By Jim Steinmeyer
An acclaimed historian sleuths out literature’s most renowned vampire, uncovering the resource fabric – from folklore and historical past, to personas together with Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman – in the back of Bram Stoker’s bloody creation.
In greater than a century of vampires in popular culture, just one lord of the evening really stands proud: Dracula. even though the identify might conjure up pictures of Bela Lugosi lurking approximately in a cape and white pancake make-up within the iconic 1931 movie, the nature of Dracula—a strong, evil Transylvanian aristocrat who slaughters repressed Victorians on a visit to London—was created in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel of an analogous identify, a piece so well known it has spawned unlimited reinventions in books and film.
But the place did literature’s undead icon come from? What resources encouraged Stoker to craft a monster who could proceed to hang-out our desires (and wants) for generations? Historian Jim Steinmeyer, who published the boys in the back of the myths within the final maximum Magician on this planet, explores a query that has lengthy involved literary students and the interpreting public alike: was once there a real-life proposal for Stoker’s count number Dracula?
Hunting via data and letters, literary and theatrical historical past, and the relationships and occasions that gave form to Stoker’s lifestyles, Steinmeyer finds the folk and tales at the back of the Transylvanian legend. In so doing, he exhibits how Stoker drew on fabric from the careers of literary contemporaries Walt Whitman and Oscar Wilde; reviled personas akin to Jack the Ripper and the notorious fifteenth-century prince Vlad Tepes, in addition to little-known yet major figures, together with Stoker’s onetime boss, British level celebrity Henry Irving, and Theodore Roosevelt’s uncle, Robert Roosevelt (thought to be a version for Van Helsing).
Along the way in which, Steinmeyer depicts Stoker’s lifestyles in Dublin and London, his improvement as a author, involvement with London’s shiny theater scene, and production of 1 of horror’s maximum masterpieces. Combining historic detective paintings with literary learn, Steinmeyer’s eagle eye offers a captivating travel via Victorian tradition and the intense literary monster it produced.
Read Online or Download Who Was Dracula?: Bram Stoker's Trail of Blood PDF
Similar vampires books
Soul Stealers (Clockwork Vampire Chronicles, Book 2)
THE CLOCKWORK VAMPIRES THIRST FOR BLOOD-OIL. The land of Falanor has fallen. The renegade hero Kell is being hunted by means of the machine-vampires, the Vachine. On his approach to recruit reinforcements to release the counter-attack, the strong hero reveals himself the prey of 2 attractive yet lethal vampire assassins.
Skin Trade (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 17)
The sensational new novel from the recent York occasions bestselling writer that includes her vampire-hunting heroine Anita BlakeOnce you inform an individual sure issues, like, say, you were given mailed a human head in a field, they have a tendency to imagine you’re loopy. Anita Blake’s popularity has taken a few hits. now not at the paintings entrance, the place she has the top kill count number of all of the criminal vampire executioners within the kingdom, yet at the own entrance.
In an international the place vampires are a dominant species and people are raised for searching and leisure, affectionate vampire Martin Kowalski, certainly one of his kind's unique creators, struggles with a demise want prior to encountering a small human woman whom he makes a decision to elevate as his daughter. 50,000 first p
Chicago Three Shades of Night (World of Darkness (White Wolf Paperback))
Shadows Run Deep there's a taint in Chicago, a slightly suppressed shiver of horror that touches all who make their domestic within the urban. during this selection of 3 hooked up novellas, vampire, werewolves and mages all pursue their visions of strength. every one novella tells a part of the tale of the hidden monsters of the Windy urban.
Extra resources for Who Was Dracula?: Bram Stoker's Trail of Blood
Example text
She shook her head vigorously in denial. She wouldn't be anyone's lifemate, least of all this man with his burning eyes and his dominant nature. She couldn't conceive of being with a man so hard, so utterly certain of himself. Emotions poured into her, colors vivid and bright, so bright she feared she might go blind—or maybe it was his fear, his colors, his emotions. She couldn't separate herself, as if by entering her body to heal her, he had wrapped himself around her insides, burrowing deep to find her soul.
Alexandria nodded. " A slow smile lit up Skyler's face. "Thanks for the tip. Raven says hello. " "Neither did my mashed potatoes. " Skyler halted abruptly and blinked up at Alexandria. "Wearing them? The potatoes? " A slow smile transformed her face. " "I wish I hadn't been there. Josh ran to me frightened and I turned around, forgetting I had a high-speed mixer in my hand, a mixer Josh and Josef had revved up for me. " She met Skyler's gaze and they both burst into laughter. The sound drifted through the forest, rising upward to meet the floating snowflakes.
I want to be there. I think Lucian and I need to go visit our younger brother," Gabriel said. " "That's just mean," Francesca scolded laughingly. "And don't you dare tell him Santa wears red tights. " "There are benefits to being prince after all," Mikhail said. Skyler cleared her throat. " Mikhail looked smug. "A fine joke on Gregori, little one. I had better go. I have too many things to do. " Skyler tipped back her head to look up at Dimitri. In spite of herself, she had to admit he was handsome, with the face of man, not a boy.