Have been planning to read this--figured Halloween was a good time.

*** ½
I’ve seen dozens of vampire movies based on this classic character—dramatic, campy, romantic and horrific, so am happy to have finally read the original version. My copy is annotated, which was quite helpful in identifying places and old English words and phrases. For example, I don’t think I would have figured out otherwise that dusty miller means sandman, a fly is a one-horse carriage, and the Old Man refers to the Devil.

The story begins with Jonathan Harker’s journal and Stoker sets the ominous scene of Harker’s trip to meet Count Dracula with the expected atmosphere of howling dogs and wolves, frightened villagers, a mysterious driver with bright eyes, very red lips, sharp-looking teeth, and hands as cold as ice. Stoker’s Victorian attitude toward women is interesting. All of the male characters show polite reverence to Mina Murray Harker, seeing themselves as her protector, but I think she was probably as strong or stronger than any of them. I also found it interesting that each in turn donates his blood to Lucy, Dracula’s victim, so Dr. Seward can transfuse her (with no regard to blood type maybe that’s what killed her???) Quincey questions Seward about what’s going on— if Lucy has had the blood of four strong men put in her—who’s taking it out? Who indeed! It’s a good story that has stood the test of time in all of its many variations.