Author Description
The most famous of all vampire stories, Dracula remains a compelling read, rattling along at break-neck speed, a true page-turner. Here is a new edition of one of the great horror stories in English literature, the novel that spawned a myth and a proliferation of vampire tales in film, television, graphic novels, cartoons, and teen fiction, including the current craze revolving around the Twilight and True Blood series. The volume includes a lively and fascinating introduction by Roger Luckhurst that considers the Gothic genre and vampire legend, discusses the vampire tale as sexual allegory, and outlines the social and cultural contexts that feed into the novel, including the New Woman, new technology, race, immigration, and religion. In addition, Luckhurst provides comprehensive explanatory notes that flesh out vampire mythology and historical allusions, plus an appendix featuring Stoker's short story, "Dracula's Guest," an early draft or abandoned chapter that was not published as part of the novel. Also included are a chronology of Bram Stoker's life and a timeline of vampire literature before Dracula.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
Count Dracula’s attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England initiates a harrowing struggle against a small group of determined individuals who seek to halt his supernatural expansion. Jonathan Harker, a solicitor, finds himself trapped in the Count’s castle, serving as the catalyst for a narrative that unfolds through a series of diary entries, letters, and newspaper clippings. As the vampire spreads his influence across Victorian London, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing and his allies must utilize both modern medical knowledge and ancient folklore to combat an adversary that defies conventional logic. The narrative framework relies on this fragmented, multi-perspective approach to build tension and document the encroaching threat of the undead.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Epistolary structure utilizing journals, letters, and telegrams
- Victorian-era setting contrasting modernity with ancient superstition
- Exploration of xenophobia and the fear of the foreign other
- Symbolism regarding blood, contagion, and sexual repression
- Use of new technology of the time, such as the phonograph and typewriter
- Atmospheric descriptions of the Transylvanian landscape
- The archetype of the vampire as a predatory aristocrat
- Themes of moral decay and the preservation of traditional values
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Readers and critics frequently analyze the novel for its reflection of late-Victorian anxieties regarding gender roles, immigration, and scientific advancement. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the epistolary format in creating a sense of mounting dread and immediate realism. Many observers highlight the contrast between the archaic, supernatural nature of the antagonist and the rational, empirical methods employed by the protagonists. The work is widely recognized for establishing the foundational tropes of the vampire genre that persist in contemporary media. Scholars often examine how the text functions as a commentary on the social and cultural shifts occurring at the turn of the twentieth century.
Page Count:
448
Publication Date:
2011-02-11
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199564094
ISBN-13:
9780199564095
Horror
Dracula count fictitious character fiction
classic
Fiction - Horror
Gothic
English & College Success
Vampire
English
Epistolary
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