Embedded Files
The 1st edition dust jacket features details from "The Snake Charmer" by Henri Rousseau (1907)
Merrick (originally spelled 'Merrique') is the daughter of Cold Sandra, who in turn is the granddaughter of Great Nananne. Her older sister was Honey in the Sunshine, who died along with their mother in a murder/drowning. Found with Cold Sandra and Honey in the Sunshine was a watch given to Cold Sandra from their Oncle Vervain, who told Merrick that it did not tick for her; therefore, there was no need for her to have it.
It is revealed later in the book that Oncle Vervain knew time would stop for Merrick because she would become a vampire.
This branch of the Mayfairs, descended from Julien (of course), are witches who practice Vodou alongside Catholicism. They have little or nothing to do with the First Street Mayfairs, and when Merrick took a tour of the First Street house, she did so discreetly, during a holiday tour. When Great Nananne dies, Aaron Lightner has to hide during the funeral, explaining to David Talbot that his work on the Mayfair Witches has made him known to the two Mayfair attorneys who arrive with the interests of the family at large in mind - Ryan and Lauren Mayfair. It is Lauren Mayfair whom Rowan is with when she meets Merrick Mayfair, noting that Merrick does not carry herself with her hips as the center of gravity like most women do.
Merrick is one of the three members of the Talamasca whom Sterling Oliver referred to in BF who were lost to vampirism.
Many of the Vodou Iwa that corresponded best with Catholic saints took on aspects of those saints as Catholicism was enforced among the African slaves. Vodou basically went underground at this time but was never abandoned as the slaves who had brought Vodou over to the U.S. and Haiti from Africa kept it alive.
Here is what Wikipedia has to say on the subject of Vodou and Catholicism in Louisiana:
Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou
Here is a page on Wikipedia that gives an overview of the Olmec, whose jade mask Merrick recovers from the cave in Central America:
The Olmec on Wikipedia
Merrick is contacted by David Talbot in his vampiric form on behalf of Louis, who wants to make contact with the child vampire, Claudia, who died in Interview With the Vampire. Louis's guilt over Claudia has not waned over time, and Merrick has recovered Claudia's diary found by Jesse in the wall of the New Orleans townhouse. Upon reading it, she wants reassurance from Louis that contacting Claudia is what he really wants. He says he does.
Claudia's words only confirm the words in the diary. Her words are so harsh that Louis attempts to incinerate himself by laying in the sun. His attempt fails as he does not completely burn. It takes the healing blood of Merrick, David, and finally Lestat, who has roused from his self-imposed sleep, to save Louis.
David Talbot, the narrator of Merrick, spends a great deal of time telling of Merrick's early life; specifically, his role in it. He recounts in particular a trip to Central America, where Merrick recovers an ancient mask from the same cave where her stepfather, Matthew, contracted a fatal illness. David, too, nearly dies, but Merrick is untouched. The mask makes spirits appear as living people. Merrick wants to use this to contact her dead sister, Honey in the Sunshine. Merrick feels as guilty about her sister's death as Louis feels about the loss of Claudia.
Merrick Mayfair's branch of the family tree is the most difficult. I spent several hours scouring Merrick and getting as much detail as I could. Therefore, you will see a lot of FNU (First Name Unknown) or Merrick 3, or something like them. They are like "place holders" in generations.
This should be an extremely interesting project. This is the Mayfair branch steeped in somewhat different traditions, legends, spirituality...
I'm going to do my best to come up with an accurate description of Merrick's branch of the Mayfairs. Hopefully, we can learn even more about this branch of Mayfairs in the process!
Before I begin the more detailed outlines of Merrick Mayfair's line, I want to point out that her line traces back to the gens de couleur libres, or the free people of color. Early in her career (1979), Anne Rice published a novel about the gens de couleur libres called The Feast of All Saints. To read an overview of this novel, you will find it on this page of the Parlor: Other Novels By Anne Rice. To learn more about how the history of the gens de couleur libres in New Orleans is being preserved today, you will find it on this page of the Parlor: Exploring New Orleans Architecture-Le Musée de f.p.c.
In 2001, this novel was adapted to the screen in a made for television film of the same name, starring the recently passed away James Earl Jones. The film is one of the only two (the other being Interview With the Vampire in 1994) that Anne Rice believed her her work had been adapted to the screen well. The Parlor would like to honor the memory of James Earl Jones, an extraordinary actor whose talent was boundless by recommending to Parlor guests to watch his astounding performance in 2001's The Feast of All Saints.
Please see What Is a Witch? for more discussion on the religious and spiritual practices of the Mayfair Witches.
Footnotes
Rice, Anne. Merrick (The Vampire Chronicles, Book 7) (p. 13). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 1
Google Sites
Report abuse