Dracula by Bram Stoker, Fiction, Classics, Horror

Dracula is an 1897 Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. It introduced Count Dracula and established many conventions of subsequent vampire fantasy. The novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to move from Transylvania to England so that he may find new blood and spread the undead curse and of the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and a woman led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing.
Dracula has been assigned to many literary genres including vampire literature, horror fiction, the gothic novel and invasion literature and has spawned numerous theatrical, film and television interpretations.

"Bram Stoker, born in Dublin in 1847, overcame a childhood illness to become an accomplished athlete and scholar at Trinity College. His career took a pivotal turn when he became the personal assistant to the famous actor Sir Henry Irving and managed London's Lyceum Theatre for 27 years, immersing himself in high society. While best known for his 1897 novel Dracula, Stoker wrote several other works of gothic fiction. Dracula, in particular, drew on his fascination with folklore and became an iconic influence in vampire literature and popular culture.Stoker's life was shaped by his wide range of interests, including literature, theatre, and travel. His time managing the Lyceum Theatre gave him access to London's literary and artistic circles, where he met figures like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Walt Whitman. His travels to places like Whitby, England, and Cruden Bay, Scotland, helped inspire the eerie settings in Dracula. Although he never visited Eastern Europe, Stoker's extensive research into its folklore gave his most famous work a haunting authenticity.In his later years, Stoker faced declining health and financial struggles, yet he remained productive until his death in 1912. Dracula was not initially recognized as a literary masterpiece but has since become one of the most influential horror novels ever written, cementing Stoker's place in literary history. His unique blend of gothic horror, folklore, and Victorian anxieties continues to captivate readers and inspire adaptations across all forms of media."