Vlad the Impaler: In search of the real Dracula

by M.J. Trow

"Who was the real man who inspired the Dracula legend? In spring 1460, a contemporary wrote, 'untold abuses, damage hardly reparable, sad murders, mutilations, sorrows' were visited upon the city of Brasov, by 'the unfaithful cruel tyrant Dracula, who calls himself Vlad, prince ... He did this following the teaching of the Devil'. According to legend, he impaled his victims, then sat at table mopping up their blood from his plate; later he hung the still alive bodies of opposing forces on a field of stakes. So began the history of Vlad the Impaler. But were his actions the righteous defence of a kingdom, an act of vengence for the cruel deaths of his father and brother? Or the unspeakable fury of a madman with a taste for blood?" "Here, M. J. Trow reveals the real man whose name gave birth to a legend. He explores the terror with which the character was once associated, going backwards in time from the celluloid Count of Hammer and Universal Studios to the literary creations of Bram Stoker, Sheridan le Fanu and John Polidori. Before that, the folklore of Europe, from Ireland to Russia carries terrifying tales of bloodsucking ghouls hovering in churchyards, the 'dead undead' or revenants who slept in their coffins by day and terrorized remote villages by night." This book looks at Vlad from the many facets he has left to history - the Impaler; the Renaissance prince 'more sinned against than sinning' whose reputation was destroyed by his enemies; the hero on a white horse, who welded Wallachia into a fighting and defiant nation-state; the defeated martyr, captured by the Hungarian king Corvinus.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Vampires, Horror, Medieval, Romania

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2003

About the author

Meirion James Trow is a full-time teacher of history who has been doubling as a crime writer for seventeen years. Originally from Ferndale, Rhondda in South Wales he now lives on the Isle of Wight. His interests include collecting militaria, film, the supernatural and true crime.

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting but not what I was looking for and I think the title is somewhat misleading. It is not a biography of Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Dracula) but more of a history of the medieval times he lived in. There is very little information about his family and his two wives which I was interested in researching.

[kingshearte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Not a biography in the traditional sense of the word, but more of a comparative study of sorts between the various legends and what is actually known (as little as that is) about him. The conclusion of this particular author seems to be that despite all the horrible stories about Dracula, he wasn't really all that much worse than most other rulers of that time. It was a pretty bloody and disgusting time, and lots of bloody and disgusting things happened to a lot of people at the hands of a lot of people. How Dracula ended up with the worst reputation is not entirely clear. Maybe because he ultimately lost his wars.

Anyway, as I said, interesting book, and worth reading if one is interested in the subject matter.

[Michael K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing look into the life of the one who inspired the character Count Dracula. While I do not believe the writer went truly as deep as he could have; although, he did give an excellent overview of Vlad III. He truly was a gruesome leader, if you could claim him to be so. A cruel and evil dictator. The evillest of all things was that which he did to those who entered into his lands to conquer him was to create what was known as the "forest of the impaled." Thus scaring off those who were entering in order to assail him and his people. A great view of the man and his kingdom through the eyes of history and the movies.

[Jose Lomo Marín]

Ofrece una aproximación inicial a la figura literaria de Drácula y a la de su autor, Bram Stoker, aunque si el interés del lector es específicamente ese, existen otras obras hoy día mucho más extensas y precisas, como «Algo en la sangre» de David J. Skal. Donde sí brilla con luz propia este libro es en el análisis de la figura histórica de Vlad III, Dracula, aquel que acabaría inspirando a Stoker en su novela sobre el conde vampiro. El esfuerzo del autor es encomiable, no solo al acercarnos a las exiguos datos que han llegado hasta nosotros sobre «el empalador», sino a su contexto histórico y cultural. Es cierto que hay que pagar un peaje: el texto puede resultar denso para aquel que busque un texto totalmente focalizado en la persona y el personaje de Drácula. Este es, más bien, un libro «alrededor de Drácula», donde se nos refiere a menudo su impacto en sucesos que marcarían la historia y la literatura. Pero si hay una conclusión clara en la obra es que, si en algo fue realmente excepcional este voivoda transilvano, fue en su capacidad para canalizar la atención de suficientes escribientes (la gran mayoría, enemigos) que acabarían dando forma a la leyenda.

[Ricardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Más allá de las seductoras mordidas en el cuello, los colmillos afilados, la capa y el look envaselinado que Hollywood nos vendió, Trow nos invita a atrevernos a cruzar la frontera más allá de la selva, a través de la selva, es decir: Trans Silvania. En los mismo terrenos del verdadero Drácula, Vlad Tepes, El Empalador, se nos presenta como una gran dualidad aún no descifrada: ¿Héroe o villano? Sus orígenes, posibles traumas, influencias, entorno histórico y usos y costumbres de la época nos enmarcan la oscurísima personalidad de uno de los personajes más controvertidos de la historia de Europa. Rumania, para ser exactos.
Un menudo análisis y puntual trabajo de Trow, que desnuda al inspirador del mito del vampiro. No les cuento más. Mejor léanlo, si lo pueden conseguir... y si se atreven.

[Peter Welch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well lets not beat about the bush, this is truly awful mainly due to the aspect of the sheer amount of historical inaccuracies that are littered throughout this book. It begs the question if whether or not this was ever proof read before publication as some of the things that are incorrect just cannot be forgiven as an unwitting reader could be so misled by the misinformation contained within the pages of this book. Also there is actually very little of the book that really delves in to the life and reign of vlad the impaler and i couldn't help but feel a little short changed when reading this book.one for bottom of the book pile or as a conversation piece when discussing the worst history book you have read with your friends.Even Keanu Reeves dodgy accent in the 1991 movie Bram Stokers Dracula was more impressive than this effort.

[Kristina Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not a biography of Vlad the Impaler. Rather it is an in depth look at medieval life in what is now Transylvania. The author has thoroughly researched this topic and follows the intrigues, truces, and shifts in power during this volatile time. However we don't get a glimpse of the actual life of Vlad Tepes until well over 100 pages in.
Also, the first few chapters deal only with the vampire in film, literature and legend. Not specifically referring to Vlad the Impaler, this would have been better at the end bringing the legend up to the modern day incarnation.

[Ania · Rating 4 out of 5]

questo libro è una piccola perla che dovete assolutamente avere all’interno della vostra collezione se, come me, nutrite un certo interesse per la narrativa Dark/Sovrannaturale. Ha tutto ciò che serve per delineare in modo chiaro la figura reale di Vlad III di Valacchia e quella fittizia del suo alterego, il Conte Dracula, comparando pregi e difetti, similitudini e differenze.
Tra interpretazioni e verità ci sospingiamo alla scoperta di quello che, per efferatezze, è stato definito come il primo Vampiro.

Non spendo troppi elogi quando, senza alcun dubbio, vi dico che questo saggio racchiude in sé davvero moltissime informazioni – la conoscenza storica di Trow emerge da ogni paragrafo, accompagnandoci lungo una linea temporale che, ormai, comprende più di un secolo di avvenimenti.

Ovviamente, approcciarsi a questo volume senza avere alcuna conoscenza della storia, ma sopratutto di quella letteraria, non è saggio – nomi, luoghi, date ed eventi si susseguono con ben poche specifiche, in particolare quando non sono strettamente legati alla figura presa in esame. Mary Shelly (autrice di “Frankenstein“), Polidori (autore de “Il vampiro“), Nosferatu e Francis Ford Coppola (registra di “Dracula di Bram Stoker“, 1992) sono solo alcuni dei soggetti in cui potreste imbattervi in queste pagine e faticare a ricondurre a un dove e un quando – ma non disperate, in caso non abbiate idea di chi siano, Google arriva in vostro soccorso.
Se tutto il passaggio dedicato a Bela Lugosi e i suoi “cloni” artistici viene curato con un’attenzione quasi maniacale, per altri personaggi tirati in causa non vi è poi chissà quale approfondimento.
Per affrontare questa lettura quindi, è essenziale un’infarinatura quantomeno primaria sull’argomento trattato e ciò che vi orbita attorno.

Insomma, “La storia segreta di Dracula” è un volume affascinante sia per contenuto scritto sia per quello grafico; infatti, seppur in minima parte, il libro è arricchito da immagini e fotografie in riferimento ai vari momenti citati all’interno dell’analisi, dando così maggior forma a ciò che si va scoprendo.

Come ho detto, per leggere questo saggio è essenziale avere quantomeno una cultura basilare sulla storia europea, sulla figura di Vlad III di Valacchia, del Dracula letterario e della cultura pop che ruota attorno alla cinematografia a lui dedicata. Questo testo va preso come approfondimento, non come introduzione e, pertanto, è facile imbattersi in termini un po’ più ricercati, specifici o appartenenti ad altre culture.

Trow fa ampio uso delle sue conoscenze, soffermandosi su ciò che a suo avviso è importante, o sconosciuto e tralasciando alcuni elementi che sarebbe stato interessante scoprire maggiormente, in modo da riuscire a collegare tutti i passaggi tra un argomento e l’altro senza trovarsi, per brevi momenti, confusi.

Il libro di per sé non mi è apparso scorrevolissimo, forse per via di tutti questi elementi storici e leggendari che si vanno a fondere l’un l’altro, ma è innegabile il fatto che stimoli la lettura e la curiosità di chi si cimenta in questa impresa.
Gli argomenti trattati sono “evergreen”, hanno segnato, oltre che la storia della nostra nazione, intere generazioni di adolescenti e adulti, creando così un vero e proprio fanclub in onore del Vampiro più famoso al mondo.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I had to pick this one up with regard to its cover! Inside you'll read about the gaping grave, interviews with vampires (all the major movies and books about the topic), Bram Stoker's Dracula, the vampyr in lore and legends, Dracula's people, a wild and bloodthirsty man, the sign of the dragon, the crescent ascending, Vlad Voivod, enemies of the Cross of Christ, impaler Prince, resurrecting Dracula. The author covers many interesting aspects of Dracula/Vlad and inserted some fascinating photos. All in all a very good and readable overview over the literary and historic character. Really recommended!

[Bryan Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

When this book is good, it’s very good. M.J. Trow’s prose is engaging, and the subject of course is fascinating. As long as the subject is Vlad the Impaler, that is. The first third of the book is devoted to vampires, which I found more than a little tedious (at least in part because I already knew almost all of it). The text occasionally hits snags, such as strange digressions (applying Chinese phrenology to a portrait?) and unfathomable barrages of names of people with little relevance to the narrative. Overall, however, this is a good attempt to reach into the murky depths of biased historical accounts and retrieve some sense of who Vlat Tepes was as a person, a prince and a monster.

[Mike Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book that purports to be in search of the truth, there's and awful lot of conjecture in this book. Obviously, tracking down someone, who has been dead for over 500 years is a bit tricky, but this book is full of a lot of repetition, supposition and stacks of irrelevant detail. I say 'irrelevant', because much of it doesn't even refer to Vlad Ţepeş, nor even to his life and times.
The presentation of facts is, at best, uninteresting and very little of these actually tell us about the person behind the myths.

[peter david mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A haunting read.

The impaler is aptly named. Tepes is known primarily for unparalleled barbarity. Even in the context of the barbarous time in which he lived he stood out for his levels of cruelty. The reliable sources on Tepes are very sparse, so this book could have been much shorter. There is too much background concerning the subject of vampires for my liking hence the rating.

[Marc Pressley · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the more well researched books on the topic of Vlad the Impaler. There's little firsthand account of Vlad, and much of what was written was done by his enemies after his death. Trow tries to separate the man from the myth by showing how the myth was built (and how it persists and metamorphizes through popular culture).

[Raquel Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mais um livro que analisa o Drácula nas várias vertentes, não esquecendo o Drácula literário, mas concentrando-se no Vlad , o empalador histórico. Altamente informativo, ainda assim, não é o mais cativante nem mais bem escrito. Só para verdadeiros aficionados, que querem toda a informação sobre o tema.

[Raul Santiago Almunia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me parece muy buena obra. Es un ensayo de lo mas realista. Me parece un estudio muy completo sobre Vlad y muy recomendable para aquel al que le fascine la historia en general. Estoy muy contento de haber adquirido esta obra.

[Margie Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book compares the real Vlad Tepes Dracula to the fictional Dracula. It goes into great detail of the history and peoples of Romania. War historians would love it, but I found the details of battles didn’t keep my interest as much as other parts of the book.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book contained a lot of information about Vlad Dracula. However, the material was presented in a rather disjointed manner. It was hard to follow. I finished the book and was intrigued enough to read Bram Stoker’s novel. Reading’s book certainly gave me a full picture of the Impaler.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The discussion of Vlad's life is fine but much of that narrative is interrupted with discussions about the role of Dracula in pop culture, and discussions about Vlad in comparisons to other contemproary and modern day dictators and mass murders.

[Kingdomofkush718 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best precise Treaties on the sadistic king of the dark ages.

[Giorgia Urbani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical book about the real life of Dracula. I found some parts too much descriptive but in general I give it 4 stars

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never knew this is where Draculq name originated, colour me surprised

[ann white · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book seemed all over the place and seemed to repeat itself throughout the confusing chapters.

[Shaun Dyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vlad the Impaler: In Search of the Real Dracula is an engaging, meticulously researched book. I learned a lot about what life was like in the region at the time, the Crusades, and the Ottoman Empire. I didn't learn much about Vlad, though, which is surprising given he is the book's subject.

The first third of the book focuses on vampires as a legend and in popular culture, which was interesting but not why I read the book. Then, when it does get to the right place and time, the focus shifts between the various warring factions and the geopolitics in the region, with a hint of Vlad here and there. There are some really interesting points of history here, and it is fascinating to see how the various historians spin the legend depending on their position. The Romanians love him and say he was just a man of his time, while everyone who was his enemy calls him a monster. I just wish there was more history and less conjecture.

When it does delve into Vlad in particular, it is more of a comparative study of myth versus what is actually known of the man. Spoiler: Not a lot is known about him. I get it. The guy has been dead for 500 years, but if you can't find enough to fill a book about him, don't write one.

[David Melvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book. It sheds real light on the man who was Dracula. He was prince Vlad the Impaler. He was also Vlad the Second of Walackia, which is modern day Romania because. His father was Vlad the First was called Dracul, which means dragon in Romanian. Vlad the Impaler was called Dracula because it means son of the dragon in Romanian. Vlad the first was called the Dragon because he was a member of The Sacred Order of the Dragon. The Sacred order of the Dragon was a Holy Roman Empire Order dedicated to defending Christian Europe from the invading Muslim Turks who were invading southeastern Europe during the 15th century. This book along with the classic novel by Abraham Stoker and the movie entitled Dracula from 1992 makes this book more enjoyable in my opinion. Her's a link about the movie @ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103874/

[Alex Klimkewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book that explores the roots of Dracula, from the real man Vlad Tepes -- a horribly barbaric leader of Transylvania, Romania -- to Bram Stoker's use of the man and mythology in his book Dracula. My book's cover has a picture of Vlad dining while watching his impaled victims writhe impaled on spikes.

[Dawn]

This book is actually very interesting and an easy read. It covers historical events and entertainment, both literary and theatrical, to draw conclusions as to who Vlad was and how he and his legend created Dracula.

[Anthony Inson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and insightful book on what became the overall inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula character.

[Robert Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always great to read truth into our myths Even the terrifying ones!

[Vanlilith · Rating 4 out of 5]

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