Who Was Dracula?: Bram Stoker's Trail of Blood - Hardcover

Steinmeyer, Jim

3.38

344 ratings by Goodreads

9780142421888: Who Was Dracula?: Bram Stoker's Trail of Blood

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 014242188X ISBN 13: 9780142421888

Publisher: Tarcherperigree, 2013

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An acclaimed historian sleuths out literature's most famous vampire, uncovering the source material - from folklore and history, to personas including Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman - behind Bram Stoker's bloody creation.

In more than a century of vampires in pop culture, only one lord of the night truly stands out: Dracula. Though the name may conjure up images of Bela Lugosi lurking about in a cape and white pancake makeup in the iconic 1931 film, the character of Dracula--a powerful, evil Transylvanian aristocrat who slaughters repressed Victorians on a trip to London--was created in Bram Stoker's 1897 novel of the same name, a work so popular it has spawned limitless reinventions in books and film.

But where did literature's undead icon come from? What sources inspired Stoker to craft a monster who would continue to haunt our dreams (and desires) for generations? Historian Jim Steinmeyer, who revealed the men behind the myths in The Last Greatest Magician in the World, explores a question that has long fascinated literary scholars and the reading public alike: Was there a real-life inspiration for Stoker's Count Dracula?

Hunting through archives and letters, literary and theatrical history, and the relationships and events that gave shape to Stoker's life, Steinmeyer reveals the people and stories behind the Transylvanian legend. In so doing, he shows how Stoker drew on material from the careers of literary contemporaries Walt Whitman and Oscar Wilde; reviled personas such as Jack the Ripper and the infamous fifteenth-century prince Vlad Tepes, as well as little-known but significant figures, including Stoker's onetime boss, British stage star Henry Irving, and Theodore Roosevelt's uncle, Robert Roosevelt (thought to be a model for Van Helsing).

Along the way, Steinmeyer depicts Stoker's life in Dublin and London, his development as a writer, involvement with London's vibrant theater scene, and creation of one of horror's greatest masterpieces. Combining historical detective work with literary research, Steinmeyer's eagle eye provides an enthralling tour through Victorian culture and the extraordinary literary monster it produced.

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Product Description:

Who Was Dracula? An acclaimed historian sleuths out literature's most famous vampire, uncovering the source material--from folklore and history, to personas including Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman--behind Bram Stoker's bloody creation. Full description

Review:

"A fantastic, well-documented story."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"[A] well-researched and entertaining take on Dracula's origin story."
--Publishers Weekly

"Who Was Dracula? chronicles the misadventures of Bram Stoker and his numerous friends and colleagues, both famous and obscure, hoping to unearth the recipe for a truly iconic character."
--San Francisco Book Review

"Who Was Dracula? is a book you'll want to sink your teeth into."
--Terri Schlichenmeyer, Frontiers

"[A] fiendishly readable study...provocative."
--Elizabeth Lowery, Wall Street Journal

"The author does a solid job analyzing the birth and development of Dracula and illustrating the character traits Stoker cherry-picked from his wide circle of friends."
--Kirkus Review

"Steinmeyer's Who Was Dracula? ... may keep you up late reading all about the true origins of the character."
--Glenn Seber, A&E Books

"Author Rating: 5. I loved it! Who Was Dracula? is everything Dracula isn't - lushly written, even toned, and thoroughly engaging. It is quite simply a delight!"
--Jessie Patken, Celebrity Cafe

"Who Was Dracula? is for anyone who is interested in the elements that create a character such as Dracula; anyone interested in the historical situations that surrounded Bram Stoker and influenced him; and those interested in the reasons why it is still so popular 100-plus years after its publication."
--Before It's News

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