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January 4, 2005
Dracula - Bram Stoker
One of my earliest memories is of my father tiptoe-ing into our room at night, arms raised, saying in a low trebbly voice, "I vant to drrrrink yourrr blood!" He would then descend upon us shrieking kids and tickle us into giggling hysterics. The character of Count Dracula has so infused our culture - think Halloween costumes, Bela Lugosi, and "Count Chocula" cereal - yet who among us has taken the time to actually read the book that propelled this vampire into our national consciousness? Bram Stoker's Dracula wasn't the first vampire story every published but it is certainly the most popular.
When my brother John gave me this beautiful hardcover edition for Christmas this year my father remarked that it was the scariest story he'd ever read. Intrigued, and somewhat ashamed that this classic had missed my reading to date, I set off to read it and could not put it down. I have to agree with dad, this is a truly frightening story, and it just doesn't let up until the very end. The first part of the book deals with solicitor Jonathan Harker sent from London to meet Count Dracula in the Count's castle in Transylvania. Although ominous signs abound, Jonathan is at first happily naive of the danger he is in. That of course changes, and while we think the worst is over as Jonathan barely escapes the castle with his life, in fact the real horrible events are just beginning as the Count makes his way to London and starts feeding on Jonathan's wife Mina's best friend Lucy, and then Mina herself.
The narrative is delivered through the collective diary entries and letters of the main characters who ultimately band together to overcome Dracula. This effective technique allows the reader to feel the terror and come to realizations as the main characters do. The pace of the book is fast and furious as Harker and his companions race to find and destroy the Count before Mina completely transforms into a vampire and loses her soul forever.
There are many editions of Bram Stoker's Dracula available. The version I read was published in 1996 by Barnes and Noble. It is lightly illustrated by Edward Gorey, with an introduction and appendix notes by Marvin Kaye. Amazon.com has a paperback edition and several versions of the audiobook, abridged and unabridged, are available at Audible.com.
Posted by elise at 8:05 PM
to Fiction
Comments
Not the best written novel, but definately a must-read for all classic horror story fans.
Focusing on (Dracula's and humans') influence over each other, sexuality, violence, and the dark undertones of Victorian society, change is a strong element present in the novel - whether attacking the character(s) physically, mentally, or in their essential nature. Dracula, Lucy, and Renfield are prime examples of such characters. Dracula, can transform into various animals and therefore changes physically; Lucy, is bitten and here sweet disposition takes a 360; Renfield is a mentally challenged individual ~ sometimes ranting randomly, yet there are times he seems mentally stable and clear headed.
Quoting elise: "There are many editions of Bram Stoker's Dracula available. The version I read was published in 1996 by Barnes and Noble. It is lightly illustrated by Edward Gorey, with an introduction and appendix notes by Marvin Kaye. Amazon.com has a paperback edition and several versions of the audiobook, abridged and unabridged, are available at Audible.com." Read and review!
Dracula's truly a different character (physically) compared to the Hollywood version of him and there is so much of the twists and turns of the plot that the animated versions lack.
Posted by: jane at December 1, 2005 6:55 PM
