Dracula (Penguin Popular Classics) Book

Vampire literature - Love it or hate it, in recent years the prevalence of contemporary vampire literature has been established the world over. This follows the genre's phenomenal ascension and sustained dominance at the zenith of many countries best sellers lists. This is in no small part due to a certain saga, the name of which can currently be found on the lips of readers and cinema goers alike. Yes, of course I refer to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. The Twilight saga has sent shock waves through the literary world, grabbing publishers by the scruff of their necks, shaking them violently and screaming in their ears "VAMPIRES EQUALS MONEY!?!?!?!". Naturally, in the wake of Twilight's success capitalism did as capitalism does, with a multitude of publishers following suit by printing every vampire novel they could find in their in-tray and waste paper basket. As a result the genre of late has become heavily diluted in a sea of poor quality novels. And so rather perturbed I decided to travel back in time to 1897, to sample vampire literature in arguably its purest and most unadulterated form...Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Thoughts - I expected Dickensian style prose. I worried it might be outdated and inaccessible to a young 21st century reader like myself. I expected an elderly man of a book but instead found a spritely young teenager, full of life and youthful exuberance. For most intents and purposes Dracula could have been written yesterday. It retains freshness and exudes a modernity that belies its one-hundred and thirteen years. Bram Stoker's novel appears to share in the immortality of the authors own terrifying un-dead creation. A more comical person than me might insert some further double entendre here, but this is a serious review after all... The only signs of its age are apparent in the relationships between male and female characters and the differences to be found in the characteristics of the two sexes. Some may find the prose chauvinistic or sexist, but considering the views of the period in which Dracula was written, the attitudes within the book are representative of the time. I found this aspect to be rather comical in a quaint, innocent, old fashioned kind of way. The men are stereotypically brave and dauntless and daren't shed a tear in front of another man for fear that their masculinity may be called into question. This coupled with women who faint at the slightest alarm or whiff of danger leads to an unexpected element of humour from this gothic horror.

Plot - Count Dracula is a Transylvanian aristocrat and secret vampire. He is rich and powerful beyond measure in his homeland, but craves the buzzing metropolis of 19th century London and all the human spoils within. In London he can feed on the life blood of the countless inhabitants and create legions of 'undead' in his own image. Many English professionals are hired in London to handle the Count's affairs and various purchases of property in preparation for his arrival in England. Jonathan Harker, a solicitor at a London firm is responsible for the purchase of Dracula's Carfax mansion and travels to Dracula's Transylvanian castle in order to complete the deal. Upon arrival Harker soon discovers the Count's terrifying secret and is imprisoned under promise of death while Dracula sails for English shores. Harker must escape! His fiancé awaits him back home in England. But will the Count come into her life much sooner than Harker can return...

Verdict - Dracula is an epistolary novel, which means that structurally the story is delivered as a chronological series of mixed sources, i.e. diary entries, private letters, telegrams and newspaper reports etc. I loved this style and felt it added an air of realism to the story whilst allowing the author to develop the characters much further than would be traditionally possible with other styles of writing. Providing access to many character's private thoughts, especially through diary entries, made me feel like I knew them all inside out. I felt like I was truly enveloped in the Dracula universe.

Dracula is a classic horror novel of unfathomable importance to so many modern books, TV shows, theatre and films etc. Its importance is so often overlooked and I fear its very existence is forgotten by many. It is a tale of horror, love, adventure and human endurance with elements of superstition, history and religion all thrown in. It makes for a compellingly chilling read if you can stop yourself cringing over the numerous stereotypes! I recommend this book for all fans of vampires, and horror but more importantly, all fans of literature. I would be especially interested to hear what fans of the Twilight saga make of the 'daddy' of vampire literature! Happy reading!