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    The Penny Dreadfuls: Tales of Horror: Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Picture of Dorian Gray
    Unavailable
    The Penny Dreadfuls: Tales of Horror: Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Picture of Dorian Gray
    Unavailable
    The Penny Dreadfuls: Tales of Horror: Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Picture of Dorian Gray
    Ebook1,071 pages18 hours

    The Penny Dreadfuls: Tales of Horror: Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Picture of Dorian Gray

    By Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley and Oscar Wilde

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Three nineteenth-century literary giants—Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, and Oscar Wilde—in one outstanding volume of Victorian gothic horror.
     
    In the 1800s, penny dreadfuls were cheap English stories that featured lurid, disturbing, and tantalizing content. These horror serials cost a penny per issue, hence their name. Penny dreadfuls often paid homage to—and even inspired—many of the more famous narratives of the horror genre.
     
    Born of the penny dreadful tradition and originally published at a time when dramatic scientific discoveries sparked a cultural fixation on the paranormal, these stories remain timeless in their uncanny ability to prey upon our primal fear of that which is strange, violent, and unknown.
     
    This book contains three haunting tales and a bonus story:
     
    • Dracula by Bram Stoker
    • Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker (Dracula’s original first chapter, not published until after Stoker’s death)
    • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
    • The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
     
    Curl up with The Penny Dreadfuls on a dark, moonless night and rediscover these chilling classics!
     
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateMay 5, 2015
    ISBN9781634501156
    Unavailable
    The Penny Dreadfuls: Tales of Horror: Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Picture of Dorian Gray
    Author

    Bram Stoker

    Bram (Abraham) Stoker was an Irish novelist, born November 8, 1847 in Dublin, Ireland. 'Dracula' was to become his best-known work, based on European folklore and stories of vampires. Although most famous for writing 'Dracula', Stoker wrote eighteen books before he died in 1912 at the age of sixty-four.

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    Reviews for The Penny Dreadfuls

    3.5/5

    41 ratings258 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I have a love hate relationship with this book. I was forced to read it twice in my life once in high school and again in college. I hated being forced to read this book but in the end I didn't hate the actual book itself. My college class gave me a different perspective of the story which allowed me to enjoy it more.
    • 4/5
      Dracula ended up being very different than what I was expecting- not in a bad way, though. I finished it within a week. It was a quick read!

      I love how the story is told through a variety of mediums - journals, letters, newspaper clippings, telegrams, and a phonograph diary; the switch between perspectives was labeled in this edition, which helped in maintaining clear whose thoughts we are reading. I really enjoyed how sometimes the journal entries of two or more characters are from the same moment in time but tell two different perspectives, observations, and set of concerns. The different kinds of integrated text also adds an element of suspense for the reader; like the characters, we have to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but unlike the characters, we have a variety of sources from which to draw our own inferences and conclusions.

      The cast is diverse - each with different backgrounds, talents, and personalities. I particularly enjoyed that Mina Murray contributes a lot to the investigation instead of solely being a victim that needs to be rescued. Even though she is paced in a situation of distress, she continues to find ways to make contributions and to keep her companions safe.

      For the times, I say the plot is innovative and thrilling. Really a classic of a horror romance that along with Frankenstein will fit nicely into your October reading list.
    • 5/5
      Second time reading:Dracula will always be a classic. It really is a horrifying story, painful and beautiful and deep. Admittedly, sometimes Van Helsing's long monologues get tedious and occasionally you just want to tell them all to get on with it, but all that aside... it's pretty brilliant.Probably my favorite part of Dracula is Renfield. During the later parts of the book, I found my attention wandering and I think it's because Renfield wasn't in the last half very much at all, and he was always so interesting. I think perhaps once the characters started figuring everything out, I kind of lost interest. I'm not sure why.
    • 3/5
      (I read this for Coursera's SF&F class, taught by Prof. Eric S. Rabkin.)

      The story wasn't too bad, and I liked where the author paid attention to plot details, like the explanation people made up for the anaemic kids, and where they discuss finding and destroying the boxes of earth that Dracula brought with him--and particularly where it's mentioned that he might hide one of them underground and thereby be very safe indeed.

      Unfortunately, the book was really too long for my taste. I mean, I certainly am happy to read a book twice this long and more--that's no trouble--but there just wasn't enough happening in Dracula to hold my interest. Interminable conversations during which they decide to have more conversations just don't grab me.

      After reading this, I watched the movie with Bela Lugosi, and I've got to say that if I hadn't already read the book, that movie would have been incomprehensible. It looked like they just cut random segments out and stuck the rest together. The book is definitely better. For that matter, Nosferatu is better, and I really didn't like that movie, either.
    • 5/5
      What can I say that hasn't already been said about Dracula? It's a classic for a reason. I first read this book many years ago and had forgotten all of the little details of the story. So while reviews have already been written many times over, I will say this:Wilhelmina, if you can believe it, is more progressive as a female heroine in the book than how she is portrayed in films or television. In the book, she never falls in love or is smitten by Dracula. From the moment she realizes what he is and what he has done, she is repulsed and disgusted by him. She fears and loathes Dracula, and never fully succumbs to his will. He turned her best friend into one of the Un-dead, she cannot imagine a worse fate. Lucy's death, and the safety of her own immortal soul are what drives her to find Dracula. Thus, Dr. Van Helsing, her husband, and all of the other gentlemen in The Campaign, consider her a vital member of the team. They consistently stress in their journals and memorandums that she is brave, strong, and a steadfast rock in times of crisis. Her optimism and hope often keep the team from falling into doubt. She is a "train-fiend," and aids the men in the chase after Dracula with her knowledge of train schedules. She also gathered together, in order, all notes, journal entries and clues concerning Dracula in order to track him down. This was no easy feat and absolutely brilliant as Van Helsing gladly admits. There are times when the men leave Mina in the dark concerning The Plan of Campaign for fear of her sanity and well-being, but they soon realize that they cannot accomplish the deed without her assistance. Thus Mina Harker has become one of my favorite characters in classic literature, a far cry from being a helpless victim.
    • 5/5
      For some time I had considered reading Dracula, but not being interested in the modern vampire and zombie movies and television programs I avoided it until a year ago. I decided to read some of the classics and chose this one because I had seen the Dracula movie long ago and wanted to be able to say I had read the book. I found it on YouTube and began by listening to it, but then found it for free on Kindle so finished it that way ? which was better for me.This story so captivated me I had to keep reading. Bram Stoker?s writing style and beautiful use of language is thrilling to read, and the characters he created made for such a good story. The only problem was that I had to put the book down when it got late into the evening. It freaked me out a little! Not that I believe Dracula to be real but Stoker?s brilliant writing and settings really spooked me! I couldn?t read it after dark. Now that is good writing. I am so glad I read this book.The story is written like a diary but with each person writing from their own perspective. If that sounds boring or as if it would be hard to follow, it isn?t at all. It makes it very interesting. The reader wants to keep reading to know what is going on since last hearing from each character, where is Dracula in his plotting, who else is going to meet with trouble at his design, how are they going to defeat him.Points of interest: Other titles Stoker had for this book were The Dead Un-Dead, and The Un-dead, before deciding on Dracula His main character was called Count Wampyr until Stoker came across the name Dracula while researching for the book Dracula is an old story, but not quite the original vampire story since Stoker borrowed some details from a couple of previous authors, but he built on that and made it better.Vampire stories told now could not be what they are without Bram Stoker?s Dracula. If you think you know about vampires from what is currently written, do yourself a favour and read Dracula for the ?real? story, even though it?s fiction. :) I don?t believe you will be disappointed.
    • 5/5
      Read it. With the lights on. In broad daylight. But read it. Seriously.
    • 3/5
      Dracula is (as I?m sure you know) a classic work of horror fiction from the 19th century which, while it didn?t invent the concept of the vampire, certainly modernised it and turned it into the contemporary horror trope we?re all so thoroughly sick of today. I must have read an abridged version of it in my youth, because I remembered most of the major plot points. I think it must have been an illustrated version; I distinctly remember the image of Dracula holding Mina Harker?s wrists together with one hand at her bed, and also a vague image of Van Helsing looking heroic at sunset at the novel?s climax (or anticlimax, as I found this time around).The funny thing about a novel like Dracula is that while it?s a classic today ? and is therefore assumed, by people who haven?t read it, to be a great work of literature ? Bram Stoker was actually a pop culture writer akin to Arthur Conan Doyle. Which is not to say that his books (or Doyle?s) were bad ? merely that they were neither intended to be, nor considered to be, brilliant literature, just an enjoyable way to pass the time.Dracula begins with English solicitor Jonathan Harker travelling to Transylvania to assist the titular count with his purchase of an estate on the outskirts of London. The first 60 or so pages of the novel, which comprise of Harker?s journal while he is staying at the Count?s castle, are excellent. Stoker develops a deep and foreboding sense of dread as Harker gradually realises that he is a prisoner, becoming more and more desperate as he realises that Dracula knows he knows, and doesn?t seem to care, and eventually intends to kill him. (Mind you, it makes little sense for the plot ? if Dracula?s intention is to secure a place for himself amongst London?s ?teeming millions,? why arouse suspicion before even moving there by summoning your lawyer?s right-hand man and then killing him?)After the end of this segment, unfortunately, the focus shifts back to England. There is a brief section comprising a ship captain?s journal and a newspaper report from Whitby detailing the night that Dracula?s vessel comes ashore, all of which is excellent. Following this, however, Dracula enters literary doldrums from which it never recovers. Lucy Westenra, a friend of Harker?s fiancee Mina, is chosen by Dracula as a victim, and her long, weak decline into vampirism is drawn out and tedious. After Lucy, the process is again repeated with Mina. This part of the novel also introduces the insufferable Professor Van Helsing ? a verbose, waffling Dutchman who wises up to what?s going on and leads the fight against Dracula, always explaining what?s going on with far more words than necessary, none of which is made any easier by Stoker?s stilted method of expressing Van Helsing?s Dutch accent. See:?I admit that at the first I was sceptic. Were it not that through long years I have trained myself to keep an open mind, I could not have believed until such time as that fact thunder on my ear. ?See! See! I prove, I prove.? Alas! Had I known at first what now I know, nay, had I even guess at him, one so precious life had been spared to so many of us who did love her. But that is gone, and we must so work, that other poor souls perish not, whilst we can save.?Et cetera. Van Helsing has far more dialogue than any other character in the novel, and his imperfect English is grating to read. And after these boring 200 pages at the centre of the book, it seems to promise to pick up again towards the end as the characters chase Dracula back into Eastern Europe, only to finish on a curiously underwhelming note as two of them kick his coffin out of a wagon and cut his head off while he sleeps. One of them is killed by gypsies in the process, but since he had no character attributes other than ?is American,? I can?t say it was one of literature?s more heart-wrenching deaths.That?s also, incidentally, another clumsy running theme throughout the novel ? Stoker continually violates the show-don?t-tell rule in his attempt to pluck at the reader?s heartstrings. The characters are constantly crying and holding each other?s hands and talking about what good, strong, brave people their friends are, and what a great pact of friendship they?re making, and so on. Meanwhile the reader is counting how many pages left until he can be rid of their company.I can?t recommend Dracula; it may be a classic, but despite a few strong sections it?s not a good book. Simply because a novel is old and enduring and spawned an entire subgenre of horror fiction doesn?t mean it has great literary merit or is even, by modern standards, the easily readable popular fiction it was originally meant to be.
    • 5/5


      Now this is what a vampire book should BE like! Please, if you have ANY self-respect, read this book. It's absolutely fantastic!



      Writing - 4 out of 5
      Wonderfully written. The writing isn't actually that difficult to get through. It's not a read that goes at breakneck speeds, but it's still fast and relatively easy! The only times where I got slowed up in the book was in the places where various heavy accents or dialects came in and weighed the words down as you tried to puzzle over what they meant. But I feel that this was intentional by the author, and so it's one of those things you have to suffer through to get to the full awesomeness of this book. Still, from description and atmosphere. UNF. So sexy. Seriously.


      Setting - 5 out of 5
      Man does Bram Stoker know how to set a scene! That one scene on the ship--holy crap it was terrifying! I was actually scared it was that intense! And the castle, the forest paths, the way that the rooms were invaded, how the characters were all cast. Talk about eerie and exciting! If there's one thing this man knows how to do, it's how to set the stage for the characters to play on. Absolutely enjoyed this aspect of the book. He did a great job in setting up the environment for the book to play out in.


      Story - 4 out of 5
      It can get a little, and I repeat, only a little redundant at times. Similar things happen, but the loop-de-loop is all part of a plan. You get something unusual in these stories too. The older the work, usually the less the action, especially when it comes to classics. This is one of those few I read that had quiet a bit of action. And action with purpose and with suspense. It was a very interesting read, and there was a uniqueness to the story that you think you know, but don't fully understand until you pick up this book. We all know that Dracula is a vampire. But the amazing part is that the word Vampire doesn't even APPEAR in the story until it's more than halfway along! Even further if I remember correctly! It's a story that's more mystery, suspense, survival, and horror than anything else! And Bram Stoker does a brilliant job of unfolding it, in the weirdest, most twisted and unusual ways. There's always a strange light cast on everything. And it's a unique read that you just have to experience for yourself to understand.


      Characters - 5 out of 5
      Wheeeeeeeeeeee~! I love them all. They're all so WEIRD. And they have that same interesting concept of innocence that you see in some dated writing, where they don't know what's going on, and they can't fathom that some things could possibly happen, whereas we today, who are used to these things, see them quite clearly before us. But at the same time, that's what adds the flavor to this book, and to the characters that we see interacting.

      I didn't put a Main and Side character section, because it's hard to differentiate in this story. The point of view switches between five to even six characters at times, and each of them have their own sets of knowledge and beliefs, their own attempts to survive and help, and their own parts to play and add to the story. At some point they all come together and form a union, all their stories no longer just "interacting" but sinuous between one another. Where one story stops, the other now continues, and it's no longer several different stories, but one story told by many different characters.

      The characters themselves are not absolutely complicated, but they do have their own fascinating little aspects and traits that make them themselves. Some are weaker in some things, some are defined by class and origin, and others are made up of who they support and how they support them. It's a nice change of pace to see also that we have a strength in the female characters that mixes the "typical" feminine damsel in distress situation with a deeply female intenseness, a power that only a woman could bear and wield. Bram Stoker, for all this mild shortcomings, does not fall short on making the women in this book, just like the antagonist and the men, all a little more than what they seem to be. There's more to them than the sum of their parts, you could say. And it creates an intriguing, unusual path for them all to tread in this tumultuous environment.


      The Mythology and Lore - 5 out of 5
      I've got to say, one of the things I loved about this book was ALL of the footnotes! Oh my GOD there's so much information that you can learn from them! And the book itself too! It goes through the history of the myths about vampires, about their powers and their origins. It talks about some classic things that we still keep in mind today about their weaknesses and strengths, but it surprises you in some situations with information that I, at least, personally had never heard of or known about! It's so great to read a book that actually explains these things and tells you about them! If there's nothing else you look into this book for, absolutely read it for the lore, because it's going to teach you all the basics about true vampire mythology, and I--who love to know the origins of supernatural and fantastic beings--found a looot to learn in this book there. You've gotta read it! Especially since most people today are retardedly uneducated about the first thing with them. *Nod to Stephanie*



      All this being said, my average rating for this book is 4.6, being rounded up for awesome to a 5 out of 5 rating.


      Advice on Reading: Some people may be off put by the age and style of the way this book is written. I assure you, it's worth suffering through something you're not used to in order to enjoy this book. It's got a lot of things it can teach you, especially for those supernatural YA lovers today. Reading this might actually give you an idea of what quality you can get out of vampire books today. Trust me, it's worthwhile.

      For anyone who wants to add a classic to their shelves, buy this book. It's well written, you can probably find it for cheap anywhere, the atmosphere of the book is great, and it's probably got some surprising twists you wouldn't expect.

      For everyone else, I recommend you definitely check this out. Vampires are part of the popular culture today. At the very least, give this book a chance, because it's got a great story to tell, and I believe you can enjoy it. If you're not sure, like I said before, buying it should be pretty cheap, so even if you spend the money on it first before reading it, you won't be making a big dent in your wallet for it. Pretty much, buy the sucker if you find it for cheap. If you don't wanna risk it, you can probably find it just about anywhere. So give it a shot! Why not, after all? Especially since this is the "in" thing today. Read this sucker. ;3
    • 4/5
      (No spoilers)
      First of all I had just one main issue, which is:

      I am rather dissapointed in the fact that we get so little from the book's title character, all the Count's dialogue doesn't even add up to three pages at least. That is caused by the book's structure as journal entries and letters and while he affects all other characters and everything is about him at the core, as a reader I wish the opportunity to better study his words rather than his actions would have been presented.

      Also I was very excited about the following things:

      1. Managing to control so many plot lines without causing any confusion or without losing logic is absolutely amazing. Very enjoyable from this point of view.

      2. Favourite characters must be Lucy Westerna and Van Helsing, very bright and unique. Also I must note that no adaptation of the book that I've seen does them justice.

      3. The book was published in 1897 and yet it might have as well have been published sometime this very year, for its classic and timeless style is accessible to anyone.
      Overall:4/5
    • 4/5
      I've been meaning to read Dracula for some time in order to see how the modern portrayals relate to Stoker's classic. I was pleasantly surprised; it does drag in places and Victorian attitudes towards women are quite alien to our times, but this book is really quite gruesome. I can only imagine how terrified the readers of yesteryear must have been!
    • 2/5
      This book is of the kind that must be read for cultural reference, but by it's own merit, it is not all that enjoyable to read.The prose is dull and uninspired, and protagonists tend to suffer from extremely poor decisions.That being said, it is probably not fair to judge them by the standards of modern reader familiar with vampire fiction. Every time I want to scream "Don't you know what a vampire is?!" I have to remind myself that they probably don't. Can't expect protagonists to be genre-savvy before the birth of the genre.As I've mentioned above, Dracula is a must-read for cultural reference - both to see what clishes of modern vampires it gave rise to and, perhaps more interestingly, the ones it definitely did not inspire.
    • 5/5
      I remember my utter delight at finding this classic in the public library over 40 years ago: battered and ancient, it was the first Golden Age horror story I read and although Stoker has plenty of detractors, it was the ideal read for a tween [I was not permitted horror until I reached double digits] with a fascination with fear. Dracula is very tame by today's standards of course, even if you belong to the school that insists on reading sex into every lick, suck and bite: still, the sensitive reader will experience chills as the hapless Jonathan Harker finds himself in an isolated castle with a very dodgy host. The crewless ship sailing into the Whitby harbour in sight of the lunatic asylum, and the searching of the ruined Whitby Abbey are also edge-of-your seat scenes. True Blood, Vampire Diaries, Twilight - writers of the multitudinous vampire books, films and series should go back to the original periodically to find something about how to scare an audience without gallon of gore and eroticism.
    • 4/5
      Constantly long-winded but I enjoyed how it was narrated from different people through their diary entries or letters. The author's writing was skillful.
    • 4/5
      What can I really say about this book? It is about the REAL vampires, before they became sex symbols they were haunting.
      The beginning of the book with Jonothan in Castle Dracula was absolutely flawless, so exciting.

      After this it kind of dragged on but it was written so well and I just wanted to know what would eventually happen.

      I was in the last 10 pages going Oh my how is it going to end in only 10...9..8..7..3 ohhh! It was a quick ending in comparison to the rest of the book which took as long as possible with everything else. That is the only reason I give it a four instead of a five.

      Otherwise, the writing was superb in this. I guess that for a book to stand the test of time, it has to be well written. There were times when I was reading and I felt like taking note of certain quotes. It was just that good. I may have to read this book again just to squeeze as much as I can out of it.

      I really liked this book. I had been waiting to read it for a while and I'm glad I did and stuck with it.
    • 1/5
      As much as I wanted to read this all the way through, I ended up discarding it because it was too heavy and slow for my taste, unfortunately.
    • 4/5
      You don't need to read any review of mine to get the impression that this Dracula is nothing like what modern pop culture has made vampires out to be. Now, I read this book a little more than two years ago while the Twilight heat wave was still in full swing, and I have to say that reading the original vampire was extraordinarily refreshing. If you don't want to read this book simply because its about vampires, then you're missing out on a lot of material for your anti-mainstream rants.
      For starters, Dracula starts out as an old man in a castle. To top it off, he has hair on his palms and (if I remember correctly) a large mustache. He can also control some animals, which are all "evil" (and those are huge quotations) animals (ex. wolves, bats, etc.).
      Now, I know everyone says that there is a human-vampire romance in this book, but in my opinion, this is all based on your interpretation and perspective. The human-vampire transformation is a bit sketchy too. From what I read, it seemed that a vampire had to drink their blood until they died or something... but the female lead, Mina, sort of becomes a vampire when Dracula forces her to drink his blood and then they develop some sort of telepathy... As I said, the plot can be interpreted in a few different ways.
      Anyway back to literary stuff.
      As far as story goes, I really enjoyed the whole diary/letter format. I thoroughly enjoyed the story too, and was even a bit scared sometimes... The ending, however, seemed rushed. I think it went a bit downhill once Mina was turned. I also remember thinking that Quincey's death was a bit unnecessary, but other than that, it had a somewhat happy ending.
      Honestly, your reaction to the book depends on what you expect from it. Vampire romance? Eh, maybe you can get something out of it. Horror story? Pretty high on the scale for Victorian standards. Literary work? Very intriguing. Especially to analyze.
    • 5/5
      This is a really scary story. No vampires named Edward here. THe part in Dracula's castle was nightmare inducing. I thought the thing about the three guys saving Lucy dated the story but other than that it could be set anytime and anywhere. Dracula is a really bad guy.
    • 4/5
      Dracula by Bram StokerSolicitor, Jonathan Harker, travels to Castle Dracula, in the wilds of Transylvania (Romania), to meet with his client, the Count, who is purchasing property in London. After being compelled to stay at the Castle, and later learning that he is actually being held prisoner there, Mr. Harker begins to see disturbing and frightening things. There is one passage of the book in particular that is my favorite as far as the suspense surrounding it. Looking out a castle window, trying to find a means to escape, and looking down at the 1000-foot drop, Harker sees Dracula exiting a lower window face-down, scaling the castle wall using his hands and feet. The way it is described gave me chills. Yes, Dracula can transform himself into a bat. He can also use mind-control over his victims. There is no reflection of his image in mirrors. And then there's that whole drinking your blood thing.After escaping the castle, Mr. Harker returns to London to recover. While he was away, a close friend of his fiancee' has an encounter with the Count. The end result of that encounter starts the ball rolling to eliminate the monster. A team is assembled. Dr. Seward--who oversees an insane asylum which houses a very interesting character, Renfield, who is diagnosed with zoophagia (he's obsessed with eating creatures to absorb their life force). Somehow Renfield's odd behavior interjects a little humor into the story as he tries to barter with the doctor to bring him creatures to eat or things that will attract them to his cell. Through most of the story, he has an affinity for flies and spiders. Seward contacts his former professor and friend, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing--who was the first to understand what the Count was. Then there is the American adventurer, Quincey Morris, a friend of Arthur Holmwood (Lord Godalming), and Mina Murray (Harker's bride).We learn about the motives behind the Count's actions along with the characters in the book, following their journal entries, conversations regarding people they have interviewed, some newspaper clippings, etc., which they are keeping a record of for posterity in case they are unsuccessful.In their efforts to track down the location of the Count, they slowly piece together every move he has made so far, how he made the journey to London considering his limitations of needing to go to ground during the day, etc., eventually following him back to his native Transylvania, in desperation of saving not only the rest of humanity, but more personally, one of their own.
    • 3/5
      This book is not only tedious it is also nauseatingly Christian to the point of anti-semitism. It also adheres blindly to sexual stereotypes. I can see why people in the Victorian era would have found it exciting, but I can't understand why anyone now shares that opinion. Granted, it is a delight not to be awash in sparking, sexy vampires, but the ultra pure, self sacrificing female characters remain the same.
    • 5/5
      This book should be required reading before anyone is exposed to vampire anything! While Stoker did not ?invent? the idea of vampires, his book is the basis of the modern definition as we know it today. What a pleasure it must have been for the readers in 1897, largely new to the concepts, to have read with such suspense the horrors of Jonathan Harker as he unknowingly brings himself into Count Dracula?s castle. Dum, dum, dummm!!Opening with Jonathan who is the legal rep managing the Count?s property purchase in London, the plot thickens mid-section with all key characters introduced including the now famous Prof. Van Helsing, the newly inducted vampire, poor beautiful Lucy, and the team who will then become the vampire hunters ? Dr. Seward, Arthur (Lucy?s betrothed), Mina (Jonathan?s wife), and Quincy (the lone American in the story), and finally the hunt ? all the way to Transylvania. The sceneries, the descriptions of the Count?s abilities/limitations, the elegant Victorian English that is not Austen/Dickens but describing horror and fear and lost ? what is there not to like about this unique piece of literature? Buy an edition that has footnotes to comprehend the geography and regional English of that time. The book is narrated via journals from selected individuals only but nonetheless covers all characters well, all of whom I found immensely likeable ? perhaps easy to feel for heroes. The narratives permeate with an uplifting spirit, ??the world seems full of good men ? even if there are monsters in it.? Lucy?s beauty was described with such flourish that I wish I can see for myself and imagine the heart break when her features turn to those of a vampire. Stoker doesn?t elaborate on the Count?s point-of-view, and one may even argue that his character is not well developed but doesn?t that keep the Count even more mysterious? Now, be sure to avoid individuals who are pale, tall, thin, red eyes, mouth full of white, sharp teeth, with an ability to crawl down walls head-first, turn to mist, snow, commands wolves, and can?t cross the water. :)Favorite character: Mina Harker ? Easily the most loving, intelligent, thoughtful, caring person, she had an unintended leadership role, having compiled all the timeline of facts and finding the clue to track the Count. Least Favorite character: None ? not even the CountSome Quotes:On America ? I don?t know why but I laughed. BTW, he is Texan:?What a fine fellow is Quincey! I believe in my heart of hearts that he suffered as much about Lucy?s death as any of us; but he bore himself through it like a moral Viking. If America can go on breeding men like that, she will be a power in the world indeed.?On Faith ? Purportedly from Mark Twain who Stoker knew:?? ?that faculty which enables us to believe things which we know to be untrue?? He meant that we shall have an open mind, and not let a little bit of truth check the rush of a big truth??On Truth:?If it be not true, then proof will be relief; at worst it will not harm. If it be true! Ah, there is the dread; yet very dread should help my cause, for in it is some need of belief.?On Being a Man ? I rather liked this definition:Van Helsing on Jonathan: ??After reading his account of it I was prepared to meet a good specimen of manhood, but hardly the quiet, business-like gentleman who came here to-day.?Mina on Jonathan: ?He was never so resolute, never so strong, never so full of volcanic energy, as at present. It is just as that dear, good Professor Van Helsing said: he is true grit, and he improves under strain that would kill a weaker nature. He came back full of life and hope and determination??On Sorrow ? Arthur finally breaks down over Lucy:From Mina: ?It seemed to me that all he had of late been suffering in silence found a vent at once. He grew quite hysterical, and raising his open hands, beat his palms together in a perfect agony of grief. He stood up and then sat down again, and the tears rained down his cheeks. I felt an infinite pity for him, and opened my arms unthinkingly. With a sob he laid his head on my shoulder and cried like a wearied child, whilst he shook with emotion.? On Intellect ? Eek. This made me cringe a bit, despite it being a compliment on a female. From Prof Van Helsing: ?Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina! She has man?s brain ? a brain that a man should have were he much gifted ? and a woman?s heart. The good God fashioned her for a purpose, believe me, when He made that so good combination.?
    • 4/5
      This was my first audiobook read which was an interesting experience. I chose audiobook after starting reading Dracula and the realising that I did not like the copy I had. I have to say as a fan of vampire novels I don't know why it took me so long to get the original vampire masterpiece. A masterpiece this book certainly is. I love the poetic writing of Stoker and how he can set an eerie scene whilst keeping the gore to a minimum. The characters are well written and are also fairly well know for anyone who has watched any Dracula / Van Helsing films.I urge anyone who hasn't read this classic to pick up a copy and read the original of all vampire novels.
    • 2/5
      Although I admired Mr Stoker's piecing together of the numerous different narratives, I personally feel this novel would've worked much better in third person. I was impressed with the opening four chapters, given from the viewpoint of Jonathan Harker, but having been thus engaged, it was hard to adjust to the sudden switch to Mina, followed closely by a couple of tedious letters by Lucy. So following the end of Chapter 5 I found the novel patchy. At times I was engaged, but generally I was not. Dracula hardly appears from this point.At times the story feels static. It's hard to warm to the characters through the medium of journal entries and letter. With the amount of changes in point of view I sometimes lost track of who was narrating.As I neared the conclusion I was in two minds weather to award this 2 or 3 stars. I decided to go for the latter if there was a unexpected or powerful ending. In my opinion the conclusion was an anti-climax, hence why I've given this 2 stars.
    • 4/5
      A tale of thrilling mystery and suspense,as naturally predicted. The way the book was written, in a collection of journal entries, telegrams, notes, etc. was highly unique. In a sense, it made the story more relatable. It provided the intricate importance of documenting experiences. Honestly, it made me pick up journaling again, myself. Though, my stories probably don't possess the thrill of this one, hah.
      The only issue I had was the voices. I am full aware of the time this story was written and how different the voice was back then from how it is currently. That was not my issue, though it did pose a problem at times when interpreting certain paragraphs. The issue with voice that I have focuses on the major character sections not seeming to have different mode of personality. They all certainly did have specific personality traits that the reader can distinctly separate from the others, however, the differences were not always taken into account. I suppose in simpler terms, but I mean is that I felt as if I was reading the book as a 1st person narrative instead of a collection of distinct personalities. At times, it made the story a little dry.
      Regardless of this issue, the book was still very enjoyable, not only in an entertainment factors, but also as a literary masterpiece.
    • 5/5
      I started this novel with some curiosity but not much enthusiasm, so I was ready to nitpick. Our hero is sitting down to tea with Dracula himself and doesn't have a clue, despite observing one oddity about his host after another. I wanted to shake him and yell, "it's the world's nastiest vampire, you idiot! Get the blinders off!" Then, revelation: he doesn't recognize Dracula because for him, there's no such person. This is Dracula being invented, right here in this book.I ought to have known the reason Dracula is a household name is first and foremost because the original novel is so good. All of it is written as letters and diary entries, news clippings, etc. all meshing wonderfully. Nor is it nearly so straightforward a plot as I expected. Who is Renfield, the asylum inmate, and what's his role in the story? Why should I care that some completely incidental lady has three suitors who all propose to her? Ah - wait and see!When I read Frankenstein I felt sympathy for the poor monster. Dracula is not a character to inspire pathos. He does such a good snarling face that you'll probably live with the nightmare vision for the rest of your life. He has more freaky powers at his disposal than I have space to list in this review. And he is not above taunting you after costing you the love of your life.I care nothing for Hugh Jackman's Van Helsing, but I love the Van Helsing of this novel. I love his careful building up to revealing what he knows, leading to the big pronouncement: vampires exist! How many characters in how many novels could take lessons from this guy? He could teach "How to convince people to believe in the supernatural without instead convincing them you're insane". It does take him a long time to set up his case, but seeing how he pulls it all together is what makes it great. Afterwards he's an equally steady hand at keeping others' minds on an even keel when madness comes knocking at the door.The finale fell a bit flat, anticlimactic by today's standards, but this novel is about the journey far more than its conclusion. I received a lot more journey than I'd bargained for.
    • 4/5
      Dracula a Gothic horror novel written by Irish author Bram Stoker in 1897 has been sitting in my Nook since I purchased the Nook. Englishman Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania to complete some legal transactions for Count Dracula. Dracula has a plan. He will go to England where he has bought a home in search of new prey. Dr. Van Helsing from Holland, Dr Seward, Quincy P. Morris from Texas and Arthur Holmwood, along with Lucy Westenra, Mina Harker and her husband Jonathan Harker join forces to destroy the vampire. The story is told through letters and diary entries including some recorded messages on a phonograph. The reader knows this story from the movies and all the vampire lore that has continued through the years. It also has been over analyzed to the point that people just don?t read it and may feel a little cheated if they do. In the standard of horror, this may not please today?s reader but for me, it was my first vampire book and it was a good place to start. I was and am a reluctant reader of vampire lit. The book is enjoyable, well researched and easy to read. I give it four stars for that reason, even if I really don?t like reading books about vampires. There is a enough technical information about vampires to bring the reluctant vampire reader up to grade. The two women are the most interesting characters in the novel. Mina is the most developed character. Of course they are the targets of Dracula. Lucy is weak and simple and an easy prey while Mina, the more desired, is stronger, smarter and a picture of the New Woman that is emerging at this time. I think the book does a splendid job of telling about vampires, creating tension and was complete in its accuracy of vampires as the Undead. And No, I will not be reading twilight but I may eventually read Interview With the Vampire because it is also on the 1001 list.
    • 3/5
      This is one of those books you must remind yourself of the time it was written and the context. When this was written in the 1800s, this book probably frightened the bejesus out of people, but after the shock society from the 1970s on (yes, I am referring to the Exorcist), this book is tame, although interesting. The writing style of the time and the amount of detail made this book a little difficult to comprehend and a little boring. The approach of the writer to use diary and letter correspondence to move the story forward was both odd and unique. Do people have diaries any more? Oh yeah, I think they call them Facebook! ;).The book is a widely read classic so it stands on its own merits. One thumb up is all from me.
    • 4/5
      Although I hadn't read this novel before, it held few surprises for me. The basic plot is part of popular culture. (My first exposure may have been the Gilligan's Island parody episode, and my high school choir performed the musical parody Dracula, Baby my senior year.) What did surprise me is that it is an epistolary novel. I listened to a Naxos audio version recorded by a cast of voice actors. It's an excellent production, and it turned out to be a great way to experience this book. The narrators read with such conviction that I was able to overlook some of the dated scientific material (e.g., about blood transfusions). I liked this book much more than Frankenstein.
    • 1/5
      Great beginning, but shortly after events switch to London the writing descends into tedious and poorly written melodrama and just plain bad dialogue (especially Van Helsing's). The Virtue of Manliness! The horror of female carnality! The constant weeping! The expressive nostrils! The latter half of the book is like one long cornpone homily intermixed with, dear my friends, an absurd amount of regurgitation, the manly weeping, and the nostrils of deep feeling. Terrible.
    • 4/5
      so much better than all the vampires book that have come out recently. Good story, but a few open ends.Interesting style to tell the story but using journal entries and letters.