All About Books discussion

Week 31 brings us Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897).

From the article:

"At the far end of the 19th century, in the age of Jack the Ripper, and 80 years after Frankenstein (No 8 in this series), Dracula is a classic of Gothic horror by an Irish contemporary of Oscar Wilde who wrote popular fiction to boost his income. Like Mary Shelley's tale of the supernatural, the vampire tale of Dracula – partly derived from John Polidori's The Vampyre (1819) and Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla (1871), about a lesbian vampire – may also have begun with a bad dream. Just as Mary was partly motivated by Byron and her husband, the poet Shelley, so Bram Stoker, the business manager for the Lyceum theatre, was inspired by his devoted service to the great Shakespearean actor Henry Irving. The idea of the vampire as a silver-tongued aristocrat, like Count Dracula, is mirrored in Irving's thespian mannerisms, and his fascination with theatrical villains.
(...)
Stoker certainly drew on earlier vampire literature, but he was also deeply original, relying on more than seven years' research to complete his story. Thereafter, Transylvania and the Balkans would become the go-to destination for English thriller writers from Ambler to Fleming. Meanwhile, partly thanks to cinema, Dracula still retains its hold, though many have scorned it. The critic Maurice Richardson described it as "a kind of incestuous, necrophilious, oral-anal-sadistic all-in wrestling match". What's not to like ?"

read the article here

read more about Bram Stoker here

Studied this last year for my gothic module and loved it.

I really liked this. I found it fascinating that all of things we traditionally associate with vampires began with this novel. It created an entire concept and I loved the atmosphere and story

I was surprised by this book. I don't particularly like horror books or film; but this is a great story. Told as often in victorian viction by many different persono and perspectives. Liked it a lot!

I don't have any interest in modern vampire stories whatever, finding the whole concept slightly ridiculous. And I'm very bothered by the misogynist subtext of the whole genre.

But I do like this original classic very much, of course :) And I intend to give Anne Rice a try some time.

I agree with everything you said Jean :)

LOL!

I am in agreement as well, Jean! It makes me sad that Twilight is what this wonderful book has been reduced to but there are some good vampire films/books!

Jean wrote: "I don't have any interest in modern vampire stories whatever, finding the whole concept slightly ridiculous. And I'm very bothered by the misogynist subtext of the whole genre.

But I do like this..."

Agreed! I read the first one or two of Anne Rice's books back when they came out. Pretty good but not as good as the original imo.

I never thought I would like to read this, but bearing in mind how wrong I was to pre-judge Frankenstein, I am now thinking I should read this classic. Not any time soon though, as I have so much else to read!!

Shirley wrote: "I never thought I would like to read this, but bearing in mind how wrong I was to pre-judge Frankenstein, I am now thinking I should read this classic. Not any time soon though, as I have so much e..."

Exactly the same with me: I had to reconsidere my prejudices on both after having finally read them. And I was totally wrong.
Never tried Anne Rice books; who knows; maybe I'll pick them up one day ...

I do believe Dracula has made a massive impact, my friend is doing her dissertation on that.

Do you know the graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1 ?
Minna is one of the main characters!

I want to read Dracula sometime A/ because of its epistolary format, which is not a phrase I use very often and I'd like a chance to bandy it about B/ because Bram Stoker drew much of his inspiration for the story from the time he spent in Whitby, 20 miles up the coast from here.

Hence, each year, there are massive Goth get-togethers in Whitby, see the link:

http://www.real-whitby.co.uk/whitby-g...

Gill wrote: "I want to read Dracula sometime A/ because of its epistolary format, which is not a phrase I use very often and I'd like a chance to bandy it about B/ because Bram Stoker drew much of his inspirati..."

I'd like to try and visit Whitby before I leave the area. Unfortunately I only have 1 weekend unaccounted for between now and moving in August so unless it's sunny I might miss my chance!

Heather wrote: "Gill wrote: "I want to read Dracula sometime A/ because of its epistolary format, which is not a phrase I use very often and I'd like a chance to bandy it about B/ because Bram Stoker drew much of ..."
Do you know where you are going to next, Heather?

I'm going to London where my boyfriend lives. I can't wait! As much as I am enjoying my time in hull I cannot wait to live in London!

I LOVE London! Great town to live in - even if a bit expensive if I remember well!

Really enjoyed this book. Definitely on my to re-read pile

LauraT wrote: "I LOVE London! Great town to live in - even if a bit expensive if I remember well!"

Just a bit, unfortunately. Don't get me started on the flat rental market! (seriously...don't..)

Completely off topic everyone. I apologise

Back on topic- I would really recommend this book!

I have read "Dracula" a couple of times now. It's a favourite of my mother's, and so I remember reading this one fairly young. I think the epistolary format is really neat, and I love how detailed everything is. Stoker really started a trend with his Count, and it's diverged like mad! It amazes me how different vampire stories are nowadays.

Heather wrote: "I really liked this. I found it fascinating that all of things we traditionally associate with vampires began with this novel. It created an entire concept and I loved the atmosphere and story"

Heather, I might be wrong but I think some other vampire stories actually predate Dracula, for example Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. I haven't read it, but I generally really enjoy Le Fanu.

Dracula was an enjoyable read, but I thought the quality of ideas in Frankenstein was even better.

Jean, for me Anne Rice is a guilty pleasure but still a pleasure! Much better than some later imitators.

If anyone is thinking of reading this in honor of Halloween, I can recommend the audiobook edition with a full cast, including Tim Curry:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...

It was pretty good. I heard a BBC audiobook of it and enjoyed it with Peter Blythe in the cast.

I read this a couple of times while I was studying it, I remember being a bit disappointed by it but once I really took the time to read it during the second time, I really began to enjoy it. A friend of mine wrote her dissertation on the Dracula's impact on literature and it was really interesting.

For those looking for vampire movies, I would highly recommend Vampyr (1932) by Carl Dreyer and Nosferatu: A Symphony of Fear (1922) by F.W. Murnau. Can't beat the classics.

Excellent, suspenseful book. By far the best of the genre.

I read Dracula just a few years ago and loved it. I was amazed at how the language by itself, ignoring the story, creating such an eerie feeling in me. So then I read Frankenstein, expecting to enjoy it just as much, especially since it seems like everyone who reads it loves it,and found I really disliked it.I have never really understood why my feelings for Frankenstein differ so greatly from the vast majority. But Dracula, I think I am drawn to Dracula because because there is no attempt to appeal to the reader's sympathies.

Thanks for keeping this thread open - I just started listening to "Dracula" narrated by Tim Curry and Allan Cumming and it is great!

Terry wrote: "Thanks for keeping this thread open - I just started listening to "Dracula" narrated by Tim Curry and Allan Cumming and it is great!"

That is a great audiobook edition :-) I am toying with the idea of relistening to it, if my library books leave me enough time.

Leslie wrote: "Terry wrote: "Thanks for keeping this thread open - I just started listening to "Dracula" narrated by Tim Curry and Allan Cumming and it is great!"

That is a great audiobook edition :-) I am toyin..."
I do feel the same Leslie!

I am actually reading this for October challenge, and I am about 7 chapters in. I have always loved Vampires and Horror movies etc., so it's weird in a way that I have never read the original Dracula novel, until now that is.

Rona wrote: "I am actually reading this for October challenge, and I am about 7 chapters in. I have always loved Vampires and Horror movies etc., so it's weird in a way that I have never read the original Dracu..."

I know, me too! I saw the movie, but never read the book.
This seems like the original story about vampires, too. Anne Rice kind of changed the rules, then others did too. I guess an author can make up whatever suits their storyline.

Albert wrote: "I read Dracula just a few years ago and loved it. I was amazed at how the language by itself, ignoring the story, creating such an eerie feeling in me. So then I read Frankenstein, expecting to enj..."

I didn't enjoy Frankenstein's section of Frankenstein. It just got so tedious 'oh no what have I done?!?' Once the monster's section started it got better.

Terry wrote: "This seems like the original story about vampires, too...."

Not quite the first vampire novel Rona and Terry, though I guess the first dracula one! :)

Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (a wonderfully atmospheric vampire novella) was published in 1872, a bit earlier than Dracula which wasn't published until 1897.

A great book this, read some years back. Surprisingly modern for its time, including techniques such as telling part of the story through diaries/letters/newspaper accounts, and incorporating a lot of contemporary technology - typewriters, shorthand - which were bang up to date. Also quite a 'racy' story for its time when respectable upper/middle class women were meant to be demure and asexual.