Dracula

First published in 1897, ‘Dracula’ is a gothic horror novel by Bram Stoker, an Irish author. During his lifetime, he was better known as the personal assistant of actor Sir Henry Irving and business manager of the Lyceum Theatre, which Irving owned. Bram Stoker presented the character of Count Dracula and provided the basis of modern vampire fiction in this novel.

Penned as a wonderful series of letters, newspaper clippings, diary entries, and ships’ records, the story initiates with lawyer Jonathan Harker journeying to meet Dracula at his remote castle to complete a real estate transaction. Harker soon discovers that he is being held prisoner and that Dracula has a rather disturbing nighttime life. Touching on themes such as Victorian culture, immigration, and colonialism, among others, this timeless classic is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Abraham ‘ Bram’ Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula. He was born on November 8, 1847 in Dublin, Ireland. Stoker excelled as an athlete at Trinity College, Dublin, which he attended from 1864 to 1870.

Stoker became interested in the theatre while a student and became the theatre critic for the Dublin Evening Mail. In 1878, Stoker married Florence Balcombe, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel James Balcombe and together they moved to London, where Stoker became acting manager and then business manager of Irving’ s Lyceum Theatre, London, a post he held for twenty-seven years. While being manager for Irving and secretary and director of London’ s Lyceum Theatre, he began writing novels, beginning with The Snake’ s Pass in 1890 and Dracula in 1897.

After suffering a number of strokes, Stoker died on 20 April 1912."