Bram Stoker and Dracula

Bram Stoker wrote Bram Stoker's Dracula in 1897. Since it's publication it has remained the standard for vampire lore in fiction. The main character, Count Dracula, can still be seen as influencing most vampires in print, stage, and screen.

Bram Stoker used primarily Eastern European vampire lore of the time to create his novel. His studies of vampires, Vlad Tepes Dracula, Transylvania, and Elizabeth Bathory gave him the information and inspiration to write the book. One interesting thing about Dracula is the very modern style - even by standards 100 years later. There is no central narrator - instead the viewpoint shifts between several characters. This book is comprised entirely using the journals and correspondence of the various people in the story.

Most vampire lore now regarded as "vampire gospel" was popularized in Dracula. Vampires ability to hypnotize and their charm is found in Dracula. The vampire aversion to crucifixes is in chapters 1, 2, 3, 7, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, and 23. The vampire aversion to garlic is in chapters 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, and 27. The destroying of vampires by sunlight, fire, or decapitation is in Dracula. Vampires turning to dust when destroyed is also from chapter 27. That a vampire does not appear in a mirror can be found in chapter 2, 18, and 24. That vampires make no shadow is in chapter 18. Vampires turning into bats is found in Dracula. Vampires and their relationship with wolves is in chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 11, 18, 19, 24, 26, and 27. Vampires and their relationship with rats is in chapters 19, 20, and 21. In Dracula vampires tend to sleep in coffins or boxes. In Dracula vampires look pale, with glowing red eyes and long fingernails. In Dracula vampires bite their victims on the neck and drink their blood. Vampires are immortal - unless they are destroyed as in chapter 16, 23, 25.

The novel of Dracula has been turned into or inspired motion pictures a number of times, including 1922's Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens directed by F.W. Murnau, 1931's Dracula starring Bela Lugosi and directed by Tod Browning, 1992's Dracula starring Gary Oldman and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and 2004's Van Helsing starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Stephen Sommers.

www.SpookyFiles.com now has the complete text of Bram Stoker's Dracula online.

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