What do you think?
Rate this book
Dracula and Other Horror Classics
Dracula and Other Horror Classics collects the most memorable tales of horror by Bram Stoker. In addition to Dracula - the landmark vampire novel that set the pattern for virtually all vampire fiction written after its publication in 1897 - this omnibus collects the novels The Jewel of Seven Stars and The Lair of the White Worm. In also includes a dozen of Stoker's short tales of the macabre, including Dracula's Guest, a sidebar to his famous novel.
For more than a century, Bram Stoker's fiction has inspired countless writers of horror and fantasy fiction. This volume allows readers a unique opportunity to appreciate the full range of his dark imagination.
Dracua and Other Horror Classics is one of Barnes & Noble's leatherbound classic editions. Each volume features authoritative texts by the world's greatest authors, in exquisitely designed bonded-leather bindings with distinctive gilt edging and an attractive silk-ribbon bookmark. Decorative, durable, and collectible, these books offer hours of pleasure to readers young and old and are an indispensible cornerstone for every home library.
CONTENTS:
Novels:
- Dracula
- The Jewel Of Seven Stars
- The Lair Of The White Worm
Stories:
- Dracula's Guest
- The Judge's House
- The Squaw
- The Secret Of Growing Gold
- A Gipsy Prophecy
- The Coming Of Abel Behenna
- The Burial Of The Rats
- A Dream Of Red Hands
- Crooken Sands
- The Crystal Cup
- The Chain Of Destiny
- The Dualists; or, the Death Doom of the Double-Born
For more than a century, Bram Stoker's fiction has inspired countless writers of horror and fantasy fiction. This volume allows readers a unique opportunity to appreciate the full range of his dark imagination.
Dracua and Other Horror Classics is one of Barnes & Noble's leatherbound classic editions. Each volume features authoritative texts by the world's greatest authors, in exquisitely designed bonded-leather bindings with distinctive gilt edging and an attractive silk-ribbon bookmark. Decorative, durable, and collectible, these books offer hours of pleasure to readers young and old and are an indispensible cornerstone for every home library.
CONTENTS:
Novels:
- Dracula
- The Jewel Of Seven Stars
- The Lair Of The White Worm
Stories:
- Dracula's Guest
- The Judge's House
- The Squaw
- The Secret Of Growing Gold
- A Gipsy Prophecy
- The Coming Of Abel Behenna
- The Burial Of The Rats
- A Dream Of Red Hands
- Crooken Sands
- The Crystal Cup
- The Chain Of Destiny
- The Dualists; or, the Death Doom of the Double-Born
757 pages, Leather Bound
Published July 22, 2013
336 people are currently reading
6343 people want to read
About the author
Bram Stoker
2,605 books5,859 followersIrish-born Abraham Stoker, known as Bram, of Britain wrote the gothic horror novel
Dracula
(1897).
The feminist Charlotte Mathilda Blake Thornely Stoker at 15 Marino crescent, then as now called "the crescent," in Fairview, a coastal suburb of Dublin, Ireland, bore this third of seven children. The parents, members of church of Ireland, attended the parish church of Saint John the Baptist, located on Seafield road west in Clontarf with their baptized children.
Stoker, an invalid, started school at the age of seven years in 1854, when he made a complete and astounding recovery. Of this time, Stoker wrote, "I was naturally thoughtful, and the leisure of long illness gave opportunity for many thoughts which were fruitful according to their kind in later years."
After his recovery, he, a normal young man, even excelled as a university athlete at Trinity college, Dublin form 1864 to 1870 and graduated with honors in mathematics. He served as auditor of the college historical society and as president of the university philosophical society with his first paper on "Sensationalism in Fiction and Society."
In 1876, while employed as a civil servant in Dublin, Stoker wrote a non-fiction book (The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland, published 1879) and theatre reviews for The Dublin Mail, a newspaper partly owned by fellow horror writer J. Sheridan Le Fanu. His interest in theatre led to a lifelong friendship with the English actor Henry Irving. He also wrote stories, and in 1872 "The Crystal Cup" was published by the London Society, followed by "The Chain of Destiny" in four parts in The Shamrock.
In 1878 Stoker married Florence Balcombe, a celebrated beauty whose former suitor was Oscar Wilde. The couple moved to London, where Stoker became business manager (at first as acting-manager) of Irving's Lyceum Theatre, a post he held for 27 years. The collaboration with Irving was very important for Stoker and through him he became involved in London's high society, where he met, among other notables, James McNeil Whistler, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the course of Irving's tours, Stoker got the chance to travel around the world.
The Stokers had one son, Irving Noel, who was born on December 31, 1879.
People cremated the body of Bram Stoker and placed his ashes placed in a display urn at Golders green crematorium. After death of Irving Noel Stoker in 1961, people added his ashes to that urn. Despite the original plan to keep ashes of his parents together, after death, people scattered ashes of Florence Stoker at the gardens of rest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bram_Stoker
The feminist Charlotte Mathilda Blake Thornely Stoker at 15 Marino crescent, then as now called "the crescent," in Fairview, a coastal suburb of Dublin, Ireland, bore this third of seven children. The parents, members of church of Ireland, attended the parish church of Saint John the Baptist, located on Seafield road west in Clontarf with their baptized children.
Stoker, an invalid, started school at the age of seven years in 1854, when he made a complete and astounding recovery. Of this time, Stoker wrote, "I was naturally thoughtful, and the leisure of long illness gave opportunity for many thoughts which were fruitful according to their kind in later years."
After his recovery, he, a normal young man, even excelled as a university athlete at Trinity college, Dublin form 1864 to 1870 and graduated with honors in mathematics. He served as auditor of the college historical society and as president of the university philosophical society with his first paper on "Sensationalism in Fiction and Society."
In 1876, while employed as a civil servant in Dublin, Stoker wrote a non-fiction book (The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland, published 1879) and theatre reviews for The Dublin Mail, a newspaper partly owned by fellow horror writer J. Sheridan Le Fanu. His interest in theatre led to a lifelong friendship with the English actor Henry Irving. He also wrote stories, and in 1872 "The Crystal Cup" was published by the London Society, followed by "The Chain of Destiny" in four parts in The Shamrock.
In 1878 Stoker married Florence Balcombe, a celebrated beauty whose former suitor was Oscar Wilde. The couple moved to London, where Stoker became business manager (at first as acting-manager) of Irving's Lyceum Theatre, a post he held for 27 years. The collaboration with Irving was very important for Stoker and through him he became involved in London's high society, where he met, among other notables, James McNeil Whistler, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the course of Irving's tours, Stoker got the chance to travel around the world.
The Stokers had one son, Irving Noel, who was born on December 31, 1879.
People cremated the body of Bram Stoker and placed his ashes placed in a display urn at Golders green crematorium. After death of Irving Noel Stoker in 1961, people added his ashes to that urn. Despite the original plan to keep ashes of his parents together, after death, people scattered ashes of Florence Stoker at the gardens of rest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bram_Stoker
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
September 11, 2022
Dracula and Other Horror Classic
At last- this has been a new journey for me.
A side project actually. I have been wanted to read what we today consider “Classics” for a long time now and since it’s not exactly my favorite genre, I have been taken it slowly.
I am however tremendously happy that I have started this “journey”, and can’t wait to see which author will be my next project.
Currently I am thinking Jules Verne, but we will see.
Dracula -4 Stars
Fascinating!
I find it fascinating to read books prior to my “time”.
Books that’s been labelled classics.
How did they earn that title? How was it written? What made it so epic? Why do we love them so much?
Dracula is one of the books that has been the inspiration for many great vampire stories. I LOVE vampire stories, so reading “the original” vampire story was high on my list.
The language was definitely from another time. A lot was repeated time after time, but the language was strong and very formal. Some parts were eerily beautiful written. Others were slightly dull. It was however, a fascinating read. A pleasant read.
The Jewel of Seven Stars- 3 stars
One thing I have noticed with Stokers work is that he never gives any answers.
He is excellent at building up the anticipation.
And we think we get an explanation. Something remarkable, and yet he always leaves us in glorious wonder.
The ancient Egypt is a topic that has always interested me, and I was pleasantly surprised of how it was implemented in The Jewel of Seven Stars.
It took forever to really pick up, though. At least for me. But when it did (roughly 60 % into the book😂), I felt the anticipation rise, and I wanted to know what had happened to Queen Tera.
The Lair of the White worm- 2 stars
There is this extremely satisfying feeling reading “tales of old”. Even stories not written that long ago, and yet there is a world of difference. Take the “(The) Lair of the White Worm”. Published in 1911,and yet again I find myself fascinated . To get whirled into the British society that is so very different from how we act, behave and even speak today. Reading classics gives me an insight into the past, and I find that feeling so very charming. However, the past was not all light and proper use of gramma and Latin phrases. No. It also had a very dark side, and it’s something we still see to an extent today. Something horrible.
The Lair of the White Worm was probably the most racist story from Stoker. I tried while reading the story to say to myself that this was the norm. This was how man thought in this period of our history, but I have to be honest that behaviour they showed was by all means not acceptable. I simply cannot understand how entire societies could belittle people this much, simply for the fact of how they looked. It’s appalling. Distasteful.
What I did liked was the fact that “The Lair of the White Worm” had much more going on than some of Stokers other work. There were new people introduced though out the story, there was a few changes in the scenery, both internal dialogue and compelling discussing. It did take a bit to really pick up, and I found myself truly invested in the discovery of what exactly the White Worm was.
Dracula’s Guest- 4 stars
“The dead travel fast”.
So pleasant, and beautifully written.
I adore the visual image Stoker so gracefully creates , and find the language quite charming.
It’s so different from the books I normally spend my time on, and I can fully understand why Stoker’s literature is considered “classics”.
The Judge’s House- 4 stars
Spooky. A Good ol’ classic spooky tale.
A student in England decides he needs a little quiet time for him to study, and ends up in a very old house that hasn’t been inhabited for years. Strange and mysteries things happen. Let me just say this, I fucking hate rats.
The Squaw- 3.5 stars
3.5 ”Don’t hurt the kitten” stars !
An avenging black cat. Yeah, you heard me right. Stoker really surprised me. Not the writing itself, but the ideas/stories he creates. I can’t figure out if I find them completely unjust or strangely justified.
It was an odd story, but kinda satisfying to read.
It’s called karma.
Or revenge.
Or just some fucked up shit.
The Secret if Growing Gold- 2 stars
Such an odd little horror story.
A Gipsy Prophecy - 3 stars
This stayed true to Stokers usual writing style. Odd, weird and deliciously old school.
As a woman from a modern age I find the descriptions of a woman from that period of time really strange.
They always seem to be weak minded and faints a lot, and this was the case here as well.
However, I understand that this was the most common thought and although I strongly disagree, I find it a bit refreshing to read something so different and odd. I think it paints a very clear picture of the culture at the time and I find that very fascinating.
The Coming of Abel Behenna- 3.5 stars
3.5 Stars - rounded up since the descriptions of the nature was beautiful.
Probably one of Stokers stories that actually made sense. 😂
I had the sickest “This is a fairytale”-feeling, since we are introduced to one woman named Sarah, who got two suitors, Eric and Abel, both competing for her hand, and both handsome. One looking like a gypsy, the other as a Viking.
It’s not a typical horror story, but I will say it ended rather grim.
The Burial of the Rats- 2 stars
The karma is thick in this short story.
An Englishman travelling Europe whilst waiting for his year of probation to end, so he can go back to England to claim his love, Alice.
He spends a great deal of time in Paris, and since he possesses a curious nature, he spends his time discovering the hidden and isolated parts of Paris.
Sadly for him he picks the wrong neighbourhood and ends up running for this life.
Stoker really have this fascinating with rats. It was a little slow in the beginning, but picked up a bit in the end.
A Dream of Red Hands - 3 stars
I never thought I would stumble over something of Stoker’s work with an actual peaceful ending.
We are told the story of Mr. Settle, a man with nightmares of his own. Trying his best to do right for a wrong he did many years ago. Trying to find peace and forgiveness.
It was more pure than anything else I have read from Stoker. Yet, it still held an aspect of horror. Horror is so very connected to Stokers work, and yet this one felt more honest. More about doing the right thing.
Crooken Sands- 2 Stars
Strange and odd.
I don’t think I have read a short story so very fixated on clothes. To be more precisely Scottish attire.
I found the short story odd, and not nearly as fascinating as Stokers other works.
I did like how it ended. It didn’t “peak” before the last page, and I was a bit worried that I didn’t feel like it was a “Stoker story”. But true to his type of writing he smoothly takes a everyday experience and adds this understated horror to it that makes it all worth reading.
The Crystal Cup- 2 Stars
I found the 3 perspectives on beauty quite refreshing, and yet - I was not at all intrigued by the story.
I did really want to see how the crystal cup looked like though 😂
The Chain of Destiny - 2 Stars
Sadly uneventful.
Beautiful ending though.
Typical Stoker, and yet- the horror was less dominant. His descriptions are as always a pleasure to read.
Frank was also very sweet and seems god-hearted.
The Dualists; or, the Death Doom of the Double-Born
What a terrifying tale!
Such a gloomy end.
Worst part? This could actually have happened, which makes this tale even more horrific.
Mankind can be really sick.
This was a compelling short story, which a dark twist, and even darker ending.
At last- this has been a new journey for me.
A side project actually. I have been wanted to read what we today consider “Classics” for a long time now and since it’s not exactly my favorite genre, I have been taken it slowly.
I am however tremendously happy that I have started this “journey”, and can’t wait to see which author will be my next project.
Currently I am thinking Jules Verne, but we will see.
Dracula -4 Stars
Fascinating!
I find it fascinating to read books prior to my “time”.
Books that’s been labelled classics.
How did they earn that title? How was it written? What made it so epic? Why do we love them so much?
Dracula is one of the books that has been the inspiration for many great vampire stories. I LOVE vampire stories, so reading “the original” vampire story was high on my list.
The language was definitely from another time. A lot was repeated time after time, but the language was strong and very formal. Some parts were eerily beautiful written. Others were slightly dull. It was however, a fascinating read. A pleasant read.
The Jewel of Seven Stars- 3 stars
One thing I have noticed with Stokers work is that he never gives any answers.
He is excellent at building up the anticipation.
And we think we get an explanation. Something remarkable, and yet he always leaves us in glorious wonder.
The ancient Egypt is a topic that has always interested me, and I was pleasantly surprised of how it was implemented in The Jewel of Seven Stars.
It took forever to really pick up, though. At least for me. But when it did (roughly 60 % into the book😂), I felt the anticipation rise, and I wanted to know what had happened to Queen Tera.
The Lair of the White worm- 2 stars
There is this extremely satisfying feeling reading “tales of old”. Even stories not written that long ago, and yet there is a world of difference. Take the “(The) Lair of the White Worm”. Published in 1911,and yet again I find myself fascinated . To get whirled into the British society that is so very different from how we act, behave and even speak today. Reading classics gives me an insight into the past, and I find that feeling so very charming. However, the past was not all light and proper use of gramma and Latin phrases. No. It also had a very dark side, and it’s something we still see to an extent today. Something horrible.
The Lair of the White Worm was probably the most racist story from Stoker. I tried while reading the story to say to myself that this was the norm. This was how man thought in this period of our history, but I have to be honest that behaviour they showed was by all means not acceptable. I simply cannot understand how entire societies could belittle people this much, simply for the fact of how they looked. It’s appalling. Distasteful.
What I did liked was the fact that “The Lair of the White Worm” had much more going on than some of Stokers other work. There were new people introduced though out the story, there was a few changes in the scenery, both internal dialogue and compelling discussing. It did take a bit to really pick up, and I found myself truly invested in the discovery of what exactly the White Worm was.
Dracula’s Guest- 4 stars
“The dead travel fast”.
So pleasant, and beautifully written.
I adore the visual image Stoker so gracefully creates , and find the language quite charming.
It’s so different from the books I normally spend my time on, and I can fully understand why Stoker’s literature is considered “classics”.
The Judge’s House- 4 stars
Spooky. A Good ol’ classic spooky tale.
A student in England decides he needs a little quiet time for him to study, and ends up in a very old house that hasn’t been inhabited for years. Strange and mysteries things happen. Let me just say this, I fucking hate rats.
The Squaw- 3.5 stars
3.5 ”Don’t hurt the kitten” stars !
An avenging black cat. Yeah, you heard me right. Stoker really surprised me. Not the writing itself, but the ideas/stories he creates. I can’t figure out if I find them completely unjust or strangely justified.
It was an odd story, but kinda satisfying to read.
It’s called karma.
Or revenge.
Or just some fucked up shit.
The Secret if Growing Gold- 2 stars
Such an odd little horror story.
A Gipsy Prophecy - 3 stars
This stayed true to Stokers usual writing style. Odd, weird and deliciously old school.
As a woman from a modern age I find the descriptions of a woman from that period of time really strange.
They always seem to be weak minded and faints a lot, and this was the case here as well.
However, I understand that this was the most common thought and although I strongly disagree, I find it a bit refreshing to read something so different and odd. I think it paints a very clear picture of the culture at the time and I find that very fascinating.
The Coming of Abel Behenna- 3.5 stars
3.5 Stars - rounded up since the descriptions of the nature was beautiful.
Probably one of Stokers stories that actually made sense. 😂
I had the sickest “This is a fairytale”-feeling, since we are introduced to one woman named Sarah, who got two suitors, Eric and Abel, both competing for her hand, and both handsome. One looking like a gypsy, the other as a Viking.
It’s not a typical horror story, but I will say it ended rather grim.
The Burial of the Rats- 2 stars
The karma is thick in this short story.
An Englishman travelling Europe whilst waiting for his year of probation to end, so he can go back to England to claim his love, Alice.
He spends a great deal of time in Paris, and since he possesses a curious nature, he spends his time discovering the hidden and isolated parts of Paris.
Sadly for him he picks the wrong neighbourhood and ends up running for this life.
Stoker really have this fascinating with rats. It was a little slow in the beginning, but picked up a bit in the end.
A Dream of Red Hands - 3 stars
I never thought I would stumble over something of Stoker’s work with an actual peaceful ending.
We are told the story of Mr. Settle, a man with nightmares of his own. Trying his best to do right for a wrong he did many years ago. Trying to find peace and forgiveness.
It was more pure than anything else I have read from Stoker. Yet, it still held an aspect of horror. Horror is so very connected to Stokers work, and yet this one felt more honest. More about doing the right thing.
Crooken Sands- 2 Stars
Strange and odd.
I don’t think I have read a short story so very fixated on clothes. To be more precisely Scottish attire.
I found the short story odd, and not nearly as fascinating as Stokers other works.
I did like how it ended. It didn’t “peak” before the last page, and I was a bit worried that I didn’t feel like it was a “Stoker story”. But true to his type of writing he smoothly takes a everyday experience and adds this understated horror to it that makes it all worth reading.
The Crystal Cup- 2 Stars
I found the 3 perspectives on beauty quite refreshing, and yet - I was not at all intrigued by the story.
I did really want to see how the crystal cup looked like though 😂
The Chain of Destiny - 2 Stars
Sadly uneventful.
Beautiful ending though.
Typical Stoker, and yet- the horror was less dominant. His descriptions are as always a pleasure to read.
Frank was also very sweet and seems god-hearted.
The Dualists; or, the Death Doom of the Double-Born
What a terrifying tale!
Such a gloomy end.
Worst part? This could actually have happened, which makes this tale even more horrific.
Mankind can be really sick.
This was a compelling short story, which a dark twist, and even darker ending.
Read
February 3, 2016I attempted to tackle this book when I was a curious and rambunctious 10 year old. The story was legendary, but I wasn't made aware that the language would drain my blood with as much fervor as the principal character. Frustrated, I tossed the booked aside. Several years later, in an AP English class, it became a required read and, surprisingly, I was lost in the magnificence, the majestic coolness, the imagery, the darkness of every word on every page. It chilled me; left me looking over my shoulder as I walked home many late evenings. My senses keened as every quiet indecipherable human form approaching me, became Dracula. Since those early days, I have read Bram Stoker's Dracula nearly a dozen times, as well as taught it's eerie details to high school students who were convinced that vampires didn't exist before Vampire Diaries.
This book defines classic literary phenomenon, in every sense. Dracula, as a novel, was written in a tradition long lost; a full story that draws the reader deep into its narrative. You know the story... now read the book again for the very first time.
This book defines classic literary phenomenon, in every sense. Dracula, as a novel, was written in a tradition long lost; a full story that draws the reader deep into its narrative. You know the story... now read the book again for the very first time.
October 28, 2019
Es lebe der subtile Grusel. Dracula ist nicht umsonst der Klassiker unter den Vampirromanen.
Hier ist noch nichts grob, plump, deftig oder vulgär.
Genau so wie jemand, der immer scharfes Chilli isst, dem zarten Geschmack von Spargel vielleicht nichts mehr abgewinnen kann, kann eventuell ein Konsument der heutigen Thriller mit all ihrer Derbheit mit Dracula nichts anfangen - was nicht schlimm ist. Man sollte sich nur dessen bewusst sein, dass Klassiker sich einer anderen Sprachen bedienen. Insofern sind sie eine sprachliche Zeitreise. Sie wussten damals genau so viele zu begeistern wie unsere Literatur heute. Gerade bei Dracula ist es mir wieder aufgefallen, dass dies ein Roman ist, der geschrieben wurde um zu unterhalten. Und unterhalten hat er mich ausgezeichnet.
Hier ist noch nichts grob, plump, deftig oder vulgär.
Genau so wie jemand, der immer scharfes Chilli isst, dem zarten Geschmack von Spargel vielleicht nichts mehr abgewinnen kann, kann eventuell ein Konsument der heutigen Thriller mit all ihrer Derbheit mit Dracula nichts anfangen - was nicht schlimm ist. Man sollte sich nur dessen bewusst sein, dass Klassiker sich einer anderen Sprachen bedienen. Insofern sind sie eine sprachliche Zeitreise. Sie wussten damals genau so viele zu begeistern wie unsere Literatur heute. Gerade bei Dracula ist es mir wieder aufgefallen, dass dies ein Roman ist, der geschrieben wurde um zu unterhalten. Und unterhalten hat er mich ausgezeichnet.
April 6, 2024
Review of my favourite book! 🦇
I have this precise Barnes and Noble Leather Bound edition and it is the most exquisite and elegant book I own.
𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 is an epistolary horror novel written by Bram Stoker, a magnificent author with profound dark imaginations. Bram Stoker's evocative and vivid descriptions of characters, castles, rituals, persecutions and repercussions captivate and engage the readers throughout the whole book. The novel is constructed through numerous letters and diary entries, incorporating elements of horror, isolation, gothic architecture and immortality. 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 is considered the groundbreaking work of Bram Stoker and it is a sensational example of his proficiency in gothic literature.
Bram Stoker dexterously incorporated intricate vocabularies through his elegantly constructed narrative style. The readers can have the pleasures of events taking place in the story from different points of views as it is written in the form of letters, and diary entries. The novel revolves around the horrendous events that Jonathan starts to witness after entering the grim residence of Count Dracula. Afterwards, undergoing dire circumstances he is able to discover that the castle is inhabited by a vampire. 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 is considered an iconic and a prestigious novel in vampire literature, and it still continues to aspire writers in this precise genre.
The intriguing elements, such as unconventional views, bizarre atmospheres, sinister thoughts, uncanny rituals and supernatural existence immerse the reader's attention, who are enticed by horror and gothic genre, constructing a sense of fear and dread in their imagination with fleeting trembles. The morbid and tenebrous ambience of the story is a pure serenity for me. 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 is a rich tapestry of profound grisly themes, offering moments of frightening shiver.
Bram Stoker's proficient storytelling with bizarre descriptions and potential character developments with grisly details earned him a prestige in the macabre literature. His renowned vampire antagonist Count Dracula is widely famous among the gothic culture and horror enthusiasts. Stoker depicted horrendous themes and elements through the character development of Count Dracula. It is like living inside the story whenever I embark on a re-read and I could read this for more thousand times, not to exaggerate!
Stoker's meticulous and scrupulous attention to details of the Bran Castle showcases his efficiency in constructing a gothic castle, potentially portraying a grotesque atmosphere in the reader's imagination. The sheer features of the castle are prodigiously detailed, ultimately bringing the residence of Bran Castle, Count Dracula, alive in the reader's imagination.
In conclusion, 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 is a captivating novel that portrays the dexterity of Bram Stoker in macabre, gothic, horror and vampire literature. It is a novel with a rich tapestry of grisly themes, gothic architecture and a horrid antagonist, unremittingly frightening its readers. The readers who are willing to delve profoundly into the sheer setting of a castle haunted by a vampire and explore fascinating themes, such as isolation, immortality and fear, can have a majestic experience after reading 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢.
I have this precise Barnes and Noble Leather Bound edition and it is the most exquisite and elegant book I own.
𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 is an epistolary horror novel written by Bram Stoker, a magnificent author with profound dark imaginations. Bram Stoker's evocative and vivid descriptions of characters, castles, rituals, persecutions and repercussions captivate and engage the readers throughout the whole book. The novel is constructed through numerous letters and diary entries, incorporating elements of horror, isolation, gothic architecture and immortality. 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 is considered the groundbreaking work of Bram Stoker and it is a sensational example of his proficiency in gothic literature.
Bram Stoker dexterously incorporated intricate vocabularies through his elegantly constructed narrative style. The readers can have the pleasures of events taking place in the story from different points of views as it is written in the form of letters, and diary entries. The novel revolves around the horrendous events that Jonathan starts to witness after entering the grim residence of Count Dracula. Afterwards, undergoing dire circumstances he is able to discover that the castle is inhabited by a vampire. 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 is considered an iconic and a prestigious novel in vampire literature, and it still continues to aspire writers in this precise genre.
The intriguing elements, such as unconventional views, bizarre atmospheres, sinister thoughts, uncanny rituals and supernatural existence immerse the reader's attention, who are enticed by horror and gothic genre, constructing a sense of fear and dread in their imagination with fleeting trembles. The morbid and tenebrous ambience of the story is a pure serenity for me. 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 is a rich tapestry of profound grisly themes, offering moments of frightening shiver.
Bram Stoker's proficient storytelling with bizarre descriptions and potential character developments with grisly details earned him a prestige in the macabre literature. His renowned vampire antagonist Count Dracula is widely famous among the gothic culture and horror enthusiasts. Stoker depicted horrendous themes and elements through the character development of Count Dracula. It is like living inside the story whenever I embark on a re-read and I could read this for more thousand times, not to exaggerate!
Stoker's meticulous and scrupulous attention to details of the Bran Castle showcases his efficiency in constructing a gothic castle, potentially portraying a grotesque atmosphere in the reader's imagination. The sheer features of the castle are prodigiously detailed, ultimately bringing the residence of Bran Castle, Count Dracula, alive in the reader's imagination.
In conclusion, 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 is a captivating novel that portrays the dexterity of Bram Stoker in macabre, gothic, horror and vampire literature. It is a novel with a rich tapestry of grisly themes, gothic architecture and a horrid antagonist, unremittingly frightening its readers. The readers who are willing to delve profoundly into the sheer setting of a castle haunted by a vampire and explore fascinating themes, such as isolation, immortality and fear, can have a majestic experience after reading 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢.
February 10, 2015
In some ways, the novel resembles little more than an epistolary Victorian sex fantasy. Fans of "Twilight" will hate this book; that quality alone would sway my opinion in its favor. You could write off Dracula as a simple horror novel or attempt to compare Stoker's vision with other vampire novels. That would not be veracious to this novel, nor would it be accurate.
Stoker's was the first popular novel of the vampire genre, and remains arguably one of the best. (Polidori's The Vampyre--a portrayal of the destructive genius of Byron--was the first.) Stoker has managed to produce a novel that is simultaneously a masterful study of High Victorian morals and strictures; a horror novel in which good does not ultimately triumph; flawed protagonists and an utterly alluring evil. This Dracula does not invite empathy, nor is he portrayed as misunderstood. He is simply an ancient evil that will either destroy or be destroyed. Modern readers unfamiliar with the premise may find the Victorian formal language off-putting. However for those of us that grew up with a literary diet laced with large helpings of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Spenser, Byron, and Tennyson Stoker's prose is clear and maintains a pace appropriate for a horror novel.
For those of you that cut your teeth on such lesser vampire offerings such as Anne Rice and Laurell K. Hamilton, this book may not be to your taste. Stoker's vampire is not a sexy, well-dressed fop with a penchant for lace ascots and leather pants. There is no doubt that Stoker's Dracula is a fundamental force of evil; yet he is also intelligent, passionate, and cultured. Dracula is not the focus of the novel, but he is the force that propels everything in it. The book is a classic in every way without emphasizing the stuffy, nauseating over-analysis that often accompanies that phrase.
Stoker's was the first popular novel of the vampire genre, and remains arguably one of the best. (Polidori's The Vampyre--a portrayal of the destructive genius of Byron--was the first.) Stoker has managed to produce a novel that is simultaneously a masterful study of High Victorian morals and strictures; a horror novel in which good does not ultimately triumph; flawed protagonists and an utterly alluring evil. This Dracula does not invite empathy, nor is he portrayed as misunderstood. He is simply an ancient evil that will either destroy or be destroyed. Modern readers unfamiliar with the premise may find the Victorian formal language off-putting. However for those of us that grew up with a literary diet laced with large helpings of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Spenser, Byron, and Tennyson Stoker's prose is clear and maintains a pace appropriate for a horror novel.
For those of you that cut your teeth on such lesser vampire offerings such as Anne Rice and Laurell K. Hamilton, this book may not be to your taste. Stoker's vampire is not a sexy, well-dressed fop with a penchant for lace ascots and leather pants. There is no doubt that Stoker's Dracula is a fundamental force of evil; yet he is also intelligent, passionate, and cultured. Dracula is not the focus of the novel, but he is the force that propels everything in it. The book is a classic in every way without emphasizing the stuffy, nauseating over-analysis that often accompanies that phrase.
October 14, 2021
Dracula uit 1897 van Bram Stoker. Een meesterwerk in de horror en een meest invloedrijk werk in de cultuur. Iedereen kent de naam Dracula en is in bepaalde maten bekend met het verhaal. Nu moet ik eerlijk toegeven redelijk onwetend te zijn geweest in mijn kennis over het verhaal en de belangrijke karakters, maar wat is dit boek dan een extra groot plezier om te lezen. Het verhaal bestaat volledig uit dagboekbladzijden, krantenartikelen en medische geschriften die ons meenemen en kennis laten maken met Dracula. Tegelijkertijd zien wij hoe de hoofdpersonages kennis maken met Dracula en hoe zij constant in een kat en muis spel verwikkeld zitten om te overleven. Dit maakt het boek extra spannend en intrigerend om te lezen. Buiten de spanning biedt Dracula een mooie kijk in het Victoriaanse tijdperk, zijn kijk op de positie van vrouwen, technologische vooruitgang en het bovennatuurlijke.
Ik heb enorm genoten van het boek en hoop jullie ook te kunnen overtuigen. Een langere analyse staat op YouTube; https://youtu.be/UpKmgOBWra8
Ik heb enorm genoten van het boek en hoop jullie ook te kunnen overtuigen. Een langere analyse staat op YouTube; https://youtu.be/UpKmgOBWra8
April 22, 2019
I'll just paste in all my separate reviews of the stories:
Dracula: Full review here: http://www.obscuraundead.com/blog/201...
The Jewel Of Seven Stars: As many times as I have read Dracula, I have never read anything else by Bram Stoker!
This is a really interesting story. It's very victorian gothic, that has an egyptian supernatural mystery. It's not THAT hard to guess, but still interesting! I thought it ended just as it was getting good, though. I have always been fascinated by Egyptian mythology and history, so I would have liked to see more! I read that apparently there's an alternate ending that is similar to how Dracula ended, but I think this ending was way better.
The Lair Of The White Worm: A young australian man is summoned to England by his granduncle to take over his estate. It starts alright, and then... it just gets weird and bad. It's racist and sexist, even for the time it was written in. The plot is super weird and random (what was the deal with the kite and all that?), pretty hard to get into, boring and just not scary. There are a lot of monologues which is pretty tiring to read. I read the original version, so FORTY chapters - but only 150 pages though. Luckily the short chapters really helped me get through it. I can't believe this was written by Bram Stoker - but at the same time I can tell it's written by him. But this was just.. pretty bad. It's not the worst book in the world, but... If you're reading reviews to decide if you're going to read it or not, just don't.
Dracula's Guest And Other Stories
Dracula's Guest: A (very) short story. I'm not sure if this was supposed to be the first chapter of Dracula, or something? The main character COULD be Jonathan Harker, but we don't know. It feels very similar to the beginning of Dracula.
The Judge's House: A good and pretty creepy story!
The Squaw: Full review here: http://carolinesometimes.blogspot.com...
The Secret Of Growing Gold: This really reminds me of Poe's Telltale Heart, just not as good!
A Gipsy Prophecy: Ok that was kind of hilarious!
The Coming Of Abel Behenna: I didn't find this a very interesting story, but it's not bad.
The Burial Of The Rats: Didn't find this very interesting or scary, really.
A Dream Of Red Hands: I think this was a nice and short sad but beautiful story.
Crooken Sands: It bored me at first, but then it picked up and was pretty creepy!
The Crystal Cup: I couldn't really get into it. Might read it again another time.
The Chain Of Destiny: Not bad! But not particularly exciting, so wouldn't really recommend it unless you're a HUGE fan of Bram Stoker or literature from around that time.
The Dualitists: That was definitely... weird. Bram Stoker was sure a creative horror writer!
Dracula: Full review here: http://www.obscuraundead.com/blog/201...
The Jewel Of Seven Stars: As many times as I have read Dracula, I have never read anything else by Bram Stoker!
This is a really interesting story. It's very victorian gothic, that has an egyptian supernatural mystery. It's not THAT hard to guess, but still interesting! I thought it ended just as it was getting good, though. I have always been fascinated by Egyptian mythology and history, so I would have liked to see more! I read that apparently there's an alternate ending that is similar to how Dracula ended, but I think this ending was way better.
The Lair Of The White Worm: A young australian man is summoned to England by his granduncle to take over his estate. It starts alright, and then... it just gets weird and bad. It's racist and sexist, even for the time it was written in. The plot is super weird and random (what was the deal with the kite and all that?), pretty hard to get into, boring and just not scary. There are a lot of monologues which is pretty tiring to read. I read the original version, so FORTY chapters - but only 150 pages though. Luckily the short chapters really helped me get through it. I can't believe this was written by Bram Stoker - but at the same time I can tell it's written by him. But this was just.. pretty bad. It's not the worst book in the world, but... If you're reading reviews to decide if you're going to read it or not, just don't.
Dracula's Guest And Other Stories
Dracula's Guest: A (very) short story. I'm not sure if this was supposed to be the first chapter of Dracula, or something? The main character COULD be Jonathan Harker, but we don't know. It feels very similar to the beginning of Dracula.
The Judge's House: A good and pretty creepy story!
The Squaw: Full review here: http://carolinesometimes.blogspot.com...
The Secret Of Growing Gold: This really reminds me of Poe's Telltale Heart, just not as good!
A Gipsy Prophecy: Ok that was kind of hilarious!
The Coming Of Abel Behenna: I didn't find this a very interesting story, but it's not bad.
The Burial Of The Rats: Didn't find this very interesting or scary, really.
A Dream Of Red Hands: I think this was a nice and short sad but beautiful story.
Crooken Sands: It bored me at first, but then it picked up and was pretty creepy!
The Crystal Cup: I couldn't really get into it. Might read it again another time.
The Chain Of Destiny: Not bad! But not particularly exciting, so wouldn't really recommend it unless you're a HUGE fan of Bram Stoker or literature from around that time.
The Dualitists: That was definitely... weird. Bram Stoker was sure a creative horror writer!
August 9, 2016
Dracula - I was worried initially that the writing style would be too difficult to grasp, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was rather easy. From what I can remember (I did begin this in April after all) Dracula started off reasonably well-paced. I found I enjoyed the story line with Lucy and her antics better than the subsequent manhunt for Dracula himself which means I didn't enjoy the ending as much as I could have. It was also a bit slower before the climax with Stoker/his characters doing a lot of waffling that really wasn't needed. I also found that the characters came to trust too easily and fell in love awfully quick, but maybe that was just part of the times.
The Jewel of Seven Stars - This one drew me in straight away with the Egyptian themes throughout as I find the whole mummies and curses ordeal fascinating. Again, I found that the protagonists fell in love way too quick for my tastes but, I went along with it as usual. This, like Dracula, started off well then declined in a lot of unnecessary waffle and then ended with a shock. I'm still in shock now at how this one ended so I would have to say this one might be my favourite out of the three longer tales as it was so unexpected.
The Lair of the White Worm - From reading the title to the end of this one, I was terribly confused. First of all, a worm? That's the big threat? And second of all, the plot was kind of all over the place. The love between the main characters seemed to happen instantly and then the death of a character had an absurd reasoning behind it. The only bit I really enjoyed was the climax-type scene towards the end.
The shorter tales - The majority of these, funnily enough, I rather enjoyed. They were quick and to the point, drawing me in and then abruptly ending in all sorts of weird ways. The Squaw, The Judge's House and The Burial of the Rats were my favourites out of the bunch with intriguing plots, a strong role for the animals and beautiful imagery.
Overall - Even though the writing was quite easy to navigate, it was still obvious that they were all written some time ago as the women were expected to stay out of the drama and the racism in The Lair of the White Worm was shocking!
The Jewel of Seven Stars - This one drew me in straight away with the Egyptian themes throughout as I find the whole mummies and curses ordeal fascinating. Again, I found that the protagonists fell in love way too quick for my tastes but, I went along with it as usual. This, like Dracula, started off well then declined in a lot of unnecessary waffle and then ended with a shock. I'm still in shock now at how this one ended so I would have to say this one might be my favourite out of the three longer tales as it was so unexpected.
The Lair of the White Worm - From reading the title to the end of this one, I was terribly confused. First of all, a worm? That's the big threat? And second of all, the plot was kind of all over the place. The love between the main characters seemed to happen instantly and then the death of a character had an absurd reasoning behind it. The only bit I really enjoyed was the climax-type scene towards the end.
The shorter tales - The majority of these, funnily enough, I rather enjoyed. They were quick and to the point, drawing me in and then abruptly ending in all sorts of weird ways. The Squaw, The Judge's House and The Burial of the Rats were my favourites out of the bunch with intriguing plots, a strong role for the animals and beautiful imagery.
Overall - Even though the writing was quite easy to navigate, it was still obvious that they were all written some time ago as the women were expected to stay out of the drama and the racism in The Lair of the White Worm was shocking!
January 21, 2024
Ποιος είμαι εγώ να κρίνω τον Δράκουλα και το έργο του Bram Stoker; Το μόνο που θα πω είναι πως εδώ έχουμε μια εντυπωσιακή έκδοση που αγάπησα μόλις την είδα. Κόσμημα για κάθε βιβλιοθήκη
November 16, 2020
I loved Bram Stoker!!! With this I finally got to read Dracula, and what a true literary classic. So much suspense throughout and it was clearly meant to be more than a horror novel as it went into depth with other themes. I also enjoyed The Jewel of Seven Stars and The Lair of the White Worm. For somebody hoping to dive into Bram Stoker’s work this is it. Hopefully they admire his writing like I do. And I just hope his literary work lives on forever.
August 29, 2015
I wil be reviewing this in the future on WKAR's Current State. Stay tuned...
November 9, 2022
I’m glad to know the origins of the rules and paraphernalia of vampires, but I was surprised by the sexism and the integration of Christian symbolism and icons as part of this horror story. I want it to be more subtle.
October 30, 2018
Story: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Reread: Yes, I have read this book multiple times already so this won't be the last time.
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Reread: Yes, I have read this book multiple times already so this won't be the last time.
March 14, 2025
Stoker's horror is truly compelling. His imagination is deeply informed by history, mythology, and Christianity.
June 5, 2024
Here’s where I say something like “I can’t possibly add anything about this book that hasn’t been said before”. All true.
I can say that the book is a bit of a slog. It’s about 300 pages in this edition and feels like twice that.
Stoker does a nice job writing in this “journal” style as told from several different viewpoints. Each narrator has a unique voice, even (or especially) Mina Harker.
All the well-known tropes and vampire lore can be found here to one extent or another. I wish there was more of it, and I wish we had gotten a wider story of Dracula’s life over the centuries. Famous vampire hunter Professor Van Helsing first appears in these pages too.
Dracula himself is kept to the shadows, and as a narrative device it works very well. Some readers might be frustrated at how little the Count appears in this novel, but I think most will marvel at Stoker’s skill at keeping the horror just out of sight. You never quite know what is happening just beyond your reach, and have to rely upon piecing it together after the worst happens (again and again).
Every horror aficionado should read this book at least once in their lifetime. I like it more each time I read it, but the mid-book-slog is real, or at least it was for me.
This is a Barnes & Noble edition containing at least two other Stoker novels and several short stories. Dracula was enough for me.
I can say that the book is a bit of a slog. It’s about 300 pages in this edition and feels like twice that.
Stoker does a nice job writing in this “journal” style as told from several different viewpoints. Each narrator has a unique voice, even (or especially) Mina Harker.
All the well-known tropes and vampire lore can be found here to one extent or another. I wish there was more of it, and I wish we had gotten a wider story of Dracula’s life over the centuries. Famous vampire hunter Professor Van Helsing first appears in these pages too.
Dracula himself is kept to the shadows, and as a narrative device it works very well. Some readers might be frustrated at how little the Count appears in this novel, but I think most will marvel at Stoker’s skill at keeping the horror just out of sight. You never quite know what is happening just beyond your reach, and have to rely upon piecing it together after the worst happens (again and again).
Every horror aficionado should read this book at least once in their lifetime. I like it more each time I read it, but the mid-book-slog is real, or at least it was for me.
This is a Barnes & Noble edition containing at least two other Stoker novels and several short stories. Dracula was enough for me.
October 26, 2023
Really Dracula is the only part of this I enjoyed and I read that several years ago and never made progress with the rest. I came back to it because I've been doing a reread of Dracula along with Dracula Daily. But I don't think I enjoyed any of the other stories and some were down right off putting. Most of the time, I just felt like my reaction at the end was "what's the point of this story?" And for others it was "wtf did I just read?"
Glad to finally check this one off as read.
Glad to finally check this one off as read.
December 30, 2015
Opinião em breve
June 27, 2023
Oops. I hit "finished," when I meant to update my status. Anyway, I guess I'll give my review for the 80% of this volume I've finished. I'll come back and adjust it in a few days if my opinion is changed, though I suspect the last few short stories will not greatly alter my feelings.
No doubt, this will upset some, but here it is. I don't think Bram Stoker was a very good writer. Or, more accurately, I don't think he wrote very good stuff and was desperately in need of a stronger editor. There are pieces of his books that display a skill with language, however, those moments are lost in horrendous, unforgivable bloat. And that's not even getting into the racism. Look, I'm sure you can read Dracula as having some racist undertones, broad ethnic stereotypes, etc. You could certainly read the character of the Count as being Jewish and of his actions being based on British (Irish in Stoker's case) fear of foreigners, particularly Eastern European Jews and what would happen to "the women" if such people immigrated. I don't think it's a stretch to read that into the book, however, that's not even what I'm getting at. Because you have to read into things and interpret meaning to come up with that (even if it isn't too hard to do). No, Layer of the White Worm (The Garden of Evil) is straight-up, one of the most blatantly, openly, hatefully racist things I've ever read. You constantly hear an internet criticism of H.P. Lovecraft parroted by YouTubers and younger critics, that he was "racist, even for his time." That phrase always annoys me, not because I think Lovecraft wasn't racist (he was, though I think interpreting all of his writing through that lens is reductive), but because it shows a lack of understanding of his time that is dangerous. One of the things that makes Lovecraft's racism so upsetting is that it was mainstream. This was the era of Birth of a Nation and the rise of the Klan for crying out loud. He wasn't an outlier. Talk to any given white, middle class man in England or New England between 1880 and 1940 and you'd likely find someone in very close alignment with Lovecraft and his odious views.
Anyway, Stoker doesn't hide it. It's open, hostile, hateful, and disgusting. You can't sugar coat it. And it's not one of those, "this is how the character thinks" situation. It's more than clear at multiple points that it's how the author thought & expected his reader to think, too.
So, while I'll finish off the last few short stories, I'm not likely to recommend Stoker to anyone.
Also, Dracula is kinda terrible. No joke, a full half of the book could be cut and you would NOT NOTICE AT ALL. I want to go back in time and hire an editor for him. A full 4th of the book is just characters going on at length about how wonderful other characters are. It's flippin' infuriating.
Anyway, Stoker can get bent.
I do not recommend.
There are other "problematic" writers of the era (Agatha Christie, Rudyard Kipling, H. Rider Haggard, etc.) whose work is more interesting and may be worth the moral questions that reading them may bring up. Stoker isn't worth it. Read Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla instead. It came out like 20 years earlier. It's better written. It's much, much shorter. Or watch the film adaptations of Stoker's work. They're all better than the source. And mercifully shorter.
No doubt, this will upset some, but here it is. I don't think Bram Stoker was a very good writer. Or, more accurately, I don't think he wrote very good stuff and was desperately in need of a stronger editor. There are pieces of his books that display a skill with language, however, those moments are lost in horrendous, unforgivable bloat. And that's not even getting into the racism. Look, I'm sure you can read Dracula as having some racist undertones, broad ethnic stereotypes, etc. You could certainly read the character of the Count as being Jewish and of his actions being based on British (Irish in Stoker's case) fear of foreigners, particularly Eastern European Jews and what would happen to "the women" if such people immigrated. I don't think it's a stretch to read that into the book, however, that's not even what I'm getting at. Because you have to read into things and interpret meaning to come up with that (even if it isn't too hard to do). No, Layer of the White Worm (The Garden of Evil) is straight-up, one of the most blatantly, openly, hatefully racist things I've ever read. You constantly hear an internet criticism of H.P. Lovecraft parroted by YouTubers and younger critics, that he was "racist, even for his time." That phrase always annoys me, not because I think Lovecraft wasn't racist (he was, though I think interpreting all of his writing through that lens is reductive), but because it shows a lack of understanding of his time that is dangerous. One of the things that makes Lovecraft's racism so upsetting is that it was mainstream. This was the era of Birth of a Nation and the rise of the Klan for crying out loud. He wasn't an outlier. Talk to any given white, middle class man in England or New England between 1880 and 1940 and you'd likely find someone in very close alignment with Lovecraft and his odious views.
Anyway, Stoker doesn't hide it. It's open, hostile, hateful, and disgusting. You can't sugar coat it. And it's not one of those, "this is how the character thinks" situation. It's more than clear at multiple points that it's how the author thought & expected his reader to think, too.
So, while I'll finish off the last few short stories, I'm not likely to recommend Stoker to anyone.
Also, Dracula is kinda terrible. No joke, a full half of the book could be cut and you would NOT NOTICE AT ALL. I want to go back in time and hire an editor for him. A full 4th of the book is just characters going on at length about how wonderful other characters are. It's flippin' infuriating.
Anyway, Stoker can get bent.
I do not recommend.
There are other "problematic" writers of the era (Agatha Christie, Rudyard Kipling, H. Rider Haggard, etc.) whose work is more interesting and may be worth the moral questions that reading them may bring up. Stoker isn't worth it. Read Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla instead. It came out like 20 years earlier. It's better written. It's much, much shorter. Or watch the film adaptations of Stoker's work. They're all better than the source. And mercifully shorter.
January 21, 2024
Dracula was the main reason I read this book but I was also intrigued to read Stoker's other works that had been included.
Dracula was excellent, its probably the first Clasic that I've actually enjoyed. I thought it was exquisite.
On the basis of this I was excited to read his next story - The Jewel of the Seven Stars. Sadly, it was like a complete 180. It was an absolute slog. It started out really interesting - a woman's father collapses under mysterious circumstances and we're led to believe its going to be a fantastical Agatha Christie-esque story set in this big mansion with a limited cast and be a traditional who dunnit? This was not the case, there's about 3 further mysterious circumstances but then the man just...wakes up?? And it goes downhill from there, the story turns into an uninteresting Ancient Egyptian history book before the ending happens which is about 4 pages long. It couldve been a really decent short story if all the unecessary pieces had been cut out. The ending wasn't even that good to redeem it either.
There was another story after this but I just skipped it. After reading The Jewel of the Seven Stars and checking out the reviews for it (mostly 2 stars), I just couldnt bring myself to read it.
Finally, there was about 150 pages of short stories. I was really looking forward to getting into these as it's been awhile since I've read any. Overall, they weren't bad. It was quite a mixed bag. Some I enjoyed, some left me feeling that I'd wasted my time. I will say that one thing Stoker was brilliant at was his ability to create characters. All of them in his short stories felt believable and felt different. He never copy pasted personalities across the stories.
Dracula was excellent, its probably the first Clasic that I've actually enjoyed. I thought it was exquisite.
On the basis of this I was excited to read his next story - The Jewel of the Seven Stars. Sadly, it was like a complete 180. It was an absolute slog. It started out really interesting - a woman's father collapses under mysterious circumstances and we're led to believe its going to be a fantastical Agatha Christie-esque story set in this big mansion with a limited cast and be a traditional who dunnit? This was not the case, there's about 3 further mysterious circumstances but then the man just...wakes up?? And it goes downhill from there, the story turns into an uninteresting Ancient Egyptian history book before the ending happens which is about 4 pages long. It couldve been a really decent short story if all the unecessary pieces had been cut out. The ending wasn't even that good to redeem it either.
There was another story after this but I just skipped it. After reading The Jewel of the Seven Stars and checking out the reviews for it (mostly 2 stars), I just couldnt bring myself to read it.
Finally, there was about 150 pages of short stories. I was really looking forward to getting into these as it's been awhile since I've read any. Overall, they weren't bad. It was quite a mixed bag. Some I enjoyed, some left me feeling that I'd wasted my time. I will say that one thing Stoker was brilliant at was his ability to create characters. All of them in his short stories felt believable and felt different. He never copy pasted personalities across the stories.
October 26, 2018
Disclaimer: I only read Dracula from this book, not the other stories. The beginning from Jonathan Harker's perspective was such riveting and exciting reading, but after that it was such a drag. It was such a struggle to finish. I did kind of like how all the characters teamed up together in the end to defeat Dracula.
August 22, 2025
Mai pensava que m'enganxaria una obra de terror i que me la llegiria tan ràpidament. Simplement irresistible i insuperable, la millor obra de terror escrita de tots els temps, com va afirmar Wilde. Per destacar alguna cosa en concret de la novel·la podria dir que el format entrecreuat de cartes i diaris personals em sembla molt interessant, ja que amb això Stoker aconsegueix transportar-te dins del personatge que ho escriu i també veure les seves experiències. Per altra banda, com sempre miro l'aspecte històric, he d'admetre que la literatura del segle XIX i que també parla d'aquest segle, que havia descuidat una mica, no em deixa mai de sorprendre, així que conclouré la meva ressenya recomanant llegir, sens dubte, Dràcula.
January 28, 2024
Re-read this classic. I have always loved this text. It’s narrative structure imitates a Victorian house by being part Gothic novel, part dime store novel, part heroes journey, part detective story and spy thriller and part shocking sterling— with tons of Shakespeare’s flourishes and allusions.
March 5, 2020
Very cool to read it in the old English style. Does require a lot of concentration because it isn't the way we talk nowadays.
Highly recommend it if you're a fan of the classic horror tales!
Highly recommend it if you're a fan of the classic horror tales!
November 29, 2021
Dracula 🌠🌠🌠🌠
March 17, 2023
Interesante, a veces un poco lento. Me gusta mucho como describe los personajes y los lugared
November 20, 2024
Still my favorite book of all time! Love it!
July 11, 2021
My favorite 🦇
March 7, 2022
Five stars for Dracula alone, everything else is just a nice bonus!
Jonathan Harker is a soon-to-be-wed lawyer who eagerly travels to Castle Dracula in the lovely country of Transylvania to settle a real estate transaction with the noble gentleman. During his journey, Jonathan suspects that things aren't as ordinary as they seem in the beautiful country. Superstitious locals speak of demons, vampires and vengeful spirits. The wolves howl with unnatural hunger. Children and villagers disappear without a trace. Blue flames appear out of thin air. The land itself seems to be haunted by a dreadful presence. Upon arriving at the castle, Jonathan soon realizes that all the horror in the land is the direct influence of the very man he was soon to meet. Count Dracula is a monster with plans to spread chaos and misfortune wherever he walks, and Jonathan is now his helpless prisoner.
In spite of its flaws, this book holds a special place in my heart. It's far from perfect and certainly far from the best story out there, but I can't help but love it because Dracula is the first horror novel I ever read. This is the book that turned me into a horror fanatic all those years ago, the book that sparked my obsession with dark literature, culture, history, folklore, music and all things relating to the horror genre. From the haunting beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, the eerie hellscape of Dracula's castle and the constant bombardment of dread that stems from the looming threat of Dracula himself, there's a lot to love here.
If you read it with the sole intention of it being scary or horrifying, you're probably going to be disappointed. That being said, it's one of the most atmospheric books ever written in my opinion. The very analytical look into Victorian society, the questioning of outdated traditions and smothering cultural standards, the exploration of sexual identity and expression, the steady rise of science vs. religion, the eerie dread that permeates every page with rumors of monsters, devils, witches, evil spirits and all manner of wicked things, the gloomy gothic architecture and more. The atmospheric nature of the tale told through personal and intimate journal entries truly make you feel as if you're experiencing the events from the eyes of the struggling characters. Stephen King taught Dracula to college students for many years and it reflects in his own works quite a bit.
Speaking of the characters, the version of the cast in the original novel are so much better than any of their numerous film and television counterparts. I always felt like every adaption fails to capture the complexity and emotional depth of the cast, portraying them as bland and one-dimensional when the original versions had a lot of heart to them.
Dracula himself is much scarier and crueler, while still maintaining his lovable disguise as a good-humored, charismatic gentleman. He feeds a living baby to a pack of ravenous vampires then feeds the mother to a flock of rabid wolves. He finds humor in psychological torture and prolonged suffering. He amuses himself by driving people insane and watching them bring harm to themselves and everything around them. He's a creepy sicko, a heartless monster and a lovably passionate nobleman all rolled into one. He's an excellent villain, especially considering the time this was written.
Jonathan, Lucy, Dr. Helsing, Seward, Quincy, even the hilarious Dr. Renfield are all heartfelt characters in their own right. Most of all, my favorite part of the book is the character of Mina Harker. I always felt moved by her bravery, kindness and rebellious humor. No matter how strong the threat of Dracula grew, Mina's the one that remained strong, courageous and rational in the face of terror and despair. Even after losing her dearest friend and when her male comrades were left frantic and devastated, she remained a great leader. She was the link that held the main group together and gave them the courage they needed to face off against the menacing Dracula. If you ask me, she's very underrated as far as strong female characters go. I think it's very sad that Mina's character is always horribly misconstrued and poorly represented in nearly every film and tv show she's ever been in because the original character is fantastic.
Jonathan Harker is a soon-to-be-wed lawyer who eagerly travels to Castle Dracula in the lovely country of Transylvania to settle a real estate transaction with the noble gentleman. During his journey, Jonathan suspects that things aren't as ordinary as they seem in the beautiful country. Superstitious locals speak of demons, vampires and vengeful spirits. The wolves howl with unnatural hunger. Children and villagers disappear without a trace. Blue flames appear out of thin air. The land itself seems to be haunted by a dreadful presence. Upon arriving at the castle, Jonathan soon realizes that all the horror in the land is the direct influence of the very man he was soon to meet. Count Dracula is a monster with plans to spread chaos and misfortune wherever he walks, and Jonathan is now his helpless prisoner.
In spite of its flaws, this book holds a special place in my heart. It's far from perfect and certainly far from the best story out there, but I can't help but love it because Dracula is the first horror novel I ever read. This is the book that turned me into a horror fanatic all those years ago, the book that sparked my obsession with dark literature, culture, history, folklore, music and all things relating to the horror genre. From the haunting beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, the eerie hellscape of Dracula's castle and the constant bombardment of dread that stems from the looming threat of Dracula himself, there's a lot to love here.
If you read it with the sole intention of it being scary or horrifying, you're probably going to be disappointed. That being said, it's one of the most atmospheric books ever written in my opinion. The very analytical look into Victorian society, the questioning of outdated traditions and smothering cultural standards, the exploration of sexual identity and expression, the steady rise of science vs. religion, the eerie dread that permeates every page with rumors of monsters, devils, witches, evil spirits and all manner of wicked things, the gloomy gothic architecture and more. The atmospheric nature of the tale told through personal and intimate journal entries truly make you feel as if you're experiencing the events from the eyes of the struggling characters. Stephen King taught Dracula to college students for many years and it reflects in his own works quite a bit.
Speaking of the characters, the version of the cast in the original novel are so much better than any of their numerous film and television counterparts. I always felt like every adaption fails to capture the complexity and emotional depth of the cast, portraying them as bland and one-dimensional when the original versions had a lot of heart to them.
Dracula himself is much scarier and crueler, while still maintaining his lovable disguise as a good-humored, charismatic gentleman. He feeds a living baby to a pack of ravenous vampires then feeds the mother to a flock of rabid wolves. He finds humor in psychological torture and prolonged suffering. He amuses himself by driving people insane and watching them bring harm to themselves and everything around them. He's a creepy sicko, a heartless monster and a lovably passionate nobleman all rolled into one. He's an excellent villain, especially considering the time this was written.
Jonathan, Lucy, Dr. Helsing, Seward, Quincy, even the hilarious Dr. Renfield are all heartfelt characters in their own right. Most of all, my favorite part of the book is the character of Mina Harker. I always felt moved by her bravery, kindness and rebellious humor. No matter how strong the threat of Dracula grew, Mina's the one that remained strong, courageous and rational in the face of terror and despair. Even after losing her dearest friend and when her male comrades were left frantic and devastated, she remained a great leader. She was the link that held the main group together and gave them the courage they needed to face off against the menacing Dracula. If you ask me, she's very underrated as far as strong female characters go. I think it's very sad that Mina's character is always horribly misconstrued and poorly represented in nearly every film and tv show she's ever been in because the original character is fantastic.
May 26, 2023
Really Enjoyed the whole book, I wanted to read more about the author's work, other than Dracula, and find myself very satisfied. This is a long review for each of the stories contained in this big book. Enjoy!
Dracula
I just love this classic! This version portraits the real horrifying creature that Dracula is, nothing to do with the romanticized representations the movies display. The fear that each of the characters experience and register on their diaries keeps the tension ongoing throughout the story, the language isn’t that dense so is easy to understand and follow
The young lawyer Jonathan Harker embarks into an adventure that will change his life forever, little did he know that it would be a journey of horror, madness, and all things evil. He travels to the beautiful country of Transylvania to complete a real estate transaction at the castle of Count Dracula, but as soon as he gets nearer the castle, he starts to perceive that things are not quite right and soon finds himself in a devilish turmoil where he might not come out alive. Meanwhile, the terrible count Dracula makes his way to merry old London by traveling on a ship and killing all those aboard. A series of gory murders, and unexplained events develop once the count touches grounds, and that frightened Jonathan, along with a small army of friends partake in the most incredible, frightening, and mind-blowing hunt that they will ever experience and where not all of them will survive
The Jewel of Seven Stars
This is a slow-burn gothic novel, for me, it had a roller coaster effect, it started with an impulse then gradually increased the excitement, elevating you to the pinnacle of the thrill but then, the narrative dropped you to the ground with a loud thump of “not yet” and continued with a steady pace until the next cycle started again.
The story begins with the narrator, Malcom Ross, a young lawyer that it’s being summoned in the middle of night by a lady he just met, but fell in love with her immediately, her name: Margaret Trelawny, daughter of a famous and respected Egyptologist Abel Trelawny. Several people were summoned that night, the doctor Winchester, the officer Dolan, and the housekeepers why? Margaret found her father lying on the floor, bleeding and unconscious. There are strange facts surrounding this event, Mr. Trelawny seemed to be attacked, but he was locked in his chambers, he also left a letter with instructions, that in the case that he was found under such event, in a trance sort of speak, he was not to be removed from his quarters nor the Egyptian relics found in his room, also, someone must always be on watch in his room, as long as it takes for him to wake up. The doctor did attend to him but couldn’t wake him up. A series of weird and disturbing events happen during the vigil, then, after some days he wakes up, just like that.
Everything is related to the Egyptian treasures Mr. Trelawny brought back from an Egyptian tomb, including the sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian Queen, Tera, who, back in her time, was said to have practice black magic and possessed immense power over the upper and lower worlds. All that was found within her tomb: chests, hieroglyphics, engravings, etc. pointed that they were instructions, instructions from the Queen herself, the beautiful oddly well-preserved Queen that look more like a marble statue than a mummy, with a seven-finger hand holding a ruby jewel with seven points that look like stars wanted to be brought back to life, resurrected.
The author provided a lot of details of the father-daughter relationship, the days of the vigil, the Margaret-Malcom sentimental relation, a lot of the tomb discovery and the transportation of the Queen herself, the story keeps building and building but when it reaches the end, wham! Falls short, somewhat anti-climactic, left me with the “wait, that’s it?” don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the story, very much, but I now understand why the end was re-written, however, I do appreciate both endings
The Lair of the White Worm
A tale of old superstitions were monstrous creatures come to life to hunt the living. The story starts with the young Australian Adam Salton, who’s come to visit his English uncle after he requested his presence down at his state. The uncle called him as the only descendant alive left to interpose some kind of familial connection to inherit his state since he didn’t have any direct descendants. Adam, who’s already a wealthy and prosperous man back in Australia, agrees to spend time with his old uncle and immediately establishes a close relation with him and to his old friend who he adopts as a mentor of what is turning out to be a very obscure and deadly adventure.
The story is somewhat bizarre, the giant white worm that roams underneath the earth by night and by day turns to a beautiful and enticing woman, a strange environment effect were thousands of birds rain down destroying everything, a giant crow-like kite is suspended on the heavens to maintain the birds away, a crazed neighbor who is in charge of upholding the kite up in the sky, will-power show downs that at the end I didn’t understand what was the main purpose of it, a game of cat and mouse throughout the whole story, the old good vs evil theme.
Even when I got confused and had to re-read some parts, I did enjoy this story, not one of my favorites but it did manage to maintain my attention right until the end
The short stories
Dracula’s guest: about this guy that wonders off in an abandon side of a ghost town where he almost finds death for not listening to the warnings of the town people, and by a tiny miracle he lives to tell his story
The Judge’s house: a young man that all he wanted was some peace and quiet to work in his mathematical studies, rents an old house, which by the locals’ allusions, was a haunted house, and all he found were rats, rats that interrupt him while he worked at night, but there was one in specific that looked at him with such stare that that made him doubt, was it really just a big rat?
The Squaw: this one was weird, but interesting, should been called, the revenge of the cat, which she was in her right by the way, damn fool killed her kitten, he had it coming!
The secret if the growing gold: This one was sad; the typical aristocrat that gets involved with a common girl to only discard her, by any means at the end, then goes and gets married to another aristocrat and bring her back home, where both get hunted by the poor discarded girl, In a very weird way
A gipsy prophecy: The classic story where a guy is told it’s fortune by a gypsy who tells him that he is going to end up killing his wife, which at first they take it as a joke, but underneath, he can’t stop thinking about it until he’s hunted by the thought and ends up trying to stop it
The coming of Abel Behenna: another sad one, pretty much about a love triangle, where one ends up with the short end of the stick after trying so hard and working his behind off
The burial of the rats: I got exhausted of running along the main character! So, he goes out exploring the city, and ends up in a bad neighborhood, and of course, instead of relaying in his gut instinct to just turn back, nooo, he carries on, going deeper and deeper into the horrible maze of tents were those weird people live, if they were people.
A dream of red hands: Is about this guy, having really bad dreams, dreams that were so real that he sees his hands covered with blood, like if it were real. He confides in his friend the doctor, which in turn, attributes the dreams to a guilty conscience and the constant yearn to find redemption.
Crooked sands: This story reminded me the one of Andersen’s tale, the Emperor’s new clothes, where the emperor was so vain that he prefer to evade reality instead of admitting that he was wrong, same thing happened in this story, with a pinch of scary notes
The crystal cup: This is sad one too, the story of lovers who got separated and after a long and sad journey got back together but not in a happy way, just heartbreaking
The Chain of Destiny: The story of a boy that is about to meet a girl, but starts noticing some weird stuff before meeting her, then learns that she is hunted, then comes the battle of evil vs good, leave you to read and find out which one won
The Dualitists: No, No , No, No, NOOOOOOO, so bloody sickening, twisted, ARRRGGGHHHH, NOOOOOO, all I can say: I now have a new trauma
Dracula
I just love this classic! This version portraits the real horrifying creature that Dracula is, nothing to do with the romanticized representations the movies display. The fear that each of the characters experience and register on their diaries keeps the tension ongoing throughout the story, the language isn’t that dense so is easy to understand and follow
The young lawyer Jonathan Harker embarks into an adventure that will change his life forever, little did he know that it would be a journey of horror, madness, and all things evil. He travels to the beautiful country of Transylvania to complete a real estate transaction at the castle of Count Dracula, but as soon as he gets nearer the castle, he starts to perceive that things are not quite right and soon finds himself in a devilish turmoil where he might not come out alive. Meanwhile, the terrible count Dracula makes his way to merry old London by traveling on a ship and killing all those aboard. A series of gory murders, and unexplained events develop once the count touches grounds, and that frightened Jonathan, along with a small army of friends partake in the most incredible, frightening, and mind-blowing hunt that they will ever experience and where not all of them will survive
The Jewel of Seven Stars
This is a slow-burn gothic novel, for me, it had a roller coaster effect, it started with an impulse then gradually increased the excitement, elevating you to the pinnacle of the thrill but then, the narrative dropped you to the ground with a loud thump of “not yet” and continued with a steady pace until the next cycle started again.
The story begins with the narrator, Malcom Ross, a young lawyer that it’s being summoned in the middle of night by a lady he just met, but fell in love with her immediately, her name: Margaret Trelawny, daughter of a famous and respected Egyptologist Abel Trelawny. Several people were summoned that night, the doctor Winchester, the officer Dolan, and the housekeepers why? Margaret found her father lying on the floor, bleeding and unconscious. There are strange facts surrounding this event, Mr. Trelawny seemed to be attacked, but he was locked in his chambers, he also left a letter with instructions, that in the case that he was found under such event, in a trance sort of speak, he was not to be removed from his quarters nor the Egyptian relics found in his room, also, someone must always be on watch in his room, as long as it takes for him to wake up. The doctor did attend to him but couldn’t wake him up. A series of weird and disturbing events happen during the vigil, then, after some days he wakes up, just like that.
Everything is related to the Egyptian treasures Mr. Trelawny brought back from an Egyptian tomb, including the sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian Queen, Tera, who, back in her time, was said to have practice black magic and possessed immense power over the upper and lower worlds. All that was found within her tomb: chests, hieroglyphics, engravings, etc. pointed that they were instructions, instructions from the Queen herself, the beautiful oddly well-preserved Queen that look more like a marble statue than a mummy, with a seven-finger hand holding a ruby jewel with seven points that look like stars wanted to be brought back to life, resurrected.
The author provided a lot of details of the father-daughter relationship, the days of the vigil, the Margaret-Malcom sentimental relation, a lot of the tomb discovery and the transportation of the Queen herself, the story keeps building and building but when it reaches the end, wham! Falls short, somewhat anti-climactic, left me with the “wait, that’s it?” don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the story, very much, but I now understand why the end was re-written, however, I do appreciate both endings
The Lair of the White Worm
A tale of old superstitions were monstrous creatures come to life to hunt the living. The story starts with the young Australian Adam Salton, who’s come to visit his English uncle after he requested his presence down at his state. The uncle called him as the only descendant alive left to interpose some kind of familial connection to inherit his state since he didn’t have any direct descendants. Adam, who’s already a wealthy and prosperous man back in Australia, agrees to spend time with his old uncle and immediately establishes a close relation with him and to his old friend who he adopts as a mentor of what is turning out to be a very obscure and deadly adventure.
The story is somewhat bizarre, the giant white worm that roams underneath the earth by night and by day turns to a beautiful and enticing woman, a strange environment effect were thousands of birds rain down destroying everything, a giant crow-like kite is suspended on the heavens to maintain the birds away, a crazed neighbor who is in charge of upholding the kite up in the sky, will-power show downs that at the end I didn’t understand what was the main purpose of it, a game of cat and mouse throughout the whole story, the old good vs evil theme.
Even when I got confused and had to re-read some parts, I did enjoy this story, not one of my favorites but it did manage to maintain my attention right until the end
The short stories
Dracula’s guest: about this guy that wonders off in an abandon side of a ghost town where he almost finds death for not listening to the warnings of the town people, and by a tiny miracle he lives to tell his story
The Judge’s house: a young man that all he wanted was some peace and quiet to work in his mathematical studies, rents an old house, which by the locals’ allusions, was a haunted house, and all he found were rats, rats that interrupt him while he worked at night, but there was one in specific that looked at him with such stare that that made him doubt, was it really just a big rat?
The Squaw: this one was weird, but interesting, should been called, the revenge of the cat, which she was in her right by the way, damn fool killed her kitten, he had it coming!
The secret if the growing gold: This one was sad; the typical aristocrat that gets involved with a common girl to only discard her, by any means at the end, then goes and gets married to another aristocrat and bring her back home, where both get hunted by the poor discarded girl, In a very weird way
A gipsy prophecy: The classic story where a guy is told it’s fortune by a gypsy who tells him that he is going to end up killing his wife, which at first they take it as a joke, but underneath, he can’t stop thinking about it until he’s hunted by the thought and ends up trying to stop it
The coming of Abel Behenna: another sad one, pretty much about a love triangle, where one ends up with the short end of the stick after trying so hard and working his behind off
The burial of the rats: I got exhausted of running along the main character! So, he goes out exploring the city, and ends up in a bad neighborhood, and of course, instead of relaying in his gut instinct to just turn back, nooo, he carries on, going deeper and deeper into the horrible maze of tents were those weird people live, if they were people.
A dream of red hands: Is about this guy, having really bad dreams, dreams that were so real that he sees his hands covered with blood, like if it were real. He confides in his friend the doctor, which in turn, attributes the dreams to a guilty conscience and the constant yearn to find redemption.
Crooked sands: This story reminded me the one of Andersen’s tale, the Emperor’s new clothes, where the emperor was so vain that he prefer to evade reality instead of admitting that he was wrong, same thing happened in this story, with a pinch of scary notes
The crystal cup: This is sad one too, the story of lovers who got separated and after a long and sad journey got back together but not in a happy way, just heartbreaking
The Chain of Destiny: The story of a boy that is about to meet a girl, but starts noticing some weird stuff before meeting her, then learns that she is hunted, then comes the battle of evil vs good, leave you to read and find out which one won
The Dualitists: No, No , No, No, NOOOOOOO, so bloody sickening, twisted, ARRRGGGHHHH, NOOOOOO, all I can say: I now have a new trauma
January 19, 2018
(This rating is for ‘Dracula’ only, as I have not yet read the other stories in this book.)
“Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring.”
A story of a vampire, Dracula, who travels from Transylvania to London so that he may have at his disposal an ample supply of fresh blood; and of a group of people who discover his existence and determine to hunt him down.
My previous ideas of Dracula were wiped clean as I began this book and he revealed himself not to be a cheesy caricature resembling a cheap magician but a shadowy object of pure evil.
I was slightly worried that it would be boring or difficult to read because of the time and language in which it was written, but it was a delightfully easy and intoxicating read! The story is written not from one person’s POV, but with the combination of newspaper articles, journal entries, and ship logs.
The 19th century language and sophistication and the evil and horror of Dracula paired interestingly well and made for a very remarkable story! It was a bit more dark than I expected for a book of its time, and I found myself sucked into the story as strongly as Dracula sucked the life from his victims.
“Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring.”
A story of a vampire, Dracula, who travels from Transylvania to London so that he may have at his disposal an ample supply of fresh blood; and of a group of people who discover his existence and determine to hunt him down.
My previous ideas of Dracula were wiped clean as I began this book and he revealed himself not to be a cheesy caricature resembling a cheap magician but a shadowy object of pure evil.
I was slightly worried that it would be boring or difficult to read because of the time and language in which it was written, but it was a delightfully easy and intoxicating read! The story is written not from one person’s POV, but with the combination of newspaper articles, journal entries, and ship logs.
The 19th century language and sophistication and the evil and horror of Dracula paired interestingly well and made for a very remarkable story! It was a bit more dark than I expected for a book of its time, and I found myself sucked into the story as strongly as Dracula sucked the life from his victims.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews