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Dracula & Dracula's Guest
Librarian note: This is an alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781840226270.
Dracula: Introduction and Notes by Dr David Rogers, Kingston University.
'There he lay looking as if youth had been half-renewed, for the white hair and moustache were changed to dark iron-grey, the cheeks were fuller, and the white skin seemed ruby-red underneath; the mouth was redder than ever, for on the lips were gouts of fresh blood, which trickled from the corners of the mouth and ran over the chin and neck. Even the deep, burning eyes seemed set amongst the swollen flesh, for the lids and pouches underneath were bloated. It seemed as if the whole awful creature were simply gorged with blood; he lay like a filthy leech, exhausted with his repletion.'
Thus Bram Stoker, one of the greatest exponents of the supernatural narrative, describes the demonic subject of his chilling masterpiece Dracula, a truly iconic and unsettling tale of vampirism.
Dracula's Guest & Other Stories: Edited and Introduced by David Stuart Davies.
The above is followed with a rich collection of Stoker's macabre tales including Dracula's Guest (which was omitted from the final version of Dracula); a devilishly dangerous haunted room in The Judge's House; a fatalistic tragedy in The Burial of the Rats; a terror of revenge from beyond the grave in The Secret of Growing Gold, and a surprising twist in the tail in The Gypsy's Prophecy. Other strange and frightening episodes provide a feast of terror for those readers who like to be unnerved as well as entertained.
Dracula: Introduction and Notes by Dr David Rogers, Kingston University.
'There he lay looking as if youth had been half-renewed, for the white hair and moustache were changed to dark iron-grey, the cheeks were fuller, and the white skin seemed ruby-red underneath; the mouth was redder than ever, for on the lips were gouts of fresh blood, which trickled from the corners of the mouth and ran over the chin and neck. Even the deep, burning eyes seemed set amongst the swollen flesh, for the lids and pouches underneath were bloated. It seemed as if the whole awful creature were simply gorged with blood; he lay like a filthy leech, exhausted with his repletion.'
Thus Bram Stoker, one of the greatest exponents of the supernatural narrative, describes the demonic subject of his chilling masterpiece Dracula, a truly iconic and unsettling tale of vampirism.
Dracula's Guest & Other Stories: Edited and Introduced by David Stuart Davies.
The above is followed with a rich collection of Stoker's macabre tales including Dracula's Guest (which was omitted from the final version of Dracula); a devilishly dangerous haunted room in The Judge's House; a fatalistic tragedy in The Burial of the Rats; a terror of revenge from beyond the grave in The Secret of Growing Gold, and a surprising twist in the tail in The Gypsy's Prophecy. Other strange and frightening episodes provide a feast of terror for those readers who like to be unnerved as well as entertained.
576 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2009
48 people are currently reading
457 people want to read
About the author
Bram Stoker
2,614 books5,796 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 30, 2022
Enjoyed it as much as the first time!!!
October 24, 2025
The clouds/white fog outside my plane window really enhanced my experience finishing this book.
Finally! I read Dracula! To be honest, the book had a little bit of a slow start and then a slow and drawn out ending just to have the resolution take a page and a half. Really the meat of the story was in the middle, but it made it worth the read. It touched on some themes I wasn’t expecting (women appreciation novel??). Overall, I really enjoyed the book and recommend with the forewarning of giving some time to make it through the slow parts.
(I think I averaged 2 minutes per page reading this rip)
** side note: didn’t read the short stories I just couldn’t do it sorry
Finally! I read Dracula! To be honest, the book had a little bit of a slow start and then a slow and drawn out ending just to have the resolution take a page and a half. Really the meat of the story was in the middle, but it made it worth the read. It touched on some themes I wasn’t expecting (women appreciation novel??). Overall, I really enjoyed the book and recommend with the forewarning of giving some time to make it through the slow parts.
(I think I averaged 2 minutes per page reading this rip)
** side note: didn’t read the short stories I just couldn’t do it sorry
March 11, 2017
*Review for 'Dracula & Dracula's Guest (& Other Stories)' by Wordsworth Editions
This wonderful huge collection from Wordsworth is, actually, two books in one as it contains Stoker’s most famous stories plus a few more. Beside though Stoker's Dracula's stories I must admit that the rest left me in the end with some very mixed feelings; and that is because his writting doesn't meet the expectation created from Dracula, which is a very unique story.
Below my review for each part:
Dracula
After so many, many years the famous Count Dracula has been represented in movies, shows, plays etc. so many times that you could say he has become rather boring and a bit cliché; but after reading Stoker’s story for the first time I still found him fresh and interesting. And that is because Stoker has written it in a very unique style as we see it through the Journals and Diaries of each character.
Of course the story drags a bit at some parts, and especially with Lucy’s, but as a whole it is a very well written story and kept me till the end. 8/10
Dracula’s Guest & Other Stories
The second part of the book contains the famous “extra” story from Dracula that was supposedly cut; but also twelve more supernatural tales.
Dracula’s Guest
The Judge’s House
The Squaw
The Secret of the Growing Gold
The Gypsy Prophesy
The Coming of Abel Behenna
The Burial of Rats
A Dream of Red Hands
Crooken Sands
The Crystal Cup
The Chain of Destiny
The Dualitists
The Red Stockade
Unfortunately I found most of the stories too mediocre with only a few being, at least, interesting enough because, compared to Stoker’s most famous novel, they seem quite too... simple. 5.5/10
Overall, I would say that this collection is worth reading if you want to see something more than just Dracula, and I would definitely recommended, but just don't expect much from the rest of his short stories.
This wonderful huge collection from Wordsworth is, actually, two books in one as it contains Stoker’s most famous stories plus a few more. Beside though Stoker's Dracula's stories I must admit that the rest left me in the end with some very mixed feelings; and that is because his writting doesn't meet the expectation created from Dracula, which is a very unique story.
Below my review for each part:
Dracula
After so many, many years the famous Count Dracula has been represented in movies, shows, plays etc. so many times that you could say he has become rather boring and a bit cliché; but after reading Stoker’s story for the first time I still found him fresh and interesting. And that is because Stoker has written it in a very unique style as we see it through the Journals and Diaries of each character.
Of course the story drags a bit at some parts, and especially with Lucy’s, but as a whole it is a very well written story and kept me till the end. 8/10
Dracula’s Guest & Other Stories
The second part of the book contains the famous “extra” story from Dracula that was supposedly cut; but also twelve more supernatural tales.
Dracula’s Guest
The Judge’s House
The Squaw
The Secret of the Growing Gold
The Gypsy Prophesy
The Coming of Abel Behenna
The Burial of Rats
A Dream of Red Hands
Crooken Sands
The Crystal Cup
The Chain of Destiny
The Dualitists
The Red Stockade
Unfortunately I found most of the stories too mediocre with only a few being, at least, interesting enough because, compared to Stoker’s most famous novel, they seem quite too... simple. 5.5/10
Overall, I would say that this collection is worth reading if you want to see something more than just Dracula, and I would definitely recommended, but just don't expect much from the rest of his short stories.
November 28, 2021
Historia corta acerca de un inglés que por su incredulidad y en contra de los consejos de su cochero, decide explorar un lugar donde encuentra una tumba de un no muerto.
April 11, 2014
Esta edição da Wordsworth Editions dedicada a algum do trabalho de Bram Stoker é extremamente generosa pois oferece ao leitor por um preço muito convidativo (3,50 € cá em Portugal) não só a obra-prima do autor mas também 13 contos deste, a maioria de terror. A sua generosidade estende-se não só ao número de contos que oferece ao leitor, mas também á qualidade destes, pois os que inclui são de facto alguns dos seus melhores trabalhos. É relativamente sabido que Bram Stoker foi um escritor "em part-time", pois as funções que ocupava como "Manager" de um famoso e altamente exigente actor de teatro da época tomavam-lhe a maioria do tempo; consequentemente a qualidade do seu trabalho como escritor varia entre o excelente e o profundamente medíocre - não se restringindo este ao terror, apesar de ser conhecido maioritariamente pelo seu trabalho neste género. Uma boa quantidade dos romances e histórias de Stoker são difíceis de arranjar porque não há quem as queira publicar – precisamente porque não há muita gente que as queira ler. No entanto Stoker acabou por assegurar a sua imortalidade graças ao diabólico e também imortal personagem que criou. "Drácula" é indiscutivelmente a obra-prima de Stoker – não só é a sua obra mais conhecida mas é também um dos maiores e mais importantes trabalhos do género, cujo antagonista é, a par do "Monstro de Frankenstein" e "Mr. Hyde", o vilão sobrenatural mais conhecido da história da literatura.
O carisma, aristocracia, imortalidade e crueldade atribuídos ao Conde Drácula por Stoker asseguraram a sua presença no imaginário de um sem número de gerações e inúmeras encarnações (algumas hilariantemente ridículas e divertidas – até em desenhos animados já vimos o Conde fazer uma “aparição”, por vezes em forma antropomórfica). No entanto, não é só ao seu antagonista que Stoker deve o sucesso da obra. A estrutura narrativa desta (apresentada em forma de entradas de diários, cartas, registos de bordo e documentos provenientes de variadas fontes), as subtis mas algo óbvias sugestões sexuais, a sua natureza bastante horrenda para a época e o suspense que é mantido durante toda a obra contribuem igualmente para a importância que o romance veio a ter na literatura e cultura popular. De facto, “Drácula” é um romance bastante empolgante, carregado de excelentes ideias que são, para mais, muito bem executadas. O pior que posso dizer da obra é que as personagens que perseguem o Conde são inverosimilmente virtuosas e, consequentemente, algo uni-dimensionais. Bem sei que o são propositadamente, como se Stoker sugerisse que o Conde Drácula, personificação do mal, só poderá ser derrubado pela virtude e pureza que os seus adversários representam; no entanto, personagens demasiado virtuosas são habitualmente desinteressantes. Felizmente a acção, suspense e ídeas presentes no romance são tão entusiasmantes que compensam aquelas que considero serem falhas de caracterização.
Os treze contos incluídos nesta edição são na sua maioria bons trabalhos do género fantástico e terror. São estes:
- Dracula’s Guest (5/5) – Um conto que se passa no universo de “Drácula”, que tanto pode ser um prelúdio como um esboço inicial do romance – mas que funciona muito bem como história individual.
- The Judge’s House (4/5) – Um estudante á procura de paz e sossego acaba por se alojar num quarto assombrado. Este conto é bastante semelhante aos trabalhos de Sheridan LeFanu, em particular o seu conto “An Account Of Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street”. De notar também que o conto de LeFanu “Carmilla” foi uma das principais obras que inspiraram Stoker a escrever “Drácula”.
- The Squaw (4/5) – A acidental morte da cria de uma gata causa consideráveis dissabores a um grupo de turistas. Este conto trouxe-me á memória “O Gato Preto”, apesar de ser mais humorístico e estar desprovido da riqueza psicológica do conto de Poe.
- The Secret Of Growing Gold (5/5) – Os pecados de um aristocrata decadente e hedonista trazem-lhe terríveis consequências.
- The Coming Of Abel Behanna (5/5) – O amor de dois amigos de infância pela mesma mulher põe em marcha uma rivalidade potencialmente desastrosa.
- The Gypsy Prophecy (3/5) – Uma cigana profetiza morte no futuro próximo de um casal profundamente apaixonado.
- The Burial Of The Rats (5/5) – O passeio que um escritor inglês faz pelas ruas mais escuras e pobres de Paris pode vir a ser o seu último.
- A Dream Of red Hands (3/5) – Poderá um assassino comover o seu confessor? Estará este além da redenção divina?
- Crooken Sands (4/5) – Uma divertida sátira com um toque de sobrenatural.
- The Crystal Cup (1/5) – Um monótono exercício experimental misericordiosamente curto de Stoker que se debruça sobre um artista aprisionado.
- The Chain Of Destiny (3/5) – Uma agradável mistura de romance com terror.
- The Dualists (5/5) – Mais uma sátira perversamente engraçada mas chocante.
- The Red Stockade (2/5) – Uma curta e desinteressante história de piratas.
O carisma, aristocracia, imortalidade e crueldade atribuídos ao Conde Drácula por Stoker asseguraram a sua presença no imaginário de um sem número de gerações e inúmeras encarnações (algumas hilariantemente ridículas e divertidas – até em desenhos animados já vimos o Conde fazer uma “aparição”, por vezes em forma antropomórfica). No entanto, não é só ao seu antagonista que Stoker deve o sucesso da obra. A estrutura narrativa desta (apresentada em forma de entradas de diários, cartas, registos de bordo e documentos provenientes de variadas fontes), as subtis mas algo óbvias sugestões sexuais, a sua natureza bastante horrenda para a época e o suspense que é mantido durante toda a obra contribuem igualmente para a importância que o romance veio a ter na literatura e cultura popular. De facto, “Drácula” é um romance bastante empolgante, carregado de excelentes ideias que são, para mais, muito bem executadas. O pior que posso dizer da obra é que as personagens que perseguem o Conde são inverosimilmente virtuosas e, consequentemente, algo uni-dimensionais. Bem sei que o são propositadamente, como se Stoker sugerisse que o Conde Drácula, personificação do mal, só poderá ser derrubado pela virtude e pureza que os seus adversários representam; no entanto, personagens demasiado virtuosas são habitualmente desinteressantes. Felizmente a acção, suspense e ídeas presentes no romance são tão entusiasmantes que compensam aquelas que considero serem falhas de caracterização.
Os treze contos incluídos nesta edição são na sua maioria bons trabalhos do género fantástico e terror. São estes:
- Dracula’s Guest (5/5) – Um conto que se passa no universo de “Drácula”, que tanto pode ser um prelúdio como um esboço inicial do romance – mas que funciona muito bem como história individual.
- The Judge’s House (4/5) – Um estudante á procura de paz e sossego acaba por se alojar num quarto assombrado. Este conto é bastante semelhante aos trabalhos de Sheridan LeFanu, em particular o seu conto “An Account Of Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street”. De notar também que o conto de LeFanu “Carmilla” foi uma das principais obras que inspiraram Stoker a escrever “Drácula”.
- The Squaw (4/5) – A acidental morte da cria de uma gata causa consideráveis dissabores a um grupo de turistas. Este conto trouxe-me á memória “O Gato Preto”, apesar de ser mais humorístico e estar desprovido da riqueza psicológica do conto de Poe.
- The Secret Of Growing Gold (5/5) – Os pecados de um aristocrata decadente e hedonista trazem-lhe terríveis consequências.
- The Coming Of Abel Behanna (5/5) – O amor de dois amigos de infância pela mesma mulher põe em marcha uma rivalidade potencialmente desastrosa.
- The Gypsy Prophecy (3/5) – Uma cigana profetiza morte no futuro próximo de um casal profundamente apaixonado.
- The Burial Of The Rats (5/5) – O passeio que um escritor inglês faz pelas ruas mais escuras e pobres de Paris pode vir a ser o seu último.
- A Dream Of red Hands (3/5) – Poderá um assassino comover o seu confessor? Estará este além da redenção divina?
- Crooken Sands (4/5) – Uma divertida sátira com um toque de sobrenatural.
- The Crystal Cup (1/5) – Um monótono exercício experimental misericordiosamente curto de Stoker que se debruça sobre um artista aprisionado.
- The Chain Of Destiny (3/5) – Uma agradável mistura de romance com terror.
- The Dualists (5/5) – Mais uma sátira perversamente engraçada mas chocante.
- The Red Stockade (2/5) – Uma curta e desinteressante história de piratas.
March 10, 2020
Estoy muy feliz por haber aguantado y no haber visto la película en la que Gary Oldman interpreta a Drácula puesto que me abría sentido terriblemente decepcionada del libro y ahora es al revés.
La novela es una obra en la que en resumen se retrata la eterna lucha del bien contra el mal; me encanta el hecho de que todos sean amigos y se tengan una confianza absoluta, a tal grado que todos se dan a leer sus diarios en los que relatan no solo sus vivencias, también sus sentimientos y opiniones.
Admito que hubo partes en las que compartí su miedo, como en la segunda muerte de Lucy y de las compañeras del conde.
Termino este libro totalmente satisfecha ya que aunque esperaba escenas sangrientas, rebasó totalmente mis espectativas.
La novela es una obra en la que en resumen se retrata la eterna lucha del bien contra el mal; me encanta el hecho de que todos sean amigos y se tengan una confianza absoluta, a tal grado que todos se dan a leer sus diarios en los que relatan no solo sus vivencias, también sus sentimientos y opiniones.
Admito que hubo partes en las que compartí su miedo, como en la segunda muerte de Lucy y de las compañeras del conde.
Termino este libro totalmente satisfecha ya que aunque esperaba escenas sangrientas, rebasó totalmente mis espectativas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2017
This Wordsworth edition rewards the reader with the classic in horror reading that gave life to an iconic character in cinema, Dracula.
Stoker takes us through the minds of the various characters in the book with the help of entries in diaries and letters that they write. Dracula appears as a normal count but soon that image is shattered, bit by bit. I found the ending a bit week.
Along with Dracula, there is a collection of short stories, also written by Bram Stoker, also in the horror theme, being Dracula's Guest the most famous one as it serves as a prequel to Dracula.
Stoker takes us through the minds of the various characters in the book with the help of entries in diaries and letters that they write. Dracula appears as a normal count but soon that image is shattered, bit by bit. I found the ending a bit week.
Along with Dracula, there is a collection of short stories, also written by Bram Stoker, also in the horror theme, being Dracula's Guest the most famous one as it serves as a prequel to Dracula.
March 10, 2015
This combined edition from Wordsworth Classics - which has the classic novel Dracula and the anthology of short stories from Bram Stocker titled Dracula's Guest & Other Supernatural Tales - will be a good bargain buy for those who want to own a copy of Dracula. This edition packs an additional 4 more rarely seen short stories from Stocker which were not present in the original anthology of Dracula's Guest published in 1914.
November 26, 2023
Categories rated on a 10 point scale. Averaged and then translated into Star Rating. See CAWPILE by Book Roast.
I read this book as an audiobook via Audible, read by an All-Star Cast, led by Alan Cumming and Tim Curry.
The letters from the different characters seemed to run together for me. Behaviors of the POV characters just all seemed to behave or be motivated by the same things. The differentiation for me was helped by the full cast audiobook, seemingly led by Alan Cumming, who carried the day.
The letter & telegram presentation was an interesting take, but did not feel conducive to world building. We see and hear of the world only through what the characters chose to write about. Mina's diary and Seward's journals were the best because they included details the characters would want to remember later, but letters to other characters served only to info dump and progress the plot clunkily, which was often difficult to follow and I may have missed entire chapters blanking out.
I stayed intrigued but also confused. I could tell exactly why Seward and Van Helsing did all they did and understood Mina's predictable behavior towards Jonathan. It was just all too predictable.
One might think the predictability would be because I've seen all the movies, but I have not and it's been decades since I saw parts of the Gary Oldman version. I'm just meh on this one. Interesting writing style though.
(Dracula's Guest was not included in the Audiobook I listened to, but I have the physical book of this edition and will read it later.)
Character: 5.4
Atmosphere: 5.2
Writing: 8.0
Plot: 6.8
Intrigue: 7.8
Logic: 8.5
Enjoyment: 5.6
Points: 47.3
Cat. Avg.: 6.76
Stars: High 3.5
I read this book as an audiobook via Audible, read by an All-Star Cast, led by Alan Cumming and Tim Curry.
The letters from the different characters seemed to run together for me. Behaviors of the POV characters just all seemed to behave or be motivated by the same things. The differentiation for me was helped by the full cast audiobook, seemingly led by Alan Cumming, who carried the day.
The letter & telegram presentation was an interesting take, but did not feel conducive to world building. We see and hear of the world only through what the characters chose to write about. Mina's diary and Seward's journals were the best because they included details the characters would want to remember later, but letters to other characters served only to info dump and progress the plot clunkily, which was often difficult to follow and I may have missed entire chapters blanking out.
I stayed intrigued but also confused. I could tell exactly why Seward and Van Helsing did all they did and understood Mina's predictable behavior towards Jonathan. It was just all too predictable.
One might think the predictability would be because I've seen all the movies, but I have not and it's been decades since I saw parts of the Gary Oldman version. I'm just meh on this one. Interesting writing style though.
(Dracula's Guest was not included in the Audiobook I listened to, but I have the physical book of this edition and will read it later.)
Character: 5.4
Atmosphere: 5.2
Writing: 8.0
Plot: 6.8
Intrigue: 7.8
Logic: 8.5
Enjoyment: 5.6
Points: 47.3
Cat. Avg.: 6.76
Stars: High 3.5
September 9, 2020
20 años me tomó terminar está historia, no se me juzgue mal, tenía una edición con las páginas revueltas a partir del fin de la primera parte del diario de Johnatan Harker y al inicio del diario de Mina. Perdí esa edición y apenas, por azares del destino, llegó esta a mis manos, y pude terminar lo que dejé pendiente.
El inicio lo tiene todo, un suspenso envolvente, un terror y angustia que experimentas junto a Johnatan, y un primer final agónico, que deseas saber en qué concluyó el episodio de Johnatan con el conde.
Pero el intermedio se pone bastante lento, pesado y dan muchas vueltas entre los diarios de Lucy, Seward y Mina. Posteriormente te das cuenta que Drácula es un monstruo ausente, ya que la trama gira en torno a Lucy y Mina, a raíz de eventos provocados por el conde, pero sin dejar rastro de ello, por lo que pierde el ritmo y un tanto el interés en la lectura.
Sin embargo, retoma en el último cuarto, en la cacería de Drácula y un viaje en el que las piezas del ajedrez están en un tablero que favorece a nuestros protagonistas.
Me sorprende que el término vampiro surja precisamente en el último cuarto, y que sea difícil pronunciarlo para nuestros héroes. Es curioso que, más bien, la labor mitológica sea ya más bien con el pasar de los años y las que supongo fueron teorías de muchos que disfrutaron tempranamente de esta lectura. Un libro entretenido y obligado para entrar en el terreno de la ficción convertida en horror.
El inicio lo tiene todo, un suspenso envolvente, un terror y angustia que experimentas junto a Johnatan, y un primer final agónico, que deseas saber en qué concluyó el episodio de Johnatan con el conde.
Pero el intermedio se pone bastante lento, pesado y dan muchas vueltas entre los diarios de Lucy, Seward y Mina. Posteriormente te das cuenta que Drácula es un monstruo ausente, ya que la trama gira en torno a Lucy y Mina, a raíz de eventos provocados por el conde, pero sin dejar rastro de ello, por lo que pierde el ritmo y un tanto el interés en la lectura.
Sin embargo, retoma en el último cuarto, en la cacería de Drácula y un viaje en el que las piezas del ajedrez están en un tablero que favorece a nuestros protagonistas.
Me sorprende que el término vampiro surja precisamente en el último cuarto, y que sea difícil pronunciarlo para nuestros héroes. Es curioso que, más bien, la labor mitológica sea ya más bien con el pasar de los años y las que supongo fueron teorías de muchos que disfrutaron tempranamente de esta lectura. Un libro entretenido y obligado para entrar en el terreno de la ficción convertida en horror.
January 27, 2021
Dracula zelf is zeker 4,5/5 waard! Het verhaal is enorm meeslepend. Ook de manier waarop het geschreven is, creëert een aparte sfeer. Het is een samenhangend geheel van brieven en dagboekfragmenten. Zo beleef je het verhaal uit het standpunt van alle personages. Dit zorgt er voor dat je al snel een band met hen opbouwt.
De short stories uit Dracula’s Guest, hoefden er niet bij. Vandaar de uiteindelijke 3/5. ‘t Is dat het gewoon voordeliger was om deze te kopen in de boekenwinkel. One can only spend so much...
De short stories uit Dracula’s Guest, hoefden er niet bij. Vandaar de uiteindelijke 3/5. ‘t Is dat het gewoon voordeliger was om deze te kopen in de boekenwinkel. One can only spend so much...
January 27, 2022
Inquietante y enigmático. También son curiosas las diferentes hipótesis sobre cómo se gestó este relato.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2019
Me ha gustado mucho este libro. La verdad es que me daba un poco de miedo leerlo, no por el terror, sino porque al ser un libro tan antiguo, pensé que la escritura sería muy aburrida y tediosa. Pero por el contrario, ha resultado ser un libro maravilloso, muy entretenido y ameno. Está escrito a modo de cartas y anotaciones en diarios personales, así que los capítulos son muy cortos y fáciles de leer. No es una historia que de mucho miedo, pero, supongo que a mediados del siglo XIX cuando fue escrito, debió ser algo realmente terrorífico; de ahí la trascendencia del personaje Drácula. Me gustó la escritura, me gustaron mucho todos los personajes y la estructura general del libro. Las razones por las que no de doy 5 estrellas son:
1. Es un libro muy machista. Sé que debo entender que era la forma de ser y de pensar de hombres y mujeres en aquel entonces, pero tanta sumisión femenina logró desesperarme mucho. El colmo fue cuando en algún momento el autor dice algo así como "ella es tan inteligente que parece que Dios la bendijo dándole un cerebro de hombre". ¡Estuve a punto de lanzar el libro a la basura!
2. Páginas y páginas de perseguir a Drácula para que lo mataran en un abrir y cerrar de ojos. Tan fácil y sin resistencia alguna. Me hubiera gustado algo más dramático pero así fue. La persecución desespera un poco, pudo haberse ahorrado unas cuantas páginas ahí
A pesar de estos dos detalles, es una obra que me ha encantado y que no me arrepiento de haber leído y disfrutado. Un clásico que recomiendo mucho
1. Es un libro muy machista. Sé que debo entender que era la forma de ser y de pensar de hombres y mujeres en aquel entonces, pero tanta sumisión femenina logró desesperarme mucho. El colmo fue cuando en algún momento el autor dice algo así como "ella es tan inteligente que parece que Dios la bendijo dándole un cerebro de hombre". ¡Estuve a punto de lanzar el libro a la basura!
2. Páginas y páginas de perseguir a Drácula para que lo mataran en un abrir y cerrar de ojos. Tan fácil y sin resistencia alguna. Me hubiera gustado algo más dramático pero así fue. La persecución desespera un poco, pudo haberse ahorrado unas cuantas páginas ahí
A pesar de estos dos detalles, es una obra que me ha encantado y que no me arrepiento de haber leído y disfrutado. Un clásico que recomiendo mucho
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 21, 2012Ano passado, lembrei-me de reler outro clássico da minha juventude: Drácula. Por coincidência, encontrei o livro mostrado em cima, que, para além do romance clássico de Bram Stoker, trazia também vários contos da sua autoria (incluindo quatro nunca antes publicados).
A história que dá nome a esta antologia "extra", "Dracula's Guest" é uma história interessante, com o mesmo estilo e espírito do romance original. Dizem que que foi um capítulo cortado do início de "Dracula", mas se isso é verdade, teria sido de uma versão mais antiga do romance, pois não se liga a este de forma muito óbvia. Também não é o meu conto favorito do conjunto.
Apreciei muito mais, por exemplo, a história de fantasmas "Judge's House", tradicional e interessante, ou a tragédia "The Coming of Abel Behenna", com um final capaz de chocar qualquer pessoa, ou o curioso "A Dream of Red Hands", com uma resolução muito bem pensada. Os restantes não serão merecedores de destaque, mas o único que me pareceu realmente fraco foi o "Chain of Destiny".
Se virem este livro na fnac, não deixem de o comprar. Por menos de 5€, é quase obrigatório.
Publicado originalmente no meu blogue.
A história que dá nome a esta antologia "extra", "Dracula's Guest" é uma história interessante, com o mesmo estilo e espírito do romance original. Dizem que que foi um capítulo cortado do início de "Dracula", mas se isso é verdade, teria sido de uma versão mais antiga do romance, pois não se liga a este de forma muito óbvia. Também não é o meu conto favorito do conjunto.
Apreciei muito mais, por exemplo, a história de fantasmas "Judge's House", tradicional e interessante, ou a tragédia "The Coming of Abel Behenna", com um final capaz de chocar qualquer pessoa, ou o curioso "A Dream of Red Hands", com uma resolução muito bem pensada. Os restantes não serão merecedores de destaque, mas o único que me pareceu realmente fraco foi o "Chain of Destiny".
Se virem este livro na fnac, não deixem de o comprar. Por menos de 5€, é quase obrigatório.
Publicado originalmente no meu blogue.
December 28, 2022
La obra más famosa de Bram Stocker que ha construido un ser mitológico de manera universal. Jhon va a Transilvania a cerrar un negocio y le toca vivir el horror. El mismo horror se traslada a Inglaterra lugar donde Van Helsing y amigos tendrán que enfrentarse al ser demoníaco.
Está novela da origen a todos rasgos que conocemos hoy en día sobre el vampiro. Basadas totalmente en el folclore el cual Stocker aprovecha muy bien. Lo introduce sobre escepticismo y que va surgiendo cómo algo más allá de la lógica. Un ser que además de causar terror, corrompe la moralidad al ser la parte del cuello el atractivo para el vampiro una área de vunerabilidad pero también una parte muy erótica, además que las afectada aumenta su atractivo y se muestran actitudes sugerentes, mientras que la protagonista se muestra reservada frágil e inocente y esa virtud es la que se busca defender.
La historia se divide en mi parecer se divide en tres partes narradas por los diarios o registros de diferentes fuentes, esto hace que la historia no sea una narración, si no la construcción de los hechos a través de la documentación. en la primera parte conocemos a Drácula en su hogar, el cual se presenta en medio de un entorno de siniestro, el cual se nos muestra como un tipo caballeroso pero es una máscara de un ser embustero que disfruta del daño psicológico, al dar falsas esperanzas de sus víctimas. Pero lo mejor es la llegada de Drácula a Inglaterra en barco que sufrirá un devastador destino luego los sucesos extraños van ocurriendo con más frecuencia. Hasta que llega la infestacion de una chica por la cual el grupo de Van Helsing y compañía tienen que detener a Drácula para salvarla, el cual su presencia es sutil pero con efectos significativos. lo que hace que la historia se vuelva de misterio y una carrera contra el tiempo. Todo esto acompañada del estilo romanticismo que resalta las emociones de los personajes. La historia es entretenida el misterio, el folclore que hay en el entorno sobre todo el nacimiento de un ser tan iconico cómo lo es Drácula. Solo en mi opinión pienso que esperaba más del vampiro al final de la historia me hubiera gustado que fuera un ser más fuerte. Pero eso no quita la joya que es la historia y como cambio el mundo.
Está novela da origen a todos rasgos que conocemos hoy en día sobre el vampiro. Basadas totalmente en el folclore el cual Stocker aprovecha muy bien. Lo introduce sobre escepticismo y que va surgiendo cómo algo más allá de la lógica. Un ser que además de causar terror, corrompe la moralidad al ser la parte del cuello el atractivo para el vampiro una área de vunerabilidad pero también una parte muy erótica, además que las afectada aumenta su atractivo y se muestran actitudes sugerentes, mientras que la protagonista se muestra reservada frágil e inocente y esa virtud es la que se busca defender.
La historia se divide en mi parecer se divide en tres partes narradas por los diarios o registros de diferentes fuentes, esto hace que la historia no sea una narración, si no la construcción de los hechos a través de la documentación. en la primera parte conocemos a Drácula en su hogar, el cual se presenta en medio de un entorno de siniestro, el cual se nos muestra como un tipo caballeroso pero es una máscara de un ser embustero que disfruta del daño psicológico, al dar falsas esperanzas de sus víctimas. Pero lo mejor es la llegada de Drácula a Inglaterra en barco que sufrirá un devastador destino luego los sucesos extraños van ocurriendo con más frecuencia. Hasta que llega la infestacion de una chica por la cual el grupo de Van Helsing y compañía tienen que detener a Drácula para salvarla, el cual su presencia es sutil pero con efectos significativos. lo que hace que la historia se vuelva de misterio y una carrera contra el tiempo. Todo esto acompañada del estilo romanticismo que resalta las emociones de los personajes. La historia es entretenida el misterio, el folclore que hay en el entorno sobre todo el nacimiento de un ser tan iconico cómo lo es Drácula. Solo en mi opinión pienso que esperaba más del vampiro al final de la historia me hubiera gustado que fuera un ser más fuerte. Pero eso no quita la joya que es la historia y como cambio el mundo.
August 26, 2024
I can definitely see how and why this is a classic. The story is well narrated and the style of "multiple perspectives" allows the reader to get into the intimate mind of each character.
I will say this is a bite sized book (no pun intended). And what i mean by that is the the best way to enjoy it is 10-15 pages at a time. I dont see it as a book to overnight or that "you cant let down". But i find merit in its beautiful gory theme and skillful depiction of the alteration of the human mind/perception in the face of the supernatural.
The "Other Stories" part of this book, I have to admit has been a bit of a let down compared to the main Dracula story. I would suggest maybe starting with the stories if the goal is maximal enjoyment. I found some of them a little too predictable and somewhat clicheic, or just lacking the horror element at all.
Overall a worthy read for me.
I will say this is a bite sized book (no pun intended). And what i mean by that is the the best way to enjoy it is 10-15 pages at a time. I dont see it as a book to overnight or that "you cant let down". But i find merit in its beautiful gory theme and skillful depiction of the alteration of the human mind/perception in the face of the supernatural.
The "Other Stories" part of this book, I have to admit has been a bit of a let down compared to the main Dracula story. I would suggest maybe starting with the stories if the goal is maximal enjoyment. I found some of them a little too predictable and somewhat clicheic, or just lacking the horror element at all.
Overall a worthy read for me.
February 7, 2017
Five stars for Dracula, which is genuinely gripping, and told in a way that seems to bridge from the Romantic-type epistolary novel to the modern assembly. Unfortunately, the short stories in the second half of the book, Dracula's guest, abandon any interesting form or plot in favour of a pretty standard setup-middle-payoff which gets pretty tiring after a while. Where Stoker deviates from this, like in 'The Crystal Cup', the result is painfully self-conscious and overwritten, making four stars pretty generous for the collection as a whole.
July 6, 2021
Dracula I really enjoyed, much more than I was expecting
The short stories at the end have massively reduced my enjoyment of the book as a whole. The Judge's House is a good horror story, then some of the others are weird but still supernatural
Then some of the others are just boring and bizarre. To finish with a blow -by-blow nautical battle story is a real low
But I bought the book for Dracula, and Dracula still stands up as a spooky, enjoyable read
The short stories at the end have massively reduced my enjoyment of the book as a whole. The Judge's House is a good horror story, then some of the others are weird but still supernatural
Then some of the others are just boring and bizarre. To finish with a blow -by-blow nautical battle story is a real low
But I bought the book for Dracula, and Dracula still stands up as a spooky, enjoyable read
January 21, 2022
I liked this a lot better than I thought I would and for a Victorian novel seems to deal with women surprisingly well. They are still written to be overly devoted but Mina was portrayed to be more intelligent than some of the main male characters. Unfortunately doesn’t seem to extend these graces to people of lower class or other nationalities though which was disappointing.
October 13, 2020
Buen libro. La lectura es muy sencilla ya que la forma de escribir de Stoker es muy fluida. Hay una parte en la historia que se estanca un poco la narrativa y se vuelve un poco cíclico el desarrollo del libro. Si logras salir de ese bucle literario es muy dinámico.
January 7, 2025
Enjoyed Dracula and would have given a higher star rating but found it to be a slow start. Definitely improved as I read further and got to know the characters better. Start sets the scene so was probably necessary in hindsight.
May 1, 2020
One of my favorite classics from now 🧛🏻♂️🌄
I love the writing style and the fierceness of all the characters
I love the writing style and the fierceness of all the characters
May 23, 2021
Bueno aunque hay partes que son tediosas
Currently reading
April 25, 2022It's my first book and i really i in love with it....i like it a lot specially in the end ❤️
May 4, 2022
Great works and not what I expected
May 13, 2023
No es lo que esperaba, pero estoy satisfecha. 😌
El invitado de Drácula 20/10 🙌🏼
El invitado de Drácula 20/10 🙌🏼
May 13, 2023
“I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt. I fear. I think strange things, which I dare not confess to my own soul. God keep me, if only for the sake of those dear to me!”
September 28, 2023
Que entretenido, me gustó mucho.
October 18, 2024
3.75
si fuera solo por dracula seria 4 estrellas pero las historias cortas me han parecido super aburridas so
si fuera solo por dracula seria 4 estrellas pero las historias cortas me han parecido super aburridas so
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