The Tale of the Body Thief
First edition
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| Author | Anne Rice |
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| Cover artist |
Chip Kidd (designer) "The Rape of the Sabine Women" (1574-1582) by Giambologna |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Vampire Chronicles |
| Genre | Gothic, Horror |
| Published | October 4, 1992 |
| Publisher | Knopf |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback) & audio book |
| Pages | 448 pp (hardcover & paperback edition) |
| ISBN | (hardcover edition) |
| OCLC | 26703895 |
| 813/.54 20 | |
| LC Class | PS3568.I265 T34 1992 |
| Preceded by | The Queen of the Damned |
| Followed by | Memnoch the Devil |
The Tale of the Body Thief is the fourth novel in Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles series, following The Queen of the Damned. Published in 1992, it continues the adventures of Lestat, specifically his efforts to regain his lost humanity during the late 20th century. Chapters from the book appeared in the October 1992 issue of Playboy.
At the beginning of the story, Lestat grows depressed and becomes remorseful because of his vampiric nature. Although he tries to limit his victims to murderers, serial killers and other criminals, he nonetheless caves into temptation once in a while and kills an "innocent" or someone who he feels does not necessarily deserve to die. Lestat also suffers from constant nightmares concerning his late "daughter," Claudia, for whose death he blames himself.
The "coven" of vampires formed at the end of The Queen of the Damned has long since broken up, and Lestat has become extremely lonely. Among his only remaining friends is the mortal head of the Talamasca Caste, David Talbot, who is seventy-four years old. Although Lestat has repeatedly offered David the Dark Gift, David has always refused to become a vampire and keep Lestat company through eternity. Lonely and depressed, Lestat goes to the Gobi desert at dawn in a half-hearted suicide attempt. When he does not die, he goes to David's home in England to heal.
A mysterious figure, Raglan James—the eponymous "Body Thief" of the story—approaches Lestat with what seems to be a cure for his ennui and depression. James sends Lestat several messages hinting that he has the ability to switch bodies. Eventually, he proposes to Lestat that the two of them trade bodies for a day. Against the advice of other vampires and David Talbot, Lestat jumps at the opportunity. Unfortunately, James has no intention of ever switching back, and Lestat is forced to scheme to regain his body.
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