Dracula
To borrow a phrase used by one of the characters in the novel, Dracula is “nineteenth century up-to-date with a vengeance.” In her introduction to this edition Glennis Byron first discusses the famous novel as an expression not of universal fears and desires, but of specifically late nineteenth-century concerns. And she discusses too the ways in which to the modern reader it is not Transylvania but London that is the location of the monstrosity in Dracula. The many appendices include contemporary reviews; source materials drawn on by Stoker; documents expressing contemporary views on trances, sleepwalking and hypnotism; and other relevant writing by Stoker, including “the censorship of Fiction,” in which he expresses his belief in the need to defend the social and moral purity of the nation.
- Pages
- 492
- First published
- 1897
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ebook
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Shelved by 14 Litcadians
Reviews
Finished November 17, 2013
racula by Bram Stoker 4.5 stars★ Audio on iTunes narrated by Christopher Saul 4.5★ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001SIHRZY Kindle book edition: Dracula (Illustrated) (Top Five Classics) Stoker, Bram 4★ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006CRC98G Start date of journals: May 3rd. End Date of journals: Nov. 6 and Note: Nov. 13th. This is definitely the best vampire story I've read. It's written in journal and memorandum entries, which creates an even closer first person point of view. The people making the entries repeatedly note that they wish to transcribe everything that has happened. I think that has brought more feeling and suspense to the story. A lot more suspense. I thought it interesting that a lot of characters were Doctors or men of the law. It had me thinking who I'd believe if I was there in that time line. I would no doubt be like Quincy, who would believe something only after seeing it for themselves. I don't think I'd believe Renfield, the insane person in the asylum, who proclaimed that his Master (Count Dracula) has come for him. I may believe Mina, but then, she too needed to study the evidence of who Dracula was in order to believe. I read this while listening to the audiobook on my iPod (narrated by Christopher Saul). My book was a kindle illustrated version, meaning it had little maps. Christopher did a good job with the accents. I really liked the accent for Van Helsing's. The kindle edition was pretty good. As for the story. This was pretty good. I am very glad that I read this. When I told my mom I was reading this, she just rolled her eyes. I could understand, as the paranormal isn't my usual choice. But I found this to be good. And even a little more than just about vampires and other paranormal stuff. The Doctors were all scientists of the mind. So their evaluations of the matter was a little interesting. Some a little chauvinist and ego driven. Like Van Helsing's thoughts of Dracula's "child-brain" and their "man-brain" being better to cope with death and violence than a "woman's mind". And then the contrast between Mina and Lucy. Lucy, the not-so-angelic woman and there by more easily persuaded by Dracula. And then Mina, who all the men thought was the most angelic creature. I think my favorite characters are Mina and Renfield. I don't think I would've been able to endure reading the slow middle portion of this story without them. I knocked the star rating down a bit because of the slow middle. It had a climatic start and finish which I really liked. This is certainly a favorite of mine.
Finished July 16, 2024
Finished May 15, 2025
Started October 22, 2023 · Finished October 22, 2023
Finished November 5, 2023
2.75 stars
Finished October 22, 2025
We all knew the tale but hearing the original story was absolutely enlightening!
▸ Did not finish (2)
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