Dracula (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) (Barnes & Nobl

Dracula (Barnes & Noble Classics)

Bram Stoker

Dracula (Barnes & Noble Classics)

Bram Stoker

Simply a classic

05th August 2010

Great book, Great Read! Any fan of horror should read the original!

P.S. - DO NOT READ the supposed "sequel" by Dacre Stoker & Ian Holt, it is quite terrible...

Original

12th July 2010

It is staggering to think of how many books and literary careers are rooted in the original publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Far from a perfect novel, it is a classic in the horror genre and is still capable of frightening unsuspecting victims today.

The text is composed of a series of journals. Credit for pasting these journals together in this fictional account is not given. Jonathan Harker's journal through his original visit to Dracula'a castle begins the book. After this initial sequence the serialization comes from several voices including Dr. Van Helsing, John Seward, and Arthur Godalming. The female victims, Lucy Westerna and Mina Murray-Harker, also act as voices, though of varying quality.

The overall plot is generally well-known, though the actual sequence of events may not be known. By contemporary standards, the plot does move somewhat slow. This is not a blockbuster of non-stop action. Many of the pages are in place to establish the conflicts that occur. The only complaint one could given in this is that the ending seemed rush. One may find themselves reading over the last few ages to ascertain understanding.

Dracula is not a diffcult read. With the recent craze of vampire books and movies, it is a book many should read as it is a standard bearer in the genre. For many, it will be interesting to read how corrpted the original Dracula plot has become in contemporary pop culture. In itself, this is a learning experience.

"For the dead travel fast"

21st March 2010

Surprisingly "Denn die Toten reiten schnell" or "For the dead travel fast" is more than an opening line to this tale of love in the dangerous moon light. After watching several Drac movies and a few Nosferatu's, I pretty much though I had a handle on the genera. Little did I know what a wonderful world of mystery and suspense that Bram Stoker opened up for me.

The story is told mostly third party though the papers, diaries, and phonograph recordings (on wax cylinders) of those people involve in a tale so bizarre that it almost defies belief. The general story line is that of a Count that plans to move to a more urban setting (from Borgo Pass to London) where there is a richer diet. There he finds succulent women; something he can sing his teeth in. Unfortunately for him a gang of ruffians (including a real-estate agent, asylum director, Texas cowboy and an Old Dutch abnormal psychologist) is out to detour his nocturnal munching. They think they have Drac on the run but with a wing and a prayer he is always one step ahead.

Of more value to the reader is the rich prose chosen by Stoker as he describes the morals and technology of the time. We have to come to grips with or decide if we can perform the rituals that are required to eliminate vampires verses the impropriety of opening graves and staking loved ones. The powers in the book differ from the movie versions in that they are more of persuasion and capabilities to manipulate the local weather. At one point the Dutch Dr. Van Helsing, is so overwhelmed by a beautiful vampire laying in the grave that he almost for gets why he is there and may become vamp chow.

All in all the story is more in the cunning chase. And the question as to will they succeed or will Dracula triumph. Remember "For the dead travel fast."

Dracula