Dracula

Bram Stoker

Jan 2009 · Cosimo, Inc.

About this ebook

It is perhaps one of the best known and most influential novels in all of literature: 1897's Dracula didn't merely inspire countless adaptations for stage and film, it invented an entire genre of horror: the vampire story, which continues to evolve today into wildly varied directions, from noir detective pastiches (the vampire as night-owl P.I.) to tween romances (the vampire as dreamy but distant boyfriend). Anyone who wants to know where it all began must read this 1897 work, still startling and still terrifying even today. The story of English solicitor Jonathan Harker and his strange new client, Transylvanian aristocrat Count Dracula, this is the classic work of Victorian gothic horror, the continuing eerie wellspring of many of our cultural fantasies and nightmares. Irish author ABRAHAM STOKER (1847-1912) worked for more than a quarter of a century as manager of the West End's Lyceum Theatre, which drew him into London's literary and artists circles; he was a friend of such luminaries as writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and painter James Abbott McNeill Whistler. Stoker is also the author of The Lair of the White Worm (1911), among other books.

Ratings and reviews

10/6/10 Dracula I was told that this book was great to read by my English teacher. The book had a quite slow start. As I progressed through the book I was fascinated by this man Johnathon Harker, a real estate agent. He went to meet count Dracula, who was based on Vlad Dracule for a real estate deal, and information on Dracula’s house. Dracula was a puzzling character as the story progressed in his house. I knew he was a vampire, and I am glad the author does not let this information show until later. Compared to twilight of this time, in which there is a young teenage girl who learns this boy, and his family are vampires fairly quickly. I was impressed by this book, unlike Twilight. The story unfolds so much better, and it captures your attention. It progresses, and Johnathon learns that there is something suspicious about this Dracula. Weird things start to happen around Johnathon, as he is locked in his room night after night. He sees this so called man Dracula crawl down the building like a lizard. Later Johnathon starts to explore around the house, and soon falls asleep in an unknown room. He was awoke by three women. One was on his neck, and it appeared that he was soon to be bitten. Dracula comes busting up in the heezey, and soon dispatches the women. For he was not to be there snack. Johnathon soon found that all of his notes were taken, and he had no proof of Dracula hurting people. Johnathon decides he wants to escape, and goes to get the key from Dracula. He tries to kill Dracula, and then the story takes a weird turn. The attention is turned to Mina,Johnathon's Fiance. She is writing a letter to her friend lucy telling her that she really misses Johnathon, and that she wants to see her. Lucy speaks of the guys that she is speaking to. Mina soon goes to live with. Lucy is being wooed by an unknown thing. She sleep walks every night trying to get to the thing. It was of course Dracula Influencing her. Mina awoke one night to find Lucy gone, and went out to find her. She was found leaning over with a dark man, with red eyes, and a hook nose over her. Mina ran to Lucy, and took her home. On the other side Dr.Seward is dealing with a rather weird patient. The patient loves to extinguish lives of other things. In other words he likes to eat insects, or anything that he can get his hands on. The patient was under the influence of Dracula. Dr. Seward soon learns the condition of Lucy. He contacts his friend Dr. Van Helsing who comes to Dr. Seward’s aid to help Lucy. They frequently give her blood transfusions to sustain her life. Van Helsing announced that he had an idea, but could not tell Seward of it until just the right time. He filled the room with garlic, and learned that it stopped Lucy's problems. They later come back to Lucy to find her mother, and Lucy both dead. Lucy is soon buried, and children start to come up missing. Van Helsing discovers that Lucy is the one doing these things, and they find a way to trap her, and kill her for good. To Johnathon’s dismay Lucy is made Dracula’s next victim. She is bitten, and starts to fall under his power. It was found that Dracula was draining Lucy of her needed blood, and they try to stop Dracula. He runs away through a window, and they follow him to his castle. Dracula’s head was soon chopped off,and he was stabbed in the heart ending his life. Johnathon, and Mina live on happily. Dracula is the best book I have ever read. was surprised by this because it was so old. Now I know to run to the classics as this book gets a ten out of ten from me.

About the author

Bram Stoker was born in Dublin, Ireland on November 8, 1847. He was educated at Trinity College. He worked as a civil servant and a journalist before becoming the personal secretary of the famous actor Henry Irving. He wrote 15 works of fiction including Dracula, The Lady of the Shroud, and The Lair of the White Worm, which was made into film. He died on April 20, 1912.