Product Description
Dracula is the ultimate vampire story. It has it all, from a remote, eerie castle in Transylvania, to the strange nocturnal life of its inhabitant, Count Dracula. Plenty of blood, garlic, stakes to the heart and other details that have become staples of this horror genre. Dracula is written as a collection of realistic, but fictional, diary entries, telegrams, letters, ship's logs, and newspaper clippings, all of which add a degree of realism to the story. This publication of Dracula is part of the Qualitas Classics Fireside Series, where pure, ageless classics are presented in clean, easy to read reprints.Amazon.com Review
Dracula is one of the few horror books to be honored byinclusion in the Norton Critical Edition series. (The others areFrankenstein, The Turn of the Screw, Heart ofDarkness, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and TheMetamorphosis.) This 100th-anniversary edition includes not onlythe complete authoritative text of the novel with illuminatingfootnotes, but also four contextual essays, five reviews from the timeof publication, five articles on dramatic and film variations, andseven selections from literary and academic criticism. Nina Auerbachof the University of Pennsylvania (author of Our Vampires,Ourselves) and horror scholar David J. Skal (author of Hollywood Gothic,The MonsterShow, and Screams of Reason) are the editors of thevolume. Especially fascinating are excerpts from materials that BramStoker consulted in his research for the book, and his working papersover the several years he was composing it. The selection of criticismincludes essays on how Dracula deals with female sexuality,gender inversion, homoerotic elements, and Victorian fears of"reverse colonization" by politically turbulentTransylvania. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (450)

awesome
This was one of the best books that I had to read for anthro. Keeps you interested about what's going to happen next. Very interesting and a good book

WOW!Fantastic!
Just reading Count Dracula's greeting, "Welcome to my house.Come freely.Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring!" gave me chills as well as fantastically visual descriptions of the Count and the atmosphere.I was also glad that I had not had much exposure to the diluted, popularized versions of Vampire movies and contemporary Vampire trends, therefore was unaffected.This is a fantastically entertaining book, and not only about the Vampire but actually more about the characters and the culture, and the journal style of narratives by different characters works very well to really capture the experiences of horror, valor,faith, and intelligence of the characters. I actually think that Mina is the most interesting one that has multiple and sophisticated elements---somewhat of a martyr, ideal Victorian woman, and at the same time with a sharp analytical and investigave mind-- which is rather surprising considering the Victorian culture.The writing is so beautiful and clever that extreme violence, gore and sexuality that could have easily been over the top, are not disruptive of the story, or of the underlying concepts of eternal life through Christ's blood and the eternal youth and life through destruction.What a great treat!

"For the dead travel fast"
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

Past its prime and victorian to boot!
I don't especially care for scary movies or books, so I've avoided this book over the years. However, with the preponderance of vampire lit in our culture I thought I'd finally crack the binding of this book. I didn't find it particularly spine-chilling or evocative-- perhaps I'm deadened to such paltry imagery summoned here compared with our modern mediums. Still, the plot was decent and as the progenitor of so much culture within the hoi polloi it is consistent with the recommendation of a must read.

Reads Better Than Most Modern Horror
Please read this instead of these wonky modern vampire books. Although it was written in the 19th century it flows in a modern way and the first 50 pages are the best opening of any book in horror history.
... Read more

Product Description
Nine stories of horror and suspense. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

For such an old collection of works, the chills and thrills are timeless!
I thought I was reading a sequel of the original Dracula book, but was surprised to find a collection of chilling and poignant stories.I have since quoted several of these to friends and co-workers due to their very modern message and the fears they still exploit.

A great find for the Kindle!

Scary and very entertaining
An intrepid English traveler will let no superstition stand in his way, even when he is warned most strenuously by the locals. Indeed, to show how unafraid he is, he walks down to a village that was disserted when it became to home of the living dead. In the center of the old cemetery he finds a massive old tomb, and seeking shelter from a storm he goes inside. What he finds inside will shake his modern rationalism to its very foundations!

This short story was actually written by Bram Stoker as the first chapter to his magnum opus, Dracula. The editor apparently decided that the chapter was superfluous to the rest of the book, and cut it. Well, I don't doubt that the chapter was unnecessary to Dracula, but the fact is that even cut off as it is, it makes a very good short story!

Indeed, as a fan of the old Dracula, I must say that I was quite pleased to find another Bran Stoker story that involved the great vampire. I found the story to be scary and very entertaining. If I have one thing against it, it is that it is too short. But, nonetheless I really enjoyed reading it, and think that you will as well!

Very Good!
Dracula's Guest is a collection of short stories by Bram Stoker which includes: Dracula's Guest, The Judge's House, The Gipsy Prophecy, The Coming of Abel Behenna, The Burial of the Rats, A Dream of Red Hands, Crooken Sands, and The Secret of Growing Old. In Dracula's guest, you follow a young Englishman who is in a town and on Walpurgis Night leaves his carriage to wander off and see an abandoned village. The village was deemed unholy which sparked his interest to begin with. While there, he sees a tomb and tries to take cover in the doorway while there is a terrible storm. Later he is found by some military men. They say they went to search for him because they had received word from his host Dracula that he may have been lost. It is rumored to have been Jonathan Harker before his visit with the count, but that is not certain.

My next favorite was the story of the Judge's House. It has a young scholar who is seeking some peace and quiet and rents a house that locals feel is bewitched. It is mostly infested with rats. However, when I read it and got to the end I had goose bumps! It was great. I completely recommend this to Stoker fans!

A True Classic!
Bram Stoker is an author that should be remembered.This book is even better than Dracula!

One of Stoker's best
I consider this to be one of Stoker's best books.I would rate it right up there with "Dracula" and "The Jewel of the Seven Stars".The short stories in this collection are great.I especially liked the stories `Dracula's Guest' (which is supposed to be an exercised chapter from Dracula) and `The Judge's House'.

The nine stories in this collection are:

Dracula's Guest
The Judge's House
The Squaw
The Secret of the Growing Gold
A Gipsy Prophecy
The Coming of Abel Behenna
The Burial of the Rats
A Dream of Red Hands
Crooken Sands

If you enjoyed "Dracula" you should definitely read this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (10)

Simply a classic
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...

Chilling but not too scary
This book isn't for the die-hard horror readers. Yes, the scare factor is high enough to give a few shivers (and that is plenty good enough for me) but it's not terrifying or gory. What makes it scary is the creepiness. Also, the story is written through a collection of letters, notes, and the like by various characters. This style of writing makes the story considerably more intriguing. All in all I recommend the book to anyone.

Original
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.

classic
Its a good classic, but you must be able to follow it, it is a hard read.

"For the dead travel fast"
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
... Read more

Product Description
This Townsend Library classic has been carefully edited to be more accessible to today's students. It includes a background note about the book, an author's biography, and a lively afterword. Acclaimed by educators nationwide, the Townsend Library is helping millions of young adults discover the pleasure and power of reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

For the dead travel fast
"Dracula" was not the first vampire novel, nor was it Bram Stoker's first book. But he managed to craft the ultimate vampire novel, which has spawned countless movies, spinoffs, and books that follow the blueprint of the Transylvanian count. Eerie, horrifying and genuinely mysterious, "Dracula" is undoubtedly the most striking and unique vampire novel yet penned.

Real estate agent Jonathan Harker arrives in Transylvania, to arrange a London house sale to Count Dracula. But as the days go by, Harker witnesses increasingly horrific events, leading him to believe that Dracula is not actually human. His fiancee Mina arrives in Transylvania, and finds that he has been feverish. Meanwhile the count has vanished -- along with countless boxes filled with dirt.

And soon afterwards, strange things happen: a ship piloted by a dead man crashes on the shore, after a mysterious thing killed the crew. A lunatic talks about "Him" coming. And Mina's pal Lucy dies of mysterious blood loss, only to come back as an undead seductress. Dracula has arrived in England -- then the center of the Western world -- and intends to make it his own...

"Dracula" is the grandaddy of Lestat and other elegantly alluring bloodsuckers, but that isn't the sole reason why this novel is a classic. It's also incredibly atmospheric, and very well-written. Not only is it very freaky, in an ornate Victorian style, but it is also full of restrained, quiet horror and creepy eroticism. What's more, it's shaped the portrayal of vampires in movies and books, even to this day.

Despite already knowing what's going on for the first half of the book, it's actually kind of creepy to see these people whose lives are being disrupted by Dracula, but don't know about vampires. It's a bit tempting to yell "It's a vampire, you idiots!" every now and then, but you can't really blame them. Then the second half kicks in, with accented professor Van Helsing taking our heroes on a quest to save Mina from Dracula.

And along the way, while our heroes try to figure stuff out, Stoker spins up all these creepy hints of Dracula's arrival. Though he wrote in the late 19th-century manner, very verbose and a bit stuffy, his skill shines through. The book is crammed with intense, evocative language, with moments like Dracula creeping down a wall, or the dead captain found tied to the wheel. Once read, they stick in your mind throughout the book.

It's also a credit to Stoker that he keeps his characters from seeming like idiots or freaks, which they could have easily seemed like. Instead, he puts little moments of humanity in them, like Van Helsing admitting that his wife is in an asylum. Even the letters and diaries are written in different styles; for example, Seward's is restrained and analytical, while Mina's is exuberant and bright.

Even Dracula himself is an overpowering presence despite his small amount of actual screen time, and not just as a vampire -- Stoker presents him as passionate, intense, malignant, and probably the smartest person in the entire book. If Van Helsing hadn't thwarted him, he probably would have taken over the world -- not the Victorian audience's ideal ending.

Intelligent, frightening and very well-written, "Dracula" is the well-deserved godfather of all modern vampire books and movies -- and its unique villain still dwarfs the more recent undead. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

About This Edition
Dracula was written a century ago, and it would be difficult to find someone who doesn't know of the books prominence.Having said that, my review is tailored to this edition of the classic.I chose this edition because it's not annotated and its not abridged, meaning you see the text as it was originally written by Bram Stoker.

The Books construction is of high quality material, the paper is thick ivory, and it includes a built in ribbon place mark.The typography is classy as well as easy on the eyes.I was also surprised by the illustrations included in the book, which were done by Scott McKowen.The illustrations are appropriately placed, and no so numerous to make you think you're reading a children's edition.

I haven't detected any spelling or obvious grammatical errors either.While the book isn't laden with annotations, the publisher was kind enough to occasionally include definitions in the footnotes of various pages.This is very helpful and greatly reduces the need to search for an Old English/Scottish dictionary.However, to minimize the effect, the publisher doesn't do this too often and it's easily overlooked.

Overall, I'm immensely impressed with both the quality of this edition and the price, which makes it a steal.Out of the numerous editions I've read from public libraries, this is by far the best I've seen.At less than $10, there's no reason not to own this beautiful print of Bram Stokers classic.

The dead travel fast
"Dracula" was not the first vampire novel, nor was it Bram Stoker's first book.

But after years of research, Stoker managed to craft the ultimate vampire novel, which has spawned countless movies, spinoffs, and books that follow the blueprint of the Transylvanian count. Eerie, horrifying and genuinely mysterious, "Dracula" is undoubtedly the most striking and unique vampire novel yet penned.

Real estate agent Jonathan Harker arrives in Transylvania, to arrange a London house sale to Count Dracula. But as the days go by, Harker witnesses increasingly horrific events, leading him to believe that Dracula is not actually human. His fiancee Mina arrives in Transylvania, and finds that he has been feverish. Meanwhile the count has vanished -- along with countless boxes filled with dirt.

And soon afterwards, strange things happen: a ship piloted by a dead man crashes on the shore, after a mysterious thing killed the crew. A lunatic talks about "Him" coming. And Mina's pal Lucy dies of mysterious blood loss, only to come back as an undead seductress. Dracula has arrived in England -- then the center of the Western world -- and intends to make it his own...

"Dracula" is the grandaddy of Lestat and other elegantly alluring bloodsuckers, but that isn't the sole reason why this novel is a classic. It's also incredibly atmospheric, and very well-written. Not only is it very freaky, in an ornate Victorian style, but it is also full of restrained, quiet horror and creepy eroticism. What's more, it's shaped the portrayal of vampires in movies and books, even to this day.

Despite already knowing what's going on for the first half of the book, it's actually kind of creepy to see these people whose lives are being disrupted by Dracula, but don't know about vampires. It's a bit tempting to yell "It's a vampire, you idiots!" every now and then, but you can't really blame them. Then the second half kicks in, with accented professor Van Helsing taking our heroes on a quest to save Mina from Dracula.

And along the way, while our heroes try to figure stuff out, Stoker spins up all these creepy hints of Dracula's arrival. Though he wrote in the late 19th-century manner, very verbose and a bit stuffy, his skill shines through. The book is crammed with intense, evocative language, with moments like Dracula creeping down a wall, or the dead captain found tied to the wheel. Once read, they stick in your mind throughout the book.

It's also a credit to Stoker that he keeps his characters from seeming like idiots or freaks, which they could have easily seemed like. Instead, he puts little moments of humanity in them, like Van Helsing admitting that his wife is in an asylum. Even the letters and diaries are written in different styles; for example, Seward's is restrained and analytical, while Mina's is exuberant and bright.

Even Dracula himself is an overpowering presence despite his small amount of actual screen time, and not just as a vampire -- Stoker presents him as passionate, intense, malignant, and probably the smartest person in the entire book. If Van Helsing hadn't thwarted him, he probably would have taken over the world -- not the Victorian audience's ideal ending.

Intelligent, frightening and very well-written, "Dracula" is the well-deserved godfather of all modern vampire books and movies -- and its unique villain still dwarfs the more recent undead. ... Read more

Product Description
Stoker, Bram "Dracula" in the revolutionary Bed Book Landscape Reading Format - a new approach to reading in bed as well as other places people enjoy reading while lying down, such as the beach, or on a grassy lawn in the park.Bed Books provide the freedom to lie in any comfortable position without being obligated to sit up in order to read. They can be an essential aid for readers who may be prone to back and neck strain when assuming the contorted body positions normally required for reading while lying down, and for those who have previously found it difficult or impossible to read books in bed, such as the elderly and the disabled.Bed Books can also be read sitting up as easily as with a conventional book.See the current Bed Book Catalog at:www.bedbooks.NETwww.readinginbed.com ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Dracula
My first Favorite book. I especially like how it's told from several different point of views. Dracula is Great!

"For the dead travel fast"
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 calendars) 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

Just be aware of the physical book design before purchasing.

Something new for the circulation!
I read the book while lying in my Transylvanian coffin, and later hanging upside down from my room pull-up bar. It's fascinating and fun to read in this position if you are a vampire, or just a regular bat hanging around the house! I bet Count Dracula would be proud of me.
Sincerely yours: Count Pleasures.

Bed books
The book was a "Bed Book" which meant the print was different.You have to hold the book sideways and read top to bottom.It's suppose to be better to read in bed.Maybe some people would enjoy this but it was very irritating until I got used to it.I don't think it was mentioned anywhere when I purchased the book.But it would have been nice to know!

Great book, strange format
The book itself was very good.It is one of the classics, but one that I had never read before.However, the copy I got was a "Bed Book" which has the print running across the page sideways rather than the normal long ways.I found the book very akward to read and would not order any other book it this format.I didn't realize that was what I was ordering this time, or I would not have done it.The book itself was very good and I would highly recommend it to anyone. ... Read more

Product Description
Hardcover Horror Novels ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Library of Essential Writers edition
The Library of Essential Writers series are sturdy hardbacks with beautiful artwork on their covers [there are about 31 books in the series]. This particular edition contains five of Bram Stoker's novels, i.e. Dracula, The Mystery of the Sea, The Jewel of Seven Stars, The Lady of the Shroud and The Lair of the White Worm. Personally, my favorite is the classic Gothic vampire tale, Dracula, and also The Lady of the Shroud. It's a pity that the books in this series are so hard to come by [I've about 10 of them] as they not only encompass famous classics but are beautiful and will enhance any collector's library.

YAY
This item arrived in time, and in perfect condition even though it was advertised as being in "very good" condition rather than New.I was very happy with this seller.

Classic Stoker
This book is a compilation of five of Bram Stoker's best works. It includes Dracula, The Mystery of the Sea, The Jewel of Seven Stars, The Lady of the Shroud, and The Lair of the White Worm. Personally, though I found Dracula to be a fascinating, well-written and intriguing story, I was a little less impressed with some of his other works here, specifically The Mystery of the Sea and The Lair of the White Worm. I found the Lair a bit too fast-paced compared to his usual style and the Mystery too slow. However, The Jewel of Seven Stars is excellent, and The Lady of the Shroud is second only to Dracula itself. For any fan of the supernatural mystery genre, this is a great compilation. Dracula and The Lady of the Shroud by themselves would make this book worth its price. ... Read more

Product Description
A mysterious attack on Margaret Trelawney's father brings young lawyer Malcolm Ross into the Egyptologist's bizarre home, and the couple soon find they are battling ancient forces greater than they previously could have imagined. The Egyptian queen Tera has been awoken, and is coming to take what she believes to be hers - whatever the cost to the Trelawney family. Set in London and Cornwall, and written at a time when a fascination with the East pervaded Victorian England, "The Jewel of Seven Stars" reflected the perceived contrast between the Orient's savagery and moral degradation, and its exotic beauty and opulence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Another overlooked classic by Stoker. Will be enjoyed by any reader
This was my third Stoker novel, after Dracula and The Mystery of the Sea, and I really enjoyed it just as much, and possibly more than, those other two great novels.In many ways, this one is more simple, or at least more direct, than the others, being wholly predictable and telling a fairly straightforward story.But that doesn't take away from the overall enjoyment of reading this well-told tale.The use of first-person narration works really well here, with Malcolm Ross being a rather ordinary character but for his remarkably astute observations and well-described and believable emotions.His obsession with Margaret Trelawny and his curiosity and misgivings about the plan to resurrect Queen Tera, are effective at giving this story life.The focus on Egyptology and the mummified Queen Tera (as well as her mummified tiger-cat), give THE JEWEL OF SEVEN STARS a sense of mysteriousness and mysticism that will really bring back nostalgic feelings from your childhood, from back when such wonders really captivated the imagination. That, and the easy to read nature of this novel, mean that this one will be enjoyed by almost any reader.

One major thing to consider when reading this is to check out the original ending to the novel.Most of the current versions include the second edition's ending, in which everything turns out more or less happily, but that isn't how Stoker had intended it.After reading your version, look up the original and check it out.I think most readers today will be more attracted the darker ending originally intended.If you Google "Bram Stoker" you can find a fan site with free transcripts of most of his work.

In all, a very enjoyable story, one that deserves more attention than it typically gets as one of Stoker's best works.Highly recommended for those looking for a simple and enjoyable classic.

An enjoyable Victorian read concerning Egyptology
While I've seen just about every vampire movie out there, I haven't YET read the original Dracula, so I can't really compare Stoker's classic to "The Jewel of Seven Stars," but I can say that "The Jewel . . ." is a captivating story.

I won't rehash the plot because another reviewer has already done so.I'll just say that if you like well-written, mysterious, Gothic/Victorian stories with an archaeological/occult bent, then this novel will be right up your alley.A definite page-turner and great late-night read.

The ending of the story is, in my opinion, a bit Robert Aickman-like, leaving you somewhat unsatisfied and confused yet at the same time immensely intrigued BECAUSE you're unsatisfied and confused.If you've read "The Cicerones" by Aickman, you'll know what I mean.Mysterious endings rather than ones that are tied up in a bow.

*** Addendum ***
Well, I finally did read "Dracula" and didn't find it anywhere near as enjoyable or well-written as "The Jewel of Seven Stars"(February 1, 2009)

Not Dracula, but still entertaining
None of Bram Stoker's written works ever received the same attention and acclaim as his famous Dracula (one of my all-time favorite horror novels), including this 1903 tale of Egyptian mummies, mysticism and mystery, which is a shame because it's a really fun and decent example of the Victorian "sensation" mystery that was so popular during this era, a la Wilkie Collins and the like.In fact, this book is so similar in style and structure to Collins' "The Moonstone" it's as if Stoker was channeling Collins, whose novels he was known to have admired.With Jewel, Stoker no doubt hoped to cash in on the immense popularity and obsession with all things Egyptian, still raging years after Napoleon's notorious expedition there.

I really like the narrator in this story.One of the most appealing aspects of that genre to me is the tendency to tell it in the first-person narrative, a trend that has returned to the book world with a vengeance in recent years, I've noticed.I do love it when it's done right, and for some reason I especially favor the male point of view when reading from a first-person perspective.

Young barrister Malcolm Ross is summoned in the middle of the night by Margaret Trelawney, a woman he'd only recently met at a party but had become immediately intrigued by.When Malcolm arrives at the Trelawney estate he finds that Margaret's father has been stricken by a mysterious coma-like illness and lies in his rooms among the treasure trove of Egyptian artifacts he has collected over the years.He has left very stern but mystifying instructions about what may have happened to him and what Margaret needs to do (and more importantly, what she must NOT do) until, and if, he awakens.Margaret is in despair with worry and has no one she feels she can turn to except Malcolm.When another attack and then a theft takes place the next evening, the doctor and police detective who have also by necessity been called in are inclined to think Margaret herself is the culprit, which Malcolm feels in his heart cannot be true.

Another man soon appears and tells a long, fantastic story about he and Mr. Trelawney in their younger days, which they spent traveling in Egypt and combing tombs, especially that of Queen Tera of the Theban dynasty.This remarkable queen had been a visionary of her day and a powerful sorceress as well, and her knowledge was so feared that upon her death her name was erased from Egyptian history and her tomb in the Valley of the Sorcerers hidden away (this is all fictional as far as I know).But Queen Tera had the magic to allow her to live beyond the grave, and a crucial element of that magic was a great ruby jewel that contained seven stars within, correlating precisely to the constellation under which she was born ¡V the jewel that Mr. Trelawney now has, along with at least part of the knowledge key to unlocking its magic.

Needless to say, Miss T reeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally doesn't appreciate the tomb raiders' sticky fingers all up in her magic bling.

Trelawney isn't out to rob the great queen, though.Actually, he wants to help her by deciphering the messages and items she left behind to achieve what she wanted most - immortality.

While there's a good bit of Egyptian lore and mysticism here, there's also a very healthy dose of philosophy, science, and religion in the discourses between the characters, and I can only imagine how sensational those exchanges must have been to a reading public in that particular era.Stoker's knowledge of all manner of things mystical and quasi-scientific is pretty impressive, I must say.

Of course I won't give away the ending, but one of the most interesting trivia bits about this book is that when it was first released in 1903, it was at the reluctance of the publishers because the ending was thought to be too depressing and the chapter on religion a little too controversial for the general reader.They agreed to publish it only because Stoker was fairly well-known by then for Dracula.However, upon seeking re-release of it a few years later, Stoker was told he had to change the ending, as well as remove the one offending chapter completely, or it was a no-go.He agreed, and that watered-down version was the only one available for almost 100 years.I read the original version first, then the revamped ending via the Gutenberg Project online.Both endings are disappointing, frankly!The original ends bleakly and in a hurried, unexplained fashion, and the revamp, while doing a bit more in the 'finishing out', left me thinking "well, what was the point?"

Still a fun read, though, and I liked it.Not on par with Dracula by a long shot, but enjoyable.
... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Menacing tales from one of the masters of horror fiction

Although Bram Stoker is best known for his world-famous novel Dracula, he also wrote many shorter works on the strange and the macabre. Comprised of spine-chilling tales published by Stoker’s widow after his death, as well as The Lair of the White Worm, an intensely intriguing novel of myths, legends, and unspeakable evils, this collection demonstrates the full range of Stoker’s horror writing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Dracula's Guest and Other Weird Stories will send chills down your spine in this splendid Penguin Edition
Bram Stoker was Dublin born but is best known for his fictional creation the evil Count Dracula whose digs were in Transylvania. Stoker (1847-1912) wrote several other novels and tales while enjoying the friendship of such stellar literary artists as Walt Whitman and Mark Twain. For years he served as the business manager for famous Shakespearean actor Sir Henry Irving (the first actor ever knighted!).
Following Stoker's death his widow collected the stories in this volume which also includes the novella "The Lair of the White Worm."
Dracula's Guest deals with a visitor to the land of Dracula who encounters a savage wolf, horrific weather and scares aplenty on the way to the Count's residence. This material was deleted from the completed Dracula novel but is still spookily atmospheric
The Judge's House deals with a young student prepping for his tripos who rents an out of the way home once owned by a hanging judge. The lad is confronted by horrific rats including one which looks just like the deceased judge. This one is a Halloween Eve story worth reading.
The Squaw is a gruesome story which raised the angry nettles of those of us who are cat lovers! A bumptious America is visiting Nuremberg. The man accidently kills a kitten making mother cat very angry. This cat pursues and punishes the man for his cruelty. This is one you will not soon forget!
The Story of the Growing Gold deals the revenge of a murdered wife on her husband who has remarried. Shades of a Grimm fairy tale in this excursion into the horrible. The "gold" refers to the first wife's hair which grows and grows and grows bringing with it a dire judgment on evil!
A Gipsy Prophecy: The story occurs when a young couple are honeymooning. The gipsy predicts the husband will murder his bride. Read this strange tale to see how it is resolved!
The Coming of Abel Behenna: This tale deals with a love triangle among denizens of rural Great Britain. It has many twists and turns making it worthy of a Twilight Zone plot.
The Burial Rats is a story of life among the poverty stricken veterans of the Napoleonic Wars who seek to rob and murder the first person narrator. Rats human and animal abound in a chilling tale of pursuit.
A Dream of Red Hands deals with the redemption of Jacob who killed the man in love with his Mabel. He repents and saves a friend from a
bizzare death.
Crooken Sands deals with a fatuous old London merchant who insists on dressing in Scottish kilts on a holiday in Scotland. He is almost sucked to his death by quicksand.
The Lair of the White Worm deals with a woman named Arabella who is in reality a snake who has lived thousands of years. She is a murderer as she reeks havoc in a quiet English community until she is defeated by the narrator Adam Salter.The story is unrealistic; displays misogynyistic and racial stereotypes and is not a success.
Bram Stoker was a fin de siecle author who will be remembered for his masterpiece "Dracula." Those who enjoy his work, Gothic and Horror fiction will enjoy this volume.

The ORIGINAL version of "Lair of the White Worm"!
"Dracula's Guest" is an excellent short story collection by the author of "Dracula". It includes at least a couple of absolute horror classics, such as the title story, "The Judge's House", and "The Squaw". Another reviewer has ably summarized the stories and I have nothing further to add.

Regarding the novel "The Lair of the White Worm" (also included in this volume), I have been familiar with this extremely strange work for many years. Imagine my shock when I received this book, and learned that I had never actually read Stoker's novel at all! The version of LotWW that has been standard for most of a century was actually chopped to pieces and many parts RE-WRITTEN by some anonymous writer after Stoker's death. No wonder people have always found the novel to be badly put together.

Well, OK, it's STILL badly put together. It was written while Stoker was dying, possibly of syphilis, and taking some weird medications. It's still a very strange performance. But I much prefer it to the thing that has been out there for 80 years masquerading as Stoker's book. If you've ever read that bastardized version before and hated it, you should at least give Stoker's actual book a chance and buy this edition.

An example: One Amazon reviewer of a different edition of LotWW totally trashed the book, and gave a sample of its hilariously badly-written dialogue. Well, guess what - Stoker didn't write that particular bit of dialogue. It doesn't appear in this edition at all. (Although I'll grant you that there are still plenty of other examples of hilariously badly-written dialogue in the book.)

Another example: There is an utterly outrageous scene in this version that I loved, but which is missing from the "standard" edition. In it, our intrepid heroes, for no convincing or even intelligible reason, have accepted an invitation to afternoon tea from their neighbor, Lady Arabella March - even while knowing that said Lady is, in reality, a gigantic prehistoric snake in human form (!) who desires to destroy them all. Well, the nice little Edwardian tea-party starts off all right, until Lady Arabella becomes frustrated by the failure of her attempts to cause her guests to slip and fall into a well in the cellar of her house (which is, in reality, an entrance to her subterranean lair). So she transforms herself into her true (monstrous) shape on the spot and furiously chases our heroes half way across England. (The latter are aided in their escape by the sudden re-appearance of a gigantic flock of pigeons that seems to follow one of the characters around for some mysterious reason.) Our heroes finally board a ship at Liverpool (apparently pre-arranged in some way that's never explained), but continue to be pursued into the Irish Sea by Lady Arabella (now a sea-serpent) until she/it finally gives up the chase. The next day, all parties involved simply return to their homes as though nothing at all had happened - Lady Arabella, in fact, sends a polite letter to the main character asking for his help in a business matter, and he just as politely agrees to help her! This scene, like much of the book, is as jaw-droppingly surrealistic and disjointed as a dream - but it is also highly entertaining, like something from a Monty Python film. I found it to be very funny, but I still can't decide whether Stoker meant it to be funny or not (I sure hope he did).

So just what the heck IS this novel, anyway? A product of senile and/or drug-addled dementia? A protracted exercise in the bizarre and grotesque humor that Stoker showed himself capable of in his short story "The Dualitists" (not included in this volume)? A rough draft that never got finished due to Stoker's final illness but was published anyway, perhaps for financial reasons? A little of each, I suspect. But whatever else LotWW is, nobody can deny that it is truly unique, especially in its original form. I can absolutely guarantee that you have never read anything else even remotely like it before.

PS - Also be careful with Stoker's interesting mummy novel, "The Jewel of Seven Stars". Once again, some hack (the same one?) re-wrote the ending of that book and completely ruined it, while also chopping out one chapter. If you want to read what Bram Stoker actually wrote, you should get the new Penguin Classics version of that novel as well.

An eerie surprise
If you liked Dracula, you will like this book. It begins with Dracula's Guest which was cut from the original Dracula manuscript, not because it was inferior but it simply was its own story.It is a strange tale that I actually served up to my English class to illustrate the delivery of mood and tone to cause fear in the reader. The rest of the stories are equally odd and imaginative, reminding me of Guy de Maupassant's twisted imagery bordering on the surreal with ghosts haunting lonely beaches, rats in walls, and dead men floating on the ocean to haunt a killer. "The Burial of the Rats" is one of the most terrifying stories I have ever read, taking place in the dust piles of Paris, behind the city where they take the trash. People live there--strange and dangerous people. It's also one of the few books where you get Lair of the White Worm, which I understand was written at the time Stoker was losing his mind.

Must-read for Stoker fans
Dracula being one of my favorite books, I was thrilled to find this collection of Bram Stoker's short stories.I enjoy horror writers who can provoke old-fashioned fright without relying too heavily on graphic details; while those details have a place, too many of them dampen a story.I was hoping that this collection would be as skillfully crafted as Dracula; I'm happy to say that this anthology mostly lived up to my expectations.While there's plenty of ghoulish tension throughout the book, these stories also provide moral lessons, cautionary tales, some hair-raising plot twists, and even a few happy anecdotes that keep the collection from feeling monolithic.

Disclaimer: I tried to keep the "spoilers" in this review to a minimum - that is, I did not include any details that you would not read within the first half of the stories.Read on if you want more information about each individual tale; otherwise, suffice it to say that fans of gothic horror writing will probably find this collection very enjoyable and worth a read.

"Dracula's Guest": A headstrong stranger faces danger when he does not heed the advice of the locals.I was glad I knew Dracula as well as I do when I started reading this selection because Stoker draws a lot of parallels to the opening scenes of his novel (a carriage ride, mountainous terrain, wolves, baleful weather, the dangers of Walpurgis Nacht), which made the reading experience feel rich and familiar.

"The Judge's House": A young man stays in a house with an unpleasant, angry past, much to the chagrin of the surrounding townsfolk.Again, Stoker points out the foolishness of willfully neglecting superstition/advice; I'll admit that this felt a bit predictable after "Dracula's Guest," but I still found myself enthralled with the narrative.

"The Squaw": A couple's honeymoon does not exactly go as planned.Some truly horrific events transpire in the few pages of this story, which is far and away the most disturbing, graphic tale in the book.I won't spoil it with any more details.

"The Secret of Growing Gold": A callous lover learns that he cannot bury his past.This one felt like the most conventional story for me, perhaps because it does deal with a jilted lover, which is one of the oldest themes in storytelling.Still, even in Stoker's most conventional stories, he has a good knack for maintaining a menacing enough tone that you want to keep reading.

"A Gipsy Prophecy": A young couple must figure out how to deal with a terribly upsetting prophecy they receive from a local gipsy.Kind of self-explanatory, but I liked this one quite a bit.

"The Coming of Abel Behenna": Two men and one woman find themselves embroiled in a fiercely competitive love triangle.I found the tone of this story more mocking and satiric than the other stories in the book, which was refreshing.Stoker condemns the fickleness of affection and the repercussions of jealousy while still weaving a ghastly story in the process.

"The Burial of the Rats": An early 1900s chase-scene set in fantastic, perilous circumstances.This story starts slowly but builds into a breakneck pace - I really enjoyed it by the end, and there are some fairly unsettling ideas brought together as the narrator runs for his life.

"A Dream of Red Hands": Two friends learn about the power of guilt and repentance.I realize that sounds like the plot of a Lifetime movie, but this story's a bit of a far cry from the straight horror genre, which I appreciated in this anthology.

"Crooken Sands": A man discovers that he is truly his own worst enemy.The protagonist's anticipated undoing is bred from his own pride; because of that, he will not stop his terrible fate even as he sees it coming to pass before his own eyes.

"Lair of the White Worm": A 120-page novella about a young man and his granduncle getting wrapped up in the mysteries surrounding the eccentric, inscrutable heir to a local estate and an equally puzzling woman.There's some stirring imagery and bizarre twists that keep the story relatively entertaining, but I had the hardest time getting into this of all the stories in the book; the narrative is very herky-jerky and the tone is uneven.The hallmark of a good horror story is that it seems real; what struck me most the first time I read Dracula was the chilling atmosphere and the characters' genuine terror as their understanding was shattered by the dark, demonic "other" they encountered in the book's nominal character.Sadly, I did not get any such feeling reading this selection, despite its seeming similarities to Stoker's novel; for one, the characters seem recover too quickly from the sickening events that transpire, which makes the story feel cursory and surreal.Not Stoker's best, but still worth a read for the frame of reference.

Despite the shortcomings of the final selection in the book, this collection is definitely worth reading.Highly recommended to fans of Dracula and/or gothic horror stories. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Unintentionally hilarious.
Had heard this book is terrible and it is.There are the germs of at least three excellent horror books in there...unfortunately Bram couldn't decide which to focus on and jumped wildly from one idea to the other.Is it about the mysterious curse haunting the last scion of a noble family, a la Hound of the Baskervilles?Or perhaps the evil power of mesmerism?A titanic battle of wills between a strong minded woman and an evil interloper for the soul of her sister?Or is it a straight out find-and-kill-the-monster romp?You decide!

The unfocused storyline, wild leaps of (il)logic, gaping plot holes and purple prose made this the funniest book I've read for some time.If you liked Shaun of the Dead, you'll probably find this hilarious.The ending is pure gold - I can't decide whether Michael Bay or Monty Python would do a better movie adaptation of it.

Definitely worth what I paid for it.

Well...it was free
Although a bit strange I found this book to be entertaining.It follows Adam as he battles the mysterious Lady Arabella, falls in love with Mimi, And encounters an assortment of odd characters.Not as good as Dracula, but if you can handle the far-fetched plot I would recommend it.Also, It is free.

Hmmmm, Not what I was expecting
Vague memories of a movie had me try this one. One of my least favorites as I read through my free kindle books. I kept hoping he was joking. I heard how acceptable racism was but this was my first encounter. Couldn't quite get past it.

Story definitely not worth digging through the rants against the "savage", Silly book altogether.

... Read more

Product Description
Includes the complete shooting script, excerpts from the original novel, more than 160 photos and drawings, showing the brilliant costumes, evocative sets, and historical antecedents; features on director's innovative methods, the technical challenges, the film's literary and historical links; a Dracula filmography and bibliography. 160 illustrations including 100 in color.

The Newmarket Pictorial Moviebooks, official companions to films, large format (8 3/8 x 10 7/8), heavily illustrated throughout, with color photographs, details on the making of the film, background on the filmmakers and cast. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Bram Sotker's Dracula
The film, Bram Stoker's Dracula, is a wonderful adaptation of Bram Stoker's book. The film follows the book almost faithfully and is fast paced and gripping. This book is a must-have for Dracula fans; and I recommend another book, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, that, by its title, would not lead a Dracula fan to read it. But, by all means, I highly recommend it and you will not be able to put the book down. The Historian will sweep you off of your feet with its well documented Dracula story.

school review
The book Dracula is a great book, it is a clasic novel that every person should read evin if they dont like the whole gothic sean.The book keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time you cant even put it down to go pee its so good, I figured it would be just a nother rip off of some stupid movie that someone wrote but this book is where all the vampire novels came from, this is the fother of all vampire novels and it is the best.

One of My Favorites
Yes, it is slightly campy and overacted but it was a genuine reproduction of the book - only better. The mood, the story, the characters, the castle, I liked it all.

This Dracula is not the violent, blood-thirsty monster featured in so many of these types of movies. Instead, Gary Oldham (what a selection!) is the dark, sensuous eternal phantom, at once mesmerizing and intoxicating. The trick of using a diary is especially effective in this case in that it gives the story some structure. Even Keanu Reeves was good as the helpless husband.

One of my favorites
Yes, it is slightly campy and overacted but it was a genuine reproduction of the book - only better.The mood, the story, the characters, the castle, I liked it all.

This Dracula is not the violent, blood-thirsty monster featured in so many of these types of movies.Instead, Gary Oldham (what a selection!) is the dark, sensuous eternal phantom, at once mesmerizing and intoxicating.The trick of using a diary is especially effective in this case in that it gives the story some structure.Even Keanu Reeves was good as the helpless husband.

Nice coverage on the legend behind Dracula and the movie
I think this book is a must for fans of horror films and artsy movies. This Dracula is an artistic venture into the horror genre, most notorious for its gore and guts aspects. I like the photographs and the conceptual designs being put into the movie. ... Read more

Product Description
A full-scale profile of Bram Stoker journeys beyond the facade of a proper Victorian gentleman to uncover the complex undercurrents that are revealed in the turbulent themes of the author's stories and novels, including sexuality, violence, and a fascination with death.Amazon.com Review
"I am here to do Your bidding, Master. I am Your slave,and You will reward me, for I shall be faithful." These wordsspoken by Renfield to Dracula might have been said by Bram Stoker tohis boss, the mesmerizing, domineering actor Henry Irving. Stoker wassuch a mild-mannered, secretive man that the real subject of thisacclaimed biography turns out to be the genesis of his novelDracula, and Irving--the man who, according to Barbara Belford,inspired its famous monster. Other fascinating characters who appearin Stoker's life are Florence Stoker (courted by Oscar Wilde beforeBram married her), Ellen Terry (Irving's leading lady), Walt Whitman,the aging Lord Tennyson, W. S. Gilbert, William Gladstone, LadySperanza Wilde, her son Oscar, Queen Victoria (who knights Irving, thefirst actor so honored), George Bernard Shaw, and Mark Twain. AsMargot Peters writes in the New York Times Book Review,"Stoker himself is pretty much swamped in these heavy seas. Butas Ms. Belford's intelligent, well-written and always interesting bookmakes clear, Stoker lived to serve. His revenge for lifelongself-effacement was Dracula." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Her Story of Bram Stoker
Barbara Belford is a professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and wrote a biography of Violet Hunt. `Count Dracula' is the most filmed character in history after `Sherlock Holmes', but most people never read the novel. Stoker's `Dracula' is the best known of his novels. It has been translated into virtually all European languages except Rumanian. The `Prologue' begins by referencing passages from `Dracula'. [I never read this novel or knew what was there.] This book seems to require a background in literature that a casual reader may not have. Belford mentions Stoker's childhood illness and compares it to Stoker's future novel. Cholera and other plagues were recurrent events in the 19th century. Since little was known about Stoker's early life Belford has to fill in the blanks. His siblings weren't affected like Bram. Does the deaths of over a million from starvation (p.17) far exceed the victims of Dracula? There was no such mortality in Europe. The Stoker family is of Dutch origin (p.30). Many were civil service bureaucrats. Cholera patients were sometimes buried alive (p.22). The narrative keeps being interrupted by literary references; I don't like this style (p.24). This book is valuable as a look into 19th century life, the theatrical business, and the career of Bram Stoker. Another problem is the photographs: they are spread throughout the book, the "Illustration Credits" do not list the pages. Belford's story of the stage play did not mention that Bela Lugosi played Count Dracula on the stage but was not reportedly the first choice for the film (p.33).

Abraham Stoker was born in 1847 Ireland. His father was a civil servant to the British Government, his mother was later an advocate of schooling for the handicapped. Bram went to Trinity College in Dublin, was a great athlete, and became interested in dramatics. He was a fan of Walt Whitman's poetry (p.43). After graduating he met Henry Irving the famous actor and became his business manager and friend. Irish legends tell of the Dearg-due (p.64). Stoker wrote short stories (p.66). Stoker married Florence Balcombe in 1878. He picked a new play that became a success (p.117). Stoker was a friend and advisor to Prime Minister Gladstone (p.131). Stoker risked his life to save a stranger from drowning and received a medal (p.137). Irving (and Stoker) toured America in the 1880s and later. Belford says the characters in `Dracula' were based on people known to Stoker (p.184). Stoker became a barrister in 1890 but never practiced law or tried a case (p.193). In the late 19th century some turned away from Christianity to embrace pagan superstitions (p.211). Why did Stoker pick the historic Dracula for his novel (p.260)? Stoker spent 6 years on writing this novel. Page 279 says "horse-drawn hansom" but the hansom cab was a two-wheeler. "The Thirty-Nine Steps" was a John Buchan novel (p.294). Stoker wanted to ban lewd fiction (p.312). Stoker died in 1912 of "locomotor ataxy, granular contracted kidney, exhaustion" (p.319). Some suggested a disease.

Why was Dracula so popular in the past? It shows a threat to humanity that can be overcome when people learn what must be done. Did Dracula represent a foreign ruler (Kaiser Bill or Hitler), or the economic panics or depressions? Was it a morality play where the good guys win at the end? The 1931 film seems to be a simplified and condensed version of the novel, like the bowdlerized Fairy Tales of the 20th century. It proved very popular. There were many vampire stories in the 19th century, now mostly forgotten.

Insight into Bram Stoker & His Life at the Lyceum.
Barbara Belford's "Bram Stoker: A Biography of the Author of Dracula" is considered to be the most scholarly and thorough of the 3 Bram Stoker biographies that have been published. But Mr. Stoker was a reticent person about whose personal life, opinions, and character there is precious little known. Whether out of humility or caution, he usually took care not to reveal himself. So what we know of Stoker comes primarily from his public life, which was thankfully shared with several grander, more loquacious personalities. Perhaps due to the scarcity of information about her subject, Barbara Belford gives Stoker's friends, colleagues, and the London theater community a lot of attention, especially Henry Irving, the great actor whose fame was dwarfed only by his ego, and whom Bram Stoker dedicated 27 years of his life to serving. Indeed, this biography of Stoker would serve well as a history of Irving's famous Lyceum Theatre for the decades that Stoker served as its acting manager.

Thebook starts by describing Stoker's childhood in Dublin, the third child born to a middle class Anglo-Irish family in 1847 during the potato famine, and his apparent debilitation until the age of 7. He grew up to be a civil servant like his father, and pursued personal interests as an unpaid drama critic for the "Evening Mail", through which Stoker met Henry Irving. After marrying the lovely Florence Balcombe, whom Oscar Wilde also courted, the Stokers moved to London whereBram's efficient management would help make the 1500-seat Lyceum Theatre fashionable and profitable. Since the Lyceum dominated Stoker's life, it dominates his biography, but Belford also discusses his trips to America on tour with the Lyceum company, his effusive admiration for Walt Whitman and Abraham Lincoln, and his novels and stories.

The upshot of "Bram Stoker: A Biography of the Man Who Wrote Dracula" is that Bram Stoker was a modest, hardworking man, exceedingly courteous even by Victorian standards, whose tireless work for Henry Irving was acknowledged by many but unappreciated and unrewarded by Irving himself. Stoker's genial but reserved manner harbored passionate, worshipful emotions toward his heroes, invariably men of power with larger-than-life personalities. Belford draws an occasional parallel between persons in Bram Stoker's own life and characters in "Dracula". Most notably, she sees a "sinister caricature" of Henry Irving in the vampire Count. Actress Ellen Terry seems to be reflected in Mina, and Stoker's wife Florence may have lent some of her character to Lucy. None of this is a stretch as long as one recognizes that "Dracula"'s characters don't have a single source, but many.

This biography includes a lot of good information for fans of Bram Stoker's work, but a couple of stylistic problems nagged at me. One is Belford's confusing tendency to refer to people by first or last name only, at the beginning of a chapter, instead of starting off with a full name. Another is the repeated use of the phrase "Unholy Trinity" to describe the business partnership between Henry Irving, Bram Stoker, and stage manager H.J. Loveday, which I found melodramatic. But Belford's book succeeds in creating a picture of Bram Stoker's personality without reading too much into his actions or words.

Best Book I ever read!
The main caracters in the story are Jonathan Harker, Mina Murry/Harker, and Lucy Westenras.There are several different settings, so I won,t list them specifically.Most of the book, they are in Europe in the 1800's.The plot of the books is Jonathan is a solicitor and meets the "Count".Sopposably the Count is friendly and turns evil. My opinion of the book is it is great it has some diffficult words so I recommend it to 8th grade and above.It is very interesting and fun.I liked the way that the author set up the book and the way he used everybodys point of view. ... Read more

Product Description
In a tale of ancient evil, Bram Stoker creates a world of lurking horrors and bizarre denizens: a demented mesmerist, hellbent on mentally crushing the girl he loves; a gigantic kite raised to rid the land of an unnatural infestation of birds, and which receives strange commands along its string; and all the while, the great white worm slithers below, seeking its next victim...

Bram Stoker, creator of Dracula, is one of the most enduring and masterful influences on the literature of terror. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Weirdly excellent
This is a crazy little story that transported me out of my routine. I like the way Stoker shows warm feelings between the characters then juxtaposes them with an environment of extreme violence and insanity. If not for the repose of normal people in the novella, the strangeness of the story would cause it to fall apart. This is Stoker's signature method in Dracula as well. I loved the story and think it's the authors second best novel after Dracula. This single black edition of the Lair was neat because it forced me to focus only on the story and didn't get lost in an anthology.

Not the "Lair" that I remember
I read "Lair of the White Worm" many many years ago and this Deodand version is not the original.It has been edited.One word has been changed throughout the book, but only in specific places:The 'good guys' do not say the "N" word, they say "native."The 'bad guys' use the "N" word.

I enjoy the story, mostly because I adore Victorian fiction.I do not, however, enjoy a book that has been edited a century after the author's death in order to save the reader from words that are not acceptable any more.

Horror Classic
The Lair of the White Worm (which is also known as The Garden of Evil) is a classic horror novel by Bram Stoker, who is most famous for Dracula (1897), regarded as the greatest horror novel ever written. It was published in 1911, the year before Stoker's death. In 1988, Ken Russell adapted the novel into a film starring Hugh Grant.

The plot of the novel centers on Adam Salton, originally from Sydney, Australia, who is contacted by his grand-uncle by letter, Richard Salton, in England for the purpose of establishing a relationship between these last two members of the family. Richard Salton wants to leave all his property and assets to Adam, including his estate, Lesser Hill. Adam arrives at the port of Southampton and travels to Richard Salton's house in Mercia, the estate of Lesser Hill, and quickly finds himself in the center of mysterious and inexplicable occurrences. The novel takes place in 1860. He tours the Mercia countryside and travels to Liverpool and becomes familiar with the terrain and its history. He learns that the area has an ancient history going back to Roman times and the time of the Druids. He discovers that Romans had settled the region and had built a temple there.

Edgar Caswall is the new heir to the Caswall estate, Castra Regis, the Royal Camp. Edgar Caswall is obsessed with mesmerism, an early form of hypnotism. Lady Arabella March is a mysterious widow whose husband committed suicide, being found with a gunshot wound to the head. He left no money, only debts. Arabella is haughty and domineering wearing tight white clothes that give her a snake-like appearance.

Adam Salton discovers black snakes on the property and buys a mongoose to hunt them down. The mongoose is able to kill the snakes. He then discovers a child with bite wounds on the neck. The child barely survives. He learns that another child was killed earlier while animals were also killed in the region. The mongoose attacks Arabella who shoots it to death. Arabella tears another mongoose apart with her hands. Arabella then murders Oolanga, the African servant, by dragging him down into a pit or hole. Adam then suspects Arabella of the other crimes.

Adam and Sir Nathaniel de Salis plot to stop Arabella by whatever means necessary. They suspect that she wants to murder Mimi Watford. Her half-sister is Lilla Watford. They are tenants of Caswall on the Mercy Farm estate with their grand-father Michael Watford. Sir Nathaniel is an Abraham Van Helsing type of character who knows the ancient history of the region. Arabella assumes a Dracula-like menace as Adam and Nathaniel track her down to destroy her. Arabella knows about the secret of the White Worm, a gigantic snake-like creature that lives in the pit on her estate, and seeks to exploit it to attain greater power and mastery.

The White Worm is a large snake-like creature that lives in the hole or pit in Arabella's house. The White Worm has green glowing eyes and feeds on whatever is thrown to it in the pit. The green eyes image harkens back to the green eyes of the black cat in "The Squaw" (1892), one of Stoker's best short stories. The White Worm ascends from the pit and seeks to attack Adam and Mimi Watford in a forest.

Adam plans to pour sand into the pit and to use dynamite to kill the giant White Worm in the pit.

Edgar Caswall is a slightly pathological eccentric who has Mesmer's chest which he keeps at the Doom Tower. Caswall wants to recreate mesmerism, associated with Anton Mesmer, which was a precursor to hypnotism. He has a giant kite in the shape of a hawk to scare away pigeons which have gone berzerk and have attacked his fields.

In the final scene, Adam Salton, Mimi Watford, and Nathaniel de Salis confront Arabella and Edgar Caswall. A thunderstorm and lightning destroy Diana's Grove by igniting the dynamite.

The Lair of the White Worm is a surreal horror fantasy novel by one of the greatest horror writers of all time. Dracula is arguably the greatest horror novel ever written in any language. It inspired the German horror classic Nosferatu and the 1931 Universal seminal classic Dracula starring Bela Lugosi. That movie started the horror genre in the US and around the world, being Universal's first horror movie. Dracula proved to be a huge success which convinced Universal to release other horror movies.

Most readers only know Bram Stoker for one work, Dracula. He wrote other novels, however, such as The Lady of the Shroud, Miss Betty, The Jewel of Seven Stars about Egyptian mummies, The Man (or The Gates of Life), The Lair of the White Worm, and short story collections such as Dracula's Guest (1914) and Under the Sunset (1882). The Lair of the White Worm is a short novel, approximately 120 pages in length. It is highly recommended. It has unforgettable surreal images and fantasy horror. The novel has an other-worldly, nightmare quality, alien, unreal feel or ambience to it, like it was set on another world. It is a page-turner and a book difficult to put down. It is well-written and recaptures some of the menace and terror of Dracula but lacks that novel's focus and realism.

The Lair of the White Worm is a must-read and a must-own horror novel for anyone interested in the genre by the foremost horror writer, Bram Stoker. The novel was published one year before Stoker died. He managed to get in one more shocker and thriller.

Bram Stoker, but not at his best
Adam Salton, born and raised in Australia, is contacted by his granduncle in England, for the purpose of establishing a relationship between these last two members of the family. Adam travels to Richard Salton's house in Mercia, and quickly finds himself in the center of some inexplicable occurrences.

The new heir to the Caswall estate, Edgar Caswall appears to be making some sort of a mesmeric assault on a local girl. And, a local lady, Arabella March, seems to be running a game of her own, perhaps angling to become Mrs. Caswall. There is something strange about Lady March, something inexplicable and evil.

This book has elements that should make it a gripping story. Unfortunately, the tendency of the characters to move on, after a fantastic event, as if nothing unusual had happened gives the story a disjointed, surreal feel. This story just does not come together, but rambles along to its uninspiring conclusion. I do not recommend this book.

Free SF Reader
A shorter novel.An english uncle calls on an aussie nephew to come and help him out.Strange things are happening, you have a possibly evil hypnotist and the very likely sinister Lady March.

This is all pretty minor compared to the big-arse snake monster or intrepid traveller finds in a cave.

As it turns out, there is not much chance that LadyArabella March is what she seems.




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Product Description
Bram Stoker's initial notes and outlines for his landmark horror novel Dracula were auctioned at Sotheby's in London in 1913 and eventually made their way to the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, where they are housed today. Until now, few of the 124 pages have been transcribed or analyzed. This comprehensive work reproduces the handwritten notes both in facsimile and in annotated transcription. It also includes Stoker's typewritten research notes and thoroughly analyzes all of the materials, which range from Stoker's thoughts on the novel's characters and settings to a nine-page calendar of events that includes most of the now-familiar story. The coauthors draw on their extensive knowledge of Dracula and vampires to guide readers through the construction of the novel, and the changes that were made to its structure, plot, setting and characters. Nine appendices provide insight into Stoker's personal life, his other works and his early literary influences. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Much more than notes
I ordered Bram Stoker's Notes for Dracula to share with my Gothic novel class, but of course, I read it cover to cover myself--great fun for any Stoker fan.The notes vindicate Stoker, who has often been accused of sloppy research. In this facsimile edition the reader learns just how thoroughly Stoker prepared the background for the novel.This volume is really a must for any serious student of Stoker.

An essential companion piece
After 25 years of reading and collecting vampire books, I have a pretty narrow definition of what I consider 'essential' in a collection. "Bram Stoker's Notes for Dracula: A Facsimile Edition" is one of these essential books.

Over the past few decades there have been numerous books that analyze, discuss and annotate "Dracula," but none come this close to giving you true insight into Bram Stoker's thought process as he developed the novel. Eighteen-Bisang and Miller decipher Stoker's messy and often cryptic handwriting from his original research and plot notes, presenting it alongside facsimiles of the actual notes held in a collection at the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia.

To anyone studying the novel, or simply reading it for pleasure, "Notes for Dracula" is a must-have companion piece.Although the handwritten notes play a big part in this book, it also includes Stoker's typewritten notes, background information on the author, and much, much more. What I found of special interest are the sections "The Novel vs. the Notes" and "The Novel We Could Have Read."

I can't think of any other creature that has so deeply ingrained itself into world-wide culture.Dracula is the most famous vampire there is...and for the first time, we get a real glimpse into the creative process that brought him to light. -- Brad Middleton, vampyres.com

Bram Stoker's Notes for Dracula: A Facsimile Edition
Bram Stoker's Notes for Dracula: A Facsimile Edition
Excel·lent edició. Treball d'edició acurat. Imprescindible per a qualsevol interessat realment en la novel·la Dràcula.

Long awaited
This is a long awaited first-rate material for Draculastudies as well as for the studies in fin-de-siecle English literature and culture.Complete with the facsimile of original holograph of Stoker and his type-written material, it is sure to give you precious glimpses of the author's secrets.

Was Dracula Based on Vlad the Impaler?
This book has the notes that Stoker used when writing Dracula.For me the most important piece of information that comes from them is: Stoker did not base the blood-sucking count on the historical figure of Vlad the Impaler.Therefore those scholars that pushed the Dracula-Vlad connection in the 70's were, at best, mistaken.And the movie "Bram Stoker's Dracula" is anything but Bram Stoker's Dracula.The book does cost enough that anyone not serious about Stoker's greatest novel might want to pass on it.But if you consider yourself a true Dracula enthusiast, it may be worth the price to peek into Stoker's creative process. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description

As they read, children will enjoy an interactive experience, including an exploding pop-up, a pull-out guide to Transylvania, and a removable map of Dracula’s castle; pull tabs; a board game; and sidebars on how to spot, capture, and kill a vampire. 

Nicola L. Robinson’s evocative art fully captures the story’s dark and gothic atmosphere.

Customer Reviews (3)

For Discerning Dracula-philes
If you are a fan of Stoker's masterpiece, then this book ought to find its way into your collection. If you had to choose between this one and Leonard Wolf's similarly annotated edition, well -- I have both. McNally and Florescu make use of Stoker's working notes for the novel, and this in itself is reason to favor their edition over Wolf's (which his The Essential Dracula does not have). This book under review here has lavish, full page photos, maps, miscellaneous other photographs and artwork as well as two nice introductions, one about vampires and the origins of Dracula and a second about Stoker's working notes, which appear in full as footnotes at appropriate places throughout the novel. They also restored "Dracula's Guest" (originally planned as chapter two of Stoker's novel, but now a stand alone short story) to the beginning of the novel proper, meaning you really get an extra chapter which takes place chronologically before the original first chapter of the novel. It's a real treat, in fact, as "Dracula's Guest" makes a fantastic opening to the novel. I won't give away its contents, but this reviewer agrees with McNally and Florescu that it's one of the best pieces of literature Stoker ever penned. At the end of the book, they also explore all the incarnations Dracula has taken in stage and film, as well as a very delightful itinerary for a Dracula vacation, highlighting the real places in the novel that one may visit. Now, I also enjoyed Wolf's annotated version, if for nothing else than Wolf seems a bit more attentive to the literary dimension of Stoker's work. Personally, as I said, I enjoy having both of these in my collection, but if forced I would recommend this one. It's really a sheer pleasure for Dracula and real vampire fans alike (I say real, as certain contemporary young adult novels that shall go unnamed do not, for me, a vampire fan make. You know the ones I mean.)

Very Pleased
The book arrived in fine shape... price was very reasonable... very fast delivery time. Would purchase again from this seller.

Free SF Reader
Why do I like this so much? Maybe because it is a classic? Hard to say why, just really enjoy how that is done, the cast of hunters, etc. It is the one I have multiple versions of, including a hardback annotated, so that certainly says something.The style, told in letters and journals to large degree just seems to work for some reason, when it can be horrible elsewhere.Highly recommended.

Apart from that, the Essential Dracula has annotations and notes for each page, which are quite interesting.If you just want to concentrate on the novel, you may find this setup distracting, so try a plain version just for that.
Tells how about a Dracula walking tour in London, and other fun things.


[...]
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Product Description
An untold story from the greatest vampire story ever written, Bram Stoker's Death Ship explores the harrowing, nightmarish sea voyage from Transylvania to England. One by one, the terrified crewmembers of the Russian schooner Demeter vanish, victims of the unearthly lifeform that lies comatose in the ship's hold during daylight hours. Only Demeter's seasoned captain, a proud man of the sea, remains to confront the voracious monster that has preyed upon his crew by moonlight... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great untold tale of Dracula
This was suspenseful, well written and beautifully illustrated.I devoured this book late one fall evening and it left me wanting more.A truly masterful take on one of the most overlooked parts of Stoker's Classic Vampire tale!
Death Ship tells the horrific story of the Demeter, the ship charged with bringing Count Dracula from Transylvania to London.One by one the ship mates start disappearing until it becomes clear to the Captain that there is some terrible force on board his ship.

The art is a perfect compliment-- this is no Classics Illustrated type of 50s lit comic book-- this is truly a work in which the art is expressionistic and moody fitting and setting the atmosphere as any good graphic novel should.

I'd love to see more from this team.
Perfect for Halloween! ... Read more

Product Description
This is a concise, readable and comprehensive introduction to Bram Stoker's classic "Dracula" (1897) for undergraduates. "Dracula" (1897) is one of the most commonly studied gothic novels and has been hugely influential through adaptations in fiction, on stage and in cinema. Offering an authoritative, up-to-date guide for students, this book introduces its context, language, themes, criticism and afterlife, leading students to a more sophisticated understanding of the text.It is the ideal guide to reading and studying the novel, setting "Dracula" in its historical, intellectual and cultural contexts, offering analyses of its themes, style and structure, providing exemplary close readings, presenting an up-to-date account of its critical reception. It also includes an introduction to its substantial history as an adapted text on stage and screen focusing on the portrayal of the vampire from "Nosferatu" to "Interview with a Vampire". It includes points for discussion, suggestions for further study and an annotated guide to relevant reading."Continuum Reader's Guides" are clear, concise and accessible introductions to key texts in literature and philosophy.Each book explores the themes, context, criticism and influence of key works, providing a practical introduction to close reading, guiding students towards a thorough understanding of the text. They provide an essential, up-to-date resource, ideal for undergraduate students. ... Read more