Florence Dupont's groundbreaking book provocatively re-examines Aristotle's enduring and sometimes stifling influence on Western theater. She casts him as a 'vampire' whose foundational theories, while initially shaping dramatic tradition, may have also inhibited its evolution and innovation over centuries. Dupont challenges conventional reverence for Aristotelian principles, exploring how his Poetics became a dominant, almost inescapable, force. She delves into historical interpretations and modern critical perspectives, inviting readers to question the perceived timelessness of these theatrical tenets and consider the vibrant, alternative paths theater might have taken had its blood not been continuously drawn by this ancient master.