vetala, a vampire-like spirit. Plot and Structure: The frame story involves King Vikramaditya, who is tasked with capturing a Vetala. Each time Vikram succeeds in capturing the spirit, the Vetala tells him a tale. These stories are often moralistic and involve elements of fantasy, trickery, and supernatural occurrences. At the end of each story, the Vetala poses a riddle to Vikram, who must solve it to prevent the spirit from escaping. Themes: The tales explore themes such as justice, cleverness, and the complexity of human nature. They often involve moral dilemmas and the triumph of wit and intelligence over brute force.