Synopsis
When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the purchase of a London house, he makes a series of horrific discoveries about his client. Soon afterwards, various bizarre incidents unfold in England: an apparently unmanned ship is wrecked off the coast of Whitby; a young woman discovers strange puncture marks on her neck; and the inmate of a lunatic asylum raves about the ‘Master’ and his imminent arrival.
Rating
★★★★★
Thoughts
When I decided to add this macabre novel to my October reading list, I didn’t expect to like it half as much as I did! While I like a few of the old cinematic interpretations of these classic stories, I don’t fancy many of the modern ones, whether written or filmed.
I fully enjoyed the way in which this book was written. Through a series of journal entries and other writings, I could feel the suspense build through multiple characters’ points of view. I could easily empathize with these people—who, living in a time when little was understood medically and even less was tolerated sexually—were trying to figure out what evil was taking place and how to fight it. I found the character development to be rich, and the story to be multi-faceted and intriguing. Much to my delight, the story contained a fair bit of humor, too.
After finishing this book, I can say that Dracula is indeed the father of all gothic vampire horror stories, none of which quite compare today. If you haven’t read it, I recommend picking it up to see how the concept of vampires has evolved since this story. It’s really surprising!
Quotes
- “There is a reason why all things are as they are.”
- “Despair has its own calms.”
- “Is it possible that love is all subjective, or all objective?”
Edition
This beautiful edition of Dracula comes from Chiltern Publishing.