Did seeing Transylvania firsthand and any insight into what you were reading, that perhaps you would not have had, had you not visited?

Stacy,

Rather than reading it in 2D, I was reading in 3D in Transylvania. Everything was heightened and easier to be part of the story rather than reading it. Stoker never visited Transylvania or Romania, or so they say. But I think it's immaterial because the story lives.

I'd like to go back and see the real Dracula castle and fortress, rather than Bran Castle which is mostly a myth when it comes to the historical Dracula, but close to the fictional one :)

Jon

Isn't that Countess (i can't remember her name), that historians say was the worst serial female killer in history from that same region? Do you think their environment or culture had anything to do with developing them into the monsters she and Count Dracula became, or do you think that they would have been just as heinous anywhere?

There's something in the air there. I can't place my finger on it.

oooo.. eerie

Stacy, that countess was Elizabeth Bathory and she was Hungarian. It's true she was related with Stephen Bathory who was a prince in the 16th century Transylvania, in a time when the Habsburg Empire ruled that region of Romania but she really had no direct impact on our history . And in regards of your question if the environment or the culture had anything to do with his ways of torture, the short answer is no. Moreso, Vlad wasn't even from Transilvania, he was the prince of Walachia. I really don't think he was more cruel than many rulers from those times, but the way he did it and of course the bram stoker novel blew his story out of proportions

That is interesting. I had read something about her, but it was years ago. I have read more about the real Vlad, but have not read Bram Stoker's Dracula. I was under the impression the real Vlad was far more violent a person than depicted in the book, but not creeping around at night, turning into a bat and sucking victim's blood. I saw some reproductions of some historical accounts of the time, relating how during the course of a war or rebellion that was happening there, Vlad would order pow's or others sympathetic to the opposition impaled by the hundreds and sit down to a feast laid out for him, eating and enjoying a meal in the midst of hundreds shrieking in agony. I would like to read more about this man though; i think it is fascinating topic and time in history, and try to figure what made this man tick. I have heard some history scholars state that he possibly "lost it" after his wife died? I don't know enough about it though to give my own theories.

I haven't read Bram Stoker's Dracula and I don't know why ,but I've always found a reason to put it aside and read another book. From what I learned in school and read later as I grew up, historians regard Vlad as a good ruler and a realistic tyrant who punished criminals, thieves and executed unpatriotic boyars to strengthen his politics. He s regarded as one of more important figures of our history due to his relentless fight for the independence of all the Romanian lands. I know he would cut the ears, noses and arms of those who caused evil or robbery or whatever but his favorite punishment was indeed the impalement to punish the traitors or the enemies. There's a lot of stories surrounding his figure, but most of it is a mixture of facts and fiction, the most gory ones invented by the saxons in Transylvania who were at war at the time with Vlad. As for him to lose it because of his wife death, I don't know, most of it is speculation because there are no real proofs or there are to little. Whether the most outrageous ones are true or not, what it's undoubtable is that he was a very interesting figure who came to prominence during those times and had an important impact in the policy of that part of Europe

Yes i would like to read/learn more about him, and about history of that region in general. I find many historical figures like him intriguing.