Title: Dracula
By: Bram Stoker
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 488
Release Date: May 26th, 1897
Publisher: Norton
Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary from Goodreads:
When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the purchase of a London house, he makes a series of horrific discoveries about his client. Soon afterwards, various bizarre incidents unfold in England: an apparently unmanned ship is wrecked off the coast of Whitby; a young woman discovers strange puncture marks on her neck; and the inmate of a lunatic asylum raves about the 'Master' and his imminent arrival.
In Dracula, Bram Stoker created one of the great masterpieces of the horror genre, brilliantly evoking a nightmare world of vampires and vampire hunters and also illuminating the dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire.
This Norton Critical Edition includes a rich selection of background and source materials in three areas: Contexts includes probable inspirations for Dracula in the earlier works of James Malcolm Rymer and Emily Gerard. Also included are a discussion of Stoker's working notes for the novel and "Dracula's Guest," the original opening chapter to Dracula. Reviews and Reactions reprints five early reviews of the novel. "Dramatic and Film Variations" focuses on theater and film adaptations of Dracula, two indications of the novel's unwavering appeal. David J. Skal, Gregory A. Waller, and Nina Auerbach offer their varied perspectives. Checklists of both dramatic and film adaptations are included.
Review:
Its hard for me to believe this story was conceived so long ago. It has all the making a modern fantasy with the classics ambiance from a hundred years ago.
As hard as it was at times to relate to the struggles of the late 1800's, the characters still had color and presence. It was Johnathan Harker, the lawyer that was sent to Transylvania to conduct real estate transactions that I loved the most. He just seemed to fragile and scared, but determined to finish his job at hand. Those Vampires really gave him the what for. Probably peed his pants a few times.
There was a scene where Harker found himself in a forbidden room, wondering the reason the door was locked. It seemed to be just like any other room... But he soon found out. Dracula was not alone.
Favorite Quote:
“We learn from failure, not from success!”
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was far more entertaining than I thought it would be.
Another great book checked off my "100 books before I die" list. A must read.
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