Dracula (Penguin Popular Classics)
by Bram Stoker
Great Classic!
When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the
purchase of a London house, he makes horrifying discoveries about his
client and his castle. Soon afterwards, a number of disturbing incidents
unfold in England: an unmanned ship is wrecked at Whitby; strange
puncture marks appear on a young womans neck; and the inmate of a
lunatic asylum raves about the imminent arrival of his Master. In the
ensuing battle of wits between the sinister Count Dracula and a
determined group of adversaries, Bram Stoker created a masterpiece of
the horror genre.
Bram Stoker was born in Dublin in 1847 and studied Pure Mathematics at
Trinity College Dublin. He developed a passion for the theatre while at
university and, on graduation, spent seven years in the Irish Civil Service.
He then became business manager at Londons Lyceum Theatre in 1878
and married Florence Balcombe the same year - beating, would you
believe, Oscar Wilde to her hand in marraige. Stoker is obviously best
known for Dracula, which was first published in 1897.
Dracula is a little different to the standard novel - its a collection of journal
entries, letters and the occasional newspaper article. (It may sound
strange, but it works very well). The book kicks off with the journal entries
of a recently qualified solicitor, Jonathan Harker, on his was to
Transylvania - a region in the Carpathian Mountains . Harkers firm had
been employed by a local nbleman called Count Dracula to oversee the
purchase of an old estate in England . The firm have settled on an estate
called Carfax, at Purfleet, and Harker is travelling to tidy up the final details
with the Count. He doesnt have the easiest of journeys - dreadful trains in
Hungary, howling dogs beneath his bedroom window - but, poor chap,
things are about to get an awful lot worse. Bistritz is the nearest town to his
destination, Castle Dracula...spends the night in an inn there, planning to
complete his journey the following day by stagecoach. His landlord wont
talk about the Count or his castle - but, just before he leaves, his landlady
begs him not to go, (Shes especially concerned that its St Georges Eve
when - at midnight - all evil things in the world will have full sway).
Naturally, he pays no heed - but takes the crucifix she offers him. Its
something that - as an English churchman - hes always viewed as
idolatrous. However, he becomes very attached to it in time.
Harkers due to get the coach as far as the Borgo Pass, where Draculas
private coach will then meet him. Despite his coach drivers best efforts - he
arrives an hour early, in the hope of taking Harker on to Bukovina -
Draculas coach arrives and Harker makes for the castle. Like the
countrysides howling wolves, the drivers glowing red eyes and sharp white
teeth arent too comforting....though the Counts appearance is little better.
(Dracula is old, incredibly pale, has set of long white teeth, long fingernails
sharpened to a point and a strong handshake thats as cold as ice).
Although, initially, very polite Dracula never eats with Hark er and
effectively bans him from exploring the castle - the majority of its doors
remain locked to him. Furniture in the castle is very expensive and in
excellent condition...though, strangely, theres no sign of either servants or
mirrors. Harker later starts to understand what hes got himself into -
thanks, in part, to an accident with a razor blade and a shaving mirror. By
then, the castle has become a prison and he knows why the locals spoke
of Hell, Satan and vampires when he was leaving the inn.
Harker spends longer at the castle than he had planned, or wanted to -
and the action shifts to England when Dracula leaves home - alone. The
story is then picked up by Harkers fiancee, Mina - through her own journal
and the letters she was writing to her friend, Lucy Westenra. The pair
spend quite some time together in Whitby ...which, unfortunately, is exactly
where Draculas boat comes into dock. (Worse - ever the ladies man -
Dracula isnt long in making a move). Lucy has recently become engaged
to the Hon Arthur Holmwood, the only son of Lord Godalming. (She had
turned down Dr Seward - who has his own asylum - and an American
gentleman called Quincey Morris the same afternoon Arthur had proposed.
Marraige propposals were obviously a bit like buses in those day s - you
wait years for one and then three turn up at once). Sewards journal entries
add quite a bit to the book, and his request for help from his old teacher,
Professor Van Helsing, is very significant.
The book isnt always overtly scary, though there is plenty of mystery and
intrigue. Several obvious clues - like the presence of a bat, or the puncture
wounds on someones neck - are repeatedly ignored. (Only Van Helsing
has any idea what theyre dealing with...and its quite a while before the key
players are able to get together and pool their information). Its very
descriptive, and conjures up some great images - for example, Draculas
home in Transylvania was a vast, ruined castle, from whose tall black
windows came no ray of light and whose broken battleme nts showed a
jagged line against the moonlit sky. However, after he leaves Transylvania,
Dracula only ever makes fleeting appearances and the book does,
occasionally, throw out a line you just have to laugh at. (The book has
barely started before the gentlemanly Harker comments : the women
looked pretty, except when you got near them). Still, the book is a classic,
and - having defined the whole vampire genre - is one of those titles you
just have to read.
For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price:
Dracula (Penguin Popular Classics) by Bram Stoker - 5 Star Customer Reviews and
Lowest Price!