Lestat de Lioncourt is the protagonist and narrator of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, one of the most influential figures in modern vampire fiction. Created in 18th-century France after being seduced by the vampire Magnus, Lestat becomes the storyteller who shares the history of vampires through interviews conducted with mortal journalist Daniel Molloy.
Through Lestat’s eyes, readers experience vampire history from ancient Egypt to modern New Orleans, including the creation of the vampire race, the wars between immortals, and the philosophical questions that arise when humans are granted endless existence. Lestat is not a mindless predator but a thoughtful, philosophical being who contemplates the nature of good and evil, the burden of immortality, and the meaning of a life that never ends.
Lestat’s vampire life is filled with companions and loves that span centuries: his maker Magnus, the vampire Gabrielle, the musician Louis, the child vampire Claudia, and countless others whose relationships with Lestat are explored throughout Rice’s novels. His long life brings him into contact with humanity’s beauty and horror, love and loss, making him a character who embodies both the elegance and tragedy of immortality.
Reading Order
See the complete Vampire Chronicles reading order for all books in the series.