“There was a lustre as of agate on the smooth and shining skin of her half-clad shoulders, and chains of great pearls no whiter than her neck fell over her breast. From time to time she lifted her head in snake-like motion, and set the silvery ruffles of her raiment quivering.” This is the tale of a priest, Romuald, and his love for the beautiful and mysterious woman named Clarimonde. Théophile Gautier's classic supernatural tale, The Beautiful Vampire, was originally published in 1836 as La Morte Amoureuse. This digital edition is brought to you by Ruined Abbey Press and includes the 1889 translation from the short story collection, The Dead Leman and Other Tales from the French.