Dracula: Stoker Bram (Penguin Classics) Paperback – 27 Mar. 2003

This is the first time I have read a `classic'. What has held me back all my reading years from picking up a classic? - the old fashioned writing. And what did I end up loving about this book? You guessed it - the old fashioned writing!This is such a uniquely written story. Of course I have read books with multiple POV's before, but never have I read a book written in this sort of format. Apparently its called "epistolary format". Meaning the entire story is made up of journal entries, diary entries, letters, telegrams, newspaper cuttings, ships logs, notes, etc. It was brilliant. It made me feel like I was there, living this awful nightmare of a story.I will admit that I didn't really start to love this book until about half way through. Of course a story like this need to tak time to `set the scene'. And with so many points of views and different threads of the story being told at the same time, for the first half I just read with a growing feeling of curiosity and interest. However, once the threads of the story started to intertwine and join together and more sense was made of what was happening, something seemed to change in my reading enjoyment. I was all of a sudden GLUED to this book. Like I said, I felt like I was there with these brilliant characters experiencing the discovery of this vile creature and dealing with horror of what he was doing. It was enthralling.So the second half of the book was truly a joy. The hunting of Dracula across London and even across the seas as he tries to escape back to his castle were the best parts for me. All the characters were united together towards this common goal and I was just willing them to succeed!And going back to the "old fashioned writing". After a few chapters, it just feels natural and normal. Yes there were a couple of times where I had to re-read a paragraph to figure out exactly what had been said - this is the type of book where you do need to concentrate a little when reading - but the old style English is what makes this book what it is! And once you get used to it, you forget its even old at all.I'm so glad I finally put aside my `fear' of classics and picked this one up. I loved the writing style, the characters, the dark gothic feel to it and of course the amazing way this story was put together. It has even spurred me on to order another classic of a similar time period!(As a side note, I bought the Barns & Noble Leatherbound Classics version and it is such a beautiful copy. You can't tell very well from the picture on Amazon but the leather is really red and the design on the cover is stunning. The end papers are pretty too and the page edges are a dark grey. A very unique version to own and I love it!

Abraham "Bram" Stoker did not come up with the idea of vampires and superstition surrounding them, but his story remains an original in terms of the themes and plot.It is similar to another famous gothic horror story, Frankenstein (which was written around ninety years earlier) in terms of structure, insofar as Stoker uses an epistolary technique of various characters making entries in journals, phonographs and diaries. The sheer brilliance of this idea begins to show as the characters record their convictions and inner thoughts in a way that maximises suspense (because you can only guess at what course of action they will follow).Whether it be the spirited and ever-persevering Mina Harker; the eccentric and genius foreigner Professor Abraham van Helsing; or the reflective John Seward, Stoker brings the characters to life, clearly unique and recognisable from each other.At the same time, we do not get to see into Count Dracula's thoughts, which emphasises him being as calculating and mischievous as we would expect. This is what gives the underlying sense of prevalent evil at work in the novel, and as a result, the uneasiness of the characters who can only hope to go in the right direction to defeat it.The places are described in great detail, most memorably the picturesque Transylvanian landscape with the Carpathians and thick vegetation, as well as the notorious castle with all its grandeur.This book is sometimes criticised for the long "middle" section between the first point of detection of the Count in the novel, to the moment of action at the end. However I did not find this so; on the contrary Stoker puts in little bits of action, clues and unusual events to arouse our suspicion, which certainly does not make the "middle" part of the story superfluous.A few problems I had with this story is that the way Stoker phrases a few of the sentences are awkward (I don't mean van Helsing's speeches, these are quite deliberate) and at other times goes into great detail of the localities of places without making it clear to the reader, although he is excused to some extent with this, as they are diary entries and would only mean something to the person who entered them.I do not find these degrading to the quality of the book, but it can make you a little frustrated when otherwise taking in the sublime plot of the book.Generally, it is brilliant, original, and so far one of my favourite novels, and definitely my favourite gothic horror novel: it is one that must be read.

Dracula is undoubtedly a literary classic, and reading it in 2025 definitely gives a different perspective than when it was first published in 1897. Stoker’s portrayal of Dracula as both a seductive and terrifying figure is what makes this novel so enduring. The eerie atmosphere, the tension, and the deep-rooted fears of the unknown were captivating, even though some parts felt a little slow or outdated at times.The multiple narrative voices, told through letters, diary entries, and newspaper clippings, added a layer of suspense and intrigue. I did enjoy how it unfolded — the sense of creeping dread as the characters slowly piece together the truth about Dracula. However, I did find myself losing patience at times with the slightly repetitive nature of some sections and the odd character decisions that seemed more a product of the time than realistic motivations.That said, Dracula still holds a significant place in gothic literature, and it’s hard not to feel the lasting influence it’s had on the horror genre. I didn’t find it as thrilling as I’d hoped, but it’s a book that deserves to be read, if only to understand where many of today’s vampire tropes and fears originated. A classic for sure, but maybe not as gripping as I anticipated.