The vampire novel that defined a genre by tapping into our deepest fears and darkest fantasies A junior solicitor travels to Transylvania to meet with an important client, the mysterious Count Dracula. Ignoring the dire warnings of local townsfolk, he allows himself to be seduced by the count’s courtly manners and erudite charm. Too late, the solicitor realizes that he is a prisoner of Castle … of Castle Dracula, his guards a trio of voluptuous young women with sharp white teeth and a taste for blood.
Soon thereafter, the solicitor’s fianc e, Mina, visits a friend on the English coast. The town is full of speculation over a Russian ship run aground nearby, its crew missing, the dead body of its captain, crucifix in hand, lashed to the wheel. A giant dog was seen leaping from the deck before disappearing into the countryside. The ship’s cargo: fifty boxes of Transylvanian dirt. As the beautiful Mina will soon learn, Count Dracula has arrived.
At once a Gothic reflection of the Victorian era and a timeless tale of sinister lust, Bram Stoker’s Dracula has inspired countless adaptations–none with the same power to quicken the pulse as the original.
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Finally, I have made it to one of my longest to be read books. Dracula along with Frankenstein have been on my reading list since I can remember. My first meeting with Dracula was in the year of 1998 when I watch along side my father Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Our dear friend of the night was played by none other Bela Lugosi. This was the Dracula I grew up with till 2008 when my mother bought Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) starring Gary Oldman and Wilnona Ryder.
While watching this whole new version of Dracula, I was also being introduced to more of the vampire world. My mother, who is a huge Anne Rice fan, was allowing me to watch the movie adaption of Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned. Lost Boys can be counted on the list of movies I was being allowed to watch finally. Take this and the books I was allowed to buy with my allowance money (Vampire Kisses, Vampire Diaries, etc) I entered the vampire world. Along with my introduction to this new world during school I was learning about the real Dracula, Vlad III or better known as Vlad the Impaler. Thus Dracula was added to my list. My mother didn’t allow me to read it just yet, seeing as to the subjects Dracula addresses. She thought I need to wait at least till senior year of high school.
It is now five years after graduating high school that I have picked this up. I’m glad my mother told me to wait. Considering the role women play, I would not have full grasped such a matter when I was younger. Thinking back I am glad to wait till now for I don’t think even I would have grasped the attitude of this book during my senior year, for I was still very naive in certain subjects. Hey there was a time when this brain didn’t get to touch an erotica. Dracula told through series of diaries, letters, telegrams, and news paper clippings we follow a gang of characters.
The beginning took a little long for me. While the Count had my utmost attention, Johnathon did not. I thought he was a bit of a dry character. Now other times, such as the newspaper clipping of the Demeter coming into port during a horrible storm, dragged on. At times the book is amazing and I can’t put it down and then there are such times that I wanted to skip certain entries but knew I couldn’t for I would miss something.
As reading this though I think back to the 1992 adaption and not liking it as much as I have in the past. Granted most Dracula movies haven’t done this book justice. There is one movie that I haven’t scene that was the start of it all. Nosferatu. Granted it is not named Dracula but is said to be based off of the novel just with a different name. It is one of my top lists to find and watch.
I hated that it took me a long time to finish this novel. I wasn’t in the mood to read a classic. I set it aside because I didn’t want to rate this book when I was not in a mood for it. I am glad I waited till I was in the mood again. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale of Dracula. It is probably going to be a favorite.
This is an epistolary novel, which some might find off-putting. The unusual narrative form works well, though; push past the fact that it is a series of letters and one will find the collection of first person narratives evocative. This is also a Dracula who may strike readers as a new and fascinating dimension to a character who seems to be so familiar.
Classic horror tale.
The words written about it are legion the book itself a treasure.
It’s a classic for sure. Read it when i was 12. Loved it.
I read it first at 17. I was asking my parents for garlic! You WILL believe in vampires.
Love it.
One of my favorite books ever, the penultimate vampire book. Really needs to be read, the movies and adaptations don’t do full justice to how great and original this classic novel is.
The book is better than any film adaptation. Great reading on a dark and stormy night.
The original blood sucker book. You can’t pass this one up if you are interested in vampires.
Stoker’s book sets the stage for the modern vampire. I love the warmth and caring among the vampire hunters, van Helsing, Seward, Harker, Mina, Lucy, etc. and their heroic quest to rid the world of a long-lived monster! Movies simply cannot replace reading the original book…just no comparison!
This book has everything! After I read Dracula I knew I would never read another like it. It’s so beautiful and devastating at the same time. I loved how it read as entries from different points of view and how invested it made you feel to the characters and their individual part in the bigger picture. So wonderful, made me fall in love with Stoker’s storytelling.
Different than all the movies made of Dracula. Reading Stoker’s book makes one realize how the story has changed since his original masterpiece. So glad I read this one!
Classic, have read it several times
Classic
I only wish I had read the book before I saw the movie. The book paints the story much better. A really good story.
I have read this book several times and have always enjoyed it, and I will read it again!
A true classic and must read.
Great classic
Despite its age, Dracula is TRULY timeless. The suspense, the imagery, the characters…It is the perfect read for any kind of storm. I have to admit, I kept ALL the curtains drawn and ALL the lights on well after I finished the book. A wonderful classic for those who like a good, suspenseful scare.