Dracula by Bram Stoker

10/10

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.

Dracula has been attributed to many literary genres including vampire literature, horror fiction, the gothic novel and invasion literature. Structurally it is an epistolary novel, that is, told as a series of diary entries and letters. Literary critics have examined many themes in the novel, such as the role of women in Victorian culture, conventional and conservative sexuality, immigration, colonialism, postcolonialism and folklore. Although Stoker did not invent the vampire, the novel's influence on the popularity of vampires has been singularly responsible for many theatrical and film interpretations throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

Review by

12 positive reader review(s) for Dracula

Bram Stoker biography

Dracula reader reviews

from India

Dracula was one of the greatest horror novel ever written.
10/10 ()

from England

iI read this book as a child and it was amazing, I am now reading it again and it is still brilliant.
10/10 ()

from India

Dracula is the first and only book that I had even read in my life. Bram Stoker had written in a way that the reader becomes anxious to read, to know what happens next. Dracula is a milestone in the sphere of literature world.
10/10 ()

from United States

This book is a true literary work, with stunning use of language to portray the fascinating romanticism of this gothic horror novel. To me this book was more about philosophical meanings of life and death, and the meaning of true friendship, loyalty, and love. Although sprinkled with several graphic horror scenes, this book was not written as some attempt solely to scare people in some shallow way. It has so much depth to it, and I found myself admiring Mina, a main character, for her courage and faith throughout the novel. Beautifully crafted, this novel pieces together diaries and letters in a way that keeps the reader engaged. The relationships these characters build with one another is very special. I felt I went in a time machine back to a place where people truly cared for one another and built intimate relationships based on true trust and friendships. I recommend this book for mature Christians, since a common theme seemed to be relying on God for strength and hope throughout the story.
9/10 ()

from Bahrain

I liked the book and the movie too. It is neither scary nor boring. And I am fond of horror books.
10/10 ()

from Germany

Dracula by Bram Stoker is a wonderful book full of exciting action, suspense and horror. A great book for all generations, not too scary and not too boring. And the thrill leaves you lying on the edge of the seat.
10/10 ()

from India

Read this book again. Horror yes but the Victorian nod to women’s nobility and suffering robs the pace of this yarn. How did Jonathan Harker escape from the castle not known! Again East Europeans are a tad less civilized than the British. A yarn but very very slow in unfolding.
10/10 ()

from Bangladesh

It is good because it builds up tension.
8/10 ()

from London

The book is very enjoyable and builds a lot of tension it is not predictable like other books.
8/10 ()

from Turkey

A satisfying read for the ones who have an appetite for horror and fantasy in a classical way. Basically it’s Victorian Era merging with peculiarity and wickedness.
8/10 ()

from USA

This was one of the first books I remember reading that used the epistolary type of writing. Bram Stoker managed to convey the story so eloquently and with tension using the ships logs, letters and diaries and newspaper articles. It has,of course become a classic and although others have written about vampires there is good reason why this is the book the popularized it.
9/10 ()

from India

The perfect blend of horror and adventure is seen in this fantastic book. Kept it simple which you will not find in the classics and I'm sure Bram Stoker was happy about it. The readers felt it more comfortable than other classics as it comes straight to the point and doesn't beat around the bush. Even though Mary Shelly enjoyed 69 years of success after writing Frankenstein it should have been difficult for him to write a book of the same genre. Still he achieved it and prooved that if there is determination,,nothing is impossible. One of my all time favorites.
9/10 ()

from United States

This is a classic novel that I always wanted to read and after putting it off, I finally finished it. Please, allow me to provide a little background about my reading experience. I am a 90's guy and my first exposure to Bram Stoker's Dracula (For better or for worse) was a movie released in 1992. I cannot help but to have imagines of the movie re-play in my mind as I read the novel. I am afraid that I contaminated my imagination with pre-imposed images, characters and situations. As a result, I find myself comparing the novel to the movie at all times. In my humble opinion, the movie does justice to the novel. I couldn't find any disturbing discrepancies between the two. I enjoyed this novel although, at times I felt too much time was dedicated to Lucy's illness and also on Renfield’s mental condition. However, that didn't spoil the novel for me. The characters are a delight, the plot is interesting, the flow is smooth and the Victorian lifestyle described is just the icing on the cake. I strongly recommend this novel.
7/10 ()

from Newcastle, Australia

Finally crossed this book off the list. The style is fantastic, I think its great how the majority of the story is told through journal entries and newspaper clippings, feels almost like you are ready a study guide at university. The story is original, and it is easy to see why a lot of recent books are derivative of Dracula. The characters are a bit different but that may just be because this story was written in the 1890's, but they are well developed and you do get to see a different side of them through their journal entries. Great book, one that everyone should take the time to read.
9/10 ()

9.1/10 from 15 reviews

All Bram Stoker Reviews