As mentioned in "Update on the Varma Correspondence", I sent an e-mail to Jeanne Keyes Youngson concerning alleged correspondence she had been sent from Gothic Scholar, Devendra P. Varma (1923-1994), concerning negative views of Seán Manchester. Youngson is the President and Founder of the Vampire Empire (formerly the International Count Dracula Fan Club) and has been an active and respected participant in vampire fandom and study since 1965.Her e-mail response was dated Saturday, 12 September 2009 12:12 AM. In regard to Varma's views on Manchester, and her own dealings with Manchester, she wrote this:He attacked me and members of the VE staff for no reason at all. Never met the man which made it even more peculiar that he would go out of his way to slander us. As for Varma, he spent two extra days with us here in New York visiting the Dracula Museum. It was very exciting to spend quality time with such a learned man. He said one of the worst mistakes he had ever made was to have anything at all to do with Manchester.
She also gave me permission to reprint it, so she obviously stands by her claims.
The question is, will the VRS continue to revere Varma as their "Honorary Vice-President"?
I previously wrote about a potential bombshell concerning Devendra P. Varma and his alleged correspondence with David Farrant.I asked David - several times - to reproduce this correspondence. He finally replied with this:For you Overseer; if this message finds its way through the wreckage!
Overseer, its not quite as easy as that. All the Varma stuff is on my older computer and my scanner's not working for that at the moment. Means I have to find it then transfer it all over manually by disc. These things take time, and I do not have much spare at the moment.
Hmm. It's funny, because a lot of his time, at the moment, seems to be taken up commenting on John Baldry's Cat's "Farrant Rates Women of the World" post, about his pet subject, "Bonky"!He also added:In the meantime why don't you email Jeanne Youngson yourself at her Vampire Empire? Sure she would love to help. Say I suggested it if you want.
Here was my response:Now, David. Ok, I'll buy your line about the Varma stuff. But keep in mind, you make a serious accusation about a guy who's been dead for 15 years.
Thus, you should at least have the courtesy of validating your claim.
In turn, I'll contact Youngson about this Manchester and Varma stuff.
But do keep up your end of the bargain.
And, while we're at it, why don't you post up some scans (not transcripts) of this alleged Manchester-you correspondence.
True to my word, I have contacted her about it. I eagerly await her response, as much as I await David's reproduction of said correspondence.
Lone Stranger gives some kudos to my questions to the Bishop in "Burning Issues, Burning Questions".However, it was this comment by David, on that blog entry, that pricked up my ears:I almost forgot to mention that in the 1990’s, Devendra Varma wrote to myself to request a copy of my book Beyond the Highgate Vampire as he wanted to compare ii with the ‘other version’ he’d read. I sent him a copy and he informed me that the book was very well written and informative and cleared up quite a few things he had not understood. I remember him well; especially as he wrote from America but his cheque was drawable from an English bank (thus avoiding 4 or 5 pounds in conversion charges.
At this time, he was also in contact with Jeannie Youngson of the Count Dracula Fan Club, who informed me that Devendra regretted the day he had ever got in contact with Bonky who had been ‘driving him mad’ and misquoting him without his permission.
Does that really surprise you?!?
The bombshell nature of this "revelation" (if it is indeed true), is quite significant.Devendra P. Varma (1923-1994) was a scholar on the Gothic, and also happens to be the Vampire Research Society's "Honorary Vice-President".I asked David for proof of his claims.He addressed this by saying:I’ve got to find it first Overseer. I’ve got boxes upon boxes of past book requests and followup letters (including loads of privately signed ones from Bonky) after all the decorating work done here. Luckikly, I throw nothing (important) away, so yes, the correspondence is here somewhere.
As of this writing, it hasn't yet been produced.
