Dracula

Dracula is a novel written by Bram Stoker, an Irish author, and was published in 1897. Moreover, the main character, Count Dracula, is one of the most well-known vampires in literary history.

The novel is written in an epistolary style and explores various themes, including the role of women in the Victorian era and colonialism.

Recommended for: Beginner to Intermediate readers interested in the classic Gothic horror. Literature scholars and students studying Gothic fiction, vampire narratives, and the works of Bram Stoker. Fans of Dracula and vampire mythology.

You will:

Gain an understanding of Gothic fiction and themes that influenced later works within the genre such as horror and vampire stories.
Learn about Count Dracula and vampirism through the characters’ encounters in 19th century Europe.
Appreciate the enduring cultural legacy of Dracula and how it has been reimagined across various media over the decades.

Plot Summary

Jonathan Harker, an attorney, travels to Transylvania at the request of Count Dracula, who seeks legal advice for the procedures to purchase a property in London. After spending some time with the Count, Harker notices several peculiar behaviors.

For instance, Dracula’s image does not appear in the mirror, and he displays a distinctive expression when he sees blood during a shaving cut. Moreover, Dracula’s physical appearance is quite unusual, with long, white, and pointed teeth, and lips of a striking red color.

After a while, Harker is not allowed to leave the castle, realizing that he has become a prisoner of Dracula. So, Harker should not fall asleep in any other room than his own. One day, he breaks this rule, and as a result, three women try to seduce him and drink of his blood. But Dracula interferes and gives them a child in return. Under those circumstances, Harker discovers that Dracula and the three women are vampires.

Meanwhile, Dracula travels to London. It’s a long trip, the first part is by land to the nearby port of the Bosporus Strait and then by boat to Whitby. After all, the young Harker manages to escape from the castle alive.

Moreover, Mina Murray, Harker fiancée stayed for holidays at her friend’s house, Lucy Westenra in Whitby. Lucy becomes very ill after Dracula stalked her. Thus, she begins to show pallor; weakness and two strange holes appear in her neck. Since Lucy’s health does not improve, her fiancé Holmwood and her friend Quincey Morris ask Dr. John Seward for advice. After Lucy’s death, a “bloofer lady” bites and chases little children.

Adaptations

Since its publication, the novel has had several theatrical, cinematographic and television performances. The first theatrical adaptation was a play by Hamilton Deane, which premiered in 1924 and was later revised by John L. Balderston. The first film adaptation was the classic 1931 movie Dracula starring Bela Lugosi. This was followed by numerous other film versions, including the Hammer Horror series starring Christopher Lee as Dracula.

Beyond films and television, Dracula has been adapted for stage, radio, animation, and video games over the decades. The character of Count Dracula has become an iconic figure in popular culture, inspiring countless reimaginings and tributes. Dracula’s enduring popularity is a testament to Bram Stoker’s masterful creation and the rich mythology surrounding vampires.

Licensing

Bram Stoker. Dracula. Publisher: Modern Library, New York. Originally published in 1897. This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. Text from Wikisource: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dracula
This digital edition is provided by Ebooks-net in 2024 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license. The full text of the license is available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.