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Dracula: Sense and Nonsense
To see our full range of Dracula studies, go to "Kindle Store" and search for DESERT ISLAND DRACULA LIBRARY.
Was Vlad the Impaler the inspiration for Bram Stoker's novel Dracula? No!
Did Stoker write about Transylvania from first-hand experience? No!
Has the model for Count Dracula's castle been found? No!
Must Count Dracula stay out of the sunlight? Absolutely not!
Literary sleuth Elizabeth Miller exposes these and numerous other popular distortions and fabrications that have plagued our understanding of Stoker and his famous novel.
Where is this nonsense coming from? This book will tell you.
There are 16 titles in the Desert Island Dracula Library:
Dracula: The Shade and the Shadow (ISBN 978-1-874287-10-0)
Dracula: Sense & Nonsense (ISBN 978-1-905328-15-4)
Dracula: The Novel and the Legend (3rd Ed) (978-1-874287-44-5)
The Origins of Dracula (978-1-874287-07-0)
Dracula Unearthed (annotated) (ISBN 978-1-905328-14-7)
The Primrose Path (978-1-874287-21-6)
The Shoulder of Shasta (annotated) (978-1-874287-30-8)
The Jewel of Seven Stars (annotated) (978-1-874287-08-7)
The Lady of The Shroud (annotated) (978-1-874287-22-3)
Lady Athlyne (annotated) (978-1-905328-31-4)
Snowbound (annotated) (978-1-874287-29-2)
A Glimpse of America (978-1-874287-35-3)
Mayo’s On the Truths of Popular Superstition (978-1-874287-69-8)
Bram Stoker: A Bibliography (978-1-874287-75-9)
Calmet’s Treatise on Vampires and Revenants (978-1-874287-06-3
Troublesome Corpses: Vampires and Revenants from Antiquity to the Present (978-1-905328-30-7)
Was Vlad the Impaler the inspiration for Bram Stoker's novel Dracula? No!
Did Stoker write about Transylvania from first-hand experience? No!
Has the model for Count Dracula's castle been found? No!
Must Count Dracula stay out of the sunlight? Absolutely not!
Literary sleuth Elizabeth Miller exposes these and numerous other popular distortions and fabrications that have plagued our understanding of Stoker and his famous novel.
Where is this nonsense coming from? This book will tell you.
There are 16 titles in the Desert Island Dracula Library:
Dracula: The Shade and the Shadow (ISBN 978-1-874287-10-0)
Dracula: Sense & Nonsense (ISBN 978-1-905328-15-4)
Dracula: The Novel and the Legend (3rd Ed) (978-1-874287-44-5)
The Origins of Dracula (978-1-874287-07-0)
Dracula Unearthed (annotated) (ISBN 978-1-905328-14-7)
The Primrose Path (978-1-874287-21-6)
The Shoulder of Shasta (annotated) (978-1-874287-30-8)
The Jewel of Seven Stars (annotated) (978-1-874287-08-7)
The Lady of The Shroud (annotated) (978-1-874287-22-3)
Lady Athlyne (annotated) (978-1-905328-31-4)
Snowbound (annotated) (978-1-874287-29-2)
A Glimpse of America (978-1-874287-35-3)
Mayo’s On the Truths of Popular Superstition (978-1-874287-69-8)
Bram Stoker: A Bibliography (978-1-874287-75-9)
Calmet’s Treatise on Vampires and Revenants (978-1-874287-06-3
Troublesome Corpses: Vampires and Revenants from Antiquity to the Present (978-1-905328-30-7)
- GenresVampiresNonfiction
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
10 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Russell Miller
18 books8 followersFrom Wikipedia:
Elizabeth Russell Miller is Professor Emerita at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She currently resides in Toronto. In her early academic career, she focused on Newfoundland literature, primarily the life and work of her father, well-known Newfoundland author and humorist Ted Russell. Since 1990, her major field of research has been Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, its author, sources and influence.
Elizabeth Russell Miller is Professor Emerita at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She currently resides in Toronto. In her early academic career, she focused on Newfoundland literature, primarily the life and work of her father, well-known Newfoundland author and humorist Ted Russell. Since 1990, her major field of research has been Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, its author, sources and influence.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 5, 2014
I'm not sure exactly what I expected from this book. It definitely had some interesting stuff in it and it was a good look at Dracula scholarship over time. It was considerably more scholarly than I was expecting (which isn't a bad thing), and it was a demonstration of how small things can be a big deal to someone who makes a living studying a book. I felt that Miller frequently went over the top in her criticism of past Dracula critics. I get that it was sort of tongue and cheek, but it was also ridiculous sometimes.
The thing that I found most interesting in the book was the view it gave of how radically different people's impressions of the same book can be. Miller outlines so many different theories and ideas and perspectives about Stoker and Dracula and in sum, they become an interesting view of the subjectivity of human nature and the role fiction plays in our lives.
Still, unless you're really interested in Dracula scholarship, I'd probably pass on this book. Most of the major findings are available elsewhere.
The thing that I found most interesting in the book was the view it gave of how radically different people's impressions of the same book can be. Miller outlines so many different theories and ideas and perspectives about Stoker and Dracula and in sum, they become an interesting view of the subjectivity of human nature and the role fiction plays in our lives.
Still, unless you're really interested in Dracula scholarship, I'd probably pass on this book. Most of the major findings are available elsewhere.
March 28, 2020
I found this really interesting from a trivia point of view but even tho it was a short book, the information was repetitive because the author was a slave to the format.
A bit of a kill-joy if you love variations on the Dracula theme, although it has not diminished my enjoyment of what I already recognised as gross misappropriation, in fact, it gives me pleasure to recognise the lengths subsequent authors and film makers have gone to expand on the Dracula world.
I think it is a tribute to Bram Stoker to have inspired so much variation.
A bit of a kill-joy if you love variations on the Dracula theme, although it has not diminished my enjoyment of what I already recognised as gross misappropriation, in fact, it gives me pleasure to recognise the lengths subsequent authors and film makers have gone to expand on the Dracula world.
I think it is a tribute to Bram Stoker to have inspired so much variation.
September 30, 2024
Dracula is my spirit animal. (Super)Naturally, it was only a matter of time before I tackled Miller's Sense and Nonsense.
This book is curiously arranged, and should only attempted by Dracula enthusiasts/scholars.
Miller vehemently debunks many misconceptions about Stoker's finest creation. The vitriol includes notions posited by herself and her editor! Her takedown (with receipts) include such vile language as, "Poppcock," and "balderdash," and "utter trash."
However, all too often it reads as though Miller's dogged defense equates to a previous scholar making claims and Miller countering with 'if it's not in Stoker's notes, it's conjecture.' On occasion, it seems a little pedantic.
This book is curiously arranged, and should only attempted by Dracula enthusiasts/scholars.
Miller vehemently debunks many misconceptions about Stoker's finest creation. The vitriol includes notions posited by herself and her editor! Her takedown (with receipts) include such vile language as, "Poppcock," and "balderdash," and "utter trash."
However, all too often it reads as though Miller's dogged defense equates to a previous scholar making claims and Miller countering with 'if it's not in Stoker's notes, it's conjecture.' On occasion, it seems a little pedantic.
May 3, 2023
Okay I thought this was an interesting book. Of course as a Dracula fan I was interested from the beginning but I’m not sure I would recommend it to someone who knows little of the subject. It does takes some interest. There are some very interesting facts and history about Dracula research and scholars. I did think some things were a little overemphasised for lack of a better word, but that’s just my opinion. Elizabeth Miller is obviously very passionate about the subject matter and it shows, sometimes in over the top critics and comments. I thought it was an in depth review of the text, the myths attached to it, Stoker…And most interesting was the different versions and interpretations of the text, sometimes bizarre. But ultimately, it did have some viewpoints about fiction and the role it plays in our daily lives. So if you’re not a Dracula nerd I’d say don’t bother.
February 15, 2019
Truth be Told
Excellent book. Takes to task all the numerous myths and legends that has grown up around the book and sets things as straight as possible. A must have for a Dracula scholar.
Excellent book. Takes to task all the numerous myths and legends that has grown up around the book and sets things as straight as possible. A must have for a Dracula scholar.
July 13, 2016
Prepare to have your image of Bram Stoker's vampire count changed forever. Elizabeth Miller takes a swift boot to the idea that Stoker based Dracula upon Vladislaus "the Impaler" Dracula III of Walachia, debunking decades of false evidence and providing evidence of her own from Bram Stoker's notes he made before writing the novel.
The book is succinct, readable and even funny at times. My one criticism is that perhaps Miller was a little bit too acerbic on occasion when sticking the boot into the falsehoods and myths, but that is possibly down to one of my favourite historians getting a drubbing for his part in spreading misconceptions! Either way, it's well worth a read if one wants to find out the truth about Bram, the Count and the Impaler Prince Vlad.
The book is succinct, readable and even funny at times. My one criticism is that perhaps Miller was a little bit too acerbic on occasion when sticking the boot into the falsehoods and myths, but that is possibly down to one of my favourite historians getting a drubbing for his part in spreading misconceptions! Either way, it's well worth a read if one wants to find out the truth about Bram, the Count and the Impaler Prince Vlad.
October 31, 2016
Elizabeth Miller has zero patience for shoddy scholarship - including her own. In "Dracula: Sense and Nonsense" she firmly corrects all the misconceptions people continue to proliferate about the writing of "Dracula" in spite of access to Stoker's own notes on the subject. Vlad the Impaler, Castle Dracula - numerous falsehoods fall under her axe. An insightful and delightful read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews