• Tweet

• » Follow PenguinBooks
• 
• 
• 

• » Privacy & Cookies

• Tweet

• » Follow PenguinBooks
• 
• 
• 

• » Privacy & Cookies

• Extract
• Synopsis
• Reviews
• Product details
• More

• Biography
• More titles by Bram Stoker

Synopsis

‘Alone with the dead! I dare not go out, for I can hear the low howl of the wolf through the broken window’

When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the purchase of a London house, he makes horrifying discoveries about his client and his castle. Soon afterwards, a number of disturbing incidents unfold in England: an unmanned ship is wrecked at Whitby; strange puncture marks appear on a young woman’s neck; and the inmate of a lunatic asylum raves about the imminent arrival of his ‘Master’. In the ensuing battle of wits between the sinister Count Dracula and a determined group of adversaries, Bram Stoker created a masterpiece of the horror genre, probing deeply into questions of human identity and sanity, and illuminating dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire.

For this completely updated edition, Maurice Hindle has revised his introduction, list of further reading and textual notes, and added two new appendices: Stoker’s essay on censorship and his interview with Winston Churchill, both published in 1908. Christopher Frayling’s preface discusses Stoker’s significance and the influences that contributed to his creation of the Dracula myth.

Reviews

Critic Review:

‘One of the most powerful horror tales ever written’ 
Malcolm Bradbury, Mail on Sunday

More

Student review by Andrea Baltrus:

Dracula is a gothic mix of superstition, eerie occurrences and underlying fear of the unknown. Bram Stoker has created a masterpiece of horror with his exemplary tale of the nefarious character of Dracula. Stoker’s descriptive writing gives not only a sense of place and time but allows the reader to feel the fear and loathing that Dracula encompasses. There is a deep veneration of things that cannot be explained as well as respect for a higher power to attempt to protect from evil.

Stoker’s method of journal writing gives the reader a sense of knowing more about each of his characters. The thoughts, feeling and emotions are a point of revelation in each of the entries. There are several stories flowing at once allowing for a varied interpretation of the main storyline. Stoker’s use of many details throughout is vital to the entire novel. Early on in the novel, he mentions Dracula reading an English Bradshaw’s Guide which is the version of the train schedule in England at that time. This is just one example of how a minor detail may play a major role later on in the novel. Stoker has a gift for instilling the sense of horror and despair at something that is not easily fathomed by his characters. Dracula is one of the rare masterpieces that has transcended a standard of excellence in the horror genre.

If you would like to comment on this review or join in the discussion of this book, then head over to the Reader's Forum to get involved.

Product details

Shipped within 24hrs.
FREE UK Delivery*

• Full delivery details

• » View your basket

Search for new vacancies and work experience on the Penguin job site.