In the latest of her literary travels, Lorna Hogg traces the background to, arguably, the most popular work of Irish fiction ever written
From an Anglo-Irish family Bram Stoker was born in comfortable Marino Crescent, Clontarf, Dublin
No writer can ever be entirely sure of just how a book – or its hero/heroine, will be received by the general public, or critics. It would be intriguing to know if Bram Stoker had any idea of the reception of his hero, if that is the word! Count Dracula. Mention Stoker’s other books – The Mystery of the Sea, Under Sunset or the Lady of the Shroud – and you’re likely to draw a blank. When the discussion includes Dracula, however, readers, film and TV enthusiasts will have plenty to say – and share! It all goes to show the staying power and popularity of possibly the best known evil spirit – the be-fanged Count Dracula, re-incarnated in the book by Irish writer, Bram Stoker.
To add to its general interest, Dracula is an epistolary novel. The plot unfolds gradually, in the format of personal letters and memories, notes, diary entries, documents and newspaper clippings. Readers have to put in some effort to understand and consider, rather than just absorbing text. Many readers really enjoy this involvement, working out their own view of events and fully enter into the experience – it comes down to personal taste.
The man who produced – or perhaps `unearthed’ Dracula from oblivion, and invented a new literary experience complete with hauntings, was Bram Stoker. Born in 1847 of Anglo Irish stock, he was brought up in a comfortable home in Marino Crescent in Clontarf, on Dublin’s Northside. As a child, Stoker suffered with illness, and was confined to bed. Sources say that he could not stand unaided or walk until he was seven. Reading and storytelling, with his patient mother, was one outlet available to fire his youthful imagination. He grew up with tales of fairy folk, changelings, Celtic myths, vampires and folklore.
Bram Stoker enjoyed academic success at Trinity College Dublin where he also excelled at sports
It says much about the man’s determination courage and capacity for hope, that he recovered, both physically and intellectually, in time to attend Trinity College Dublin. Back in full health, he went on to become successful in both the academic and sporting areas, perhaps driven by the amount of time wasted due to his childhood illness. A superb athlete, from rowing to rugby, he also became auditor of both the long established Historical and Philosophical Societies – an achievement as yet unmatched, and was distantly related to writer Conan Doyle.
After his time at Trinity, Stoker joined the Irish Civil Service – where he stayed for a decade. He also became a freelance writer, and newspaper theatre critic. After his early years of confinement to bed, it must have seemed that the world was finally opening its doors to him. Stoker enthusiastically made the most of all his opportunities – he met Henry Irving, who became a close friend, Oscar Wilde and Lord Tennyson.
On a personal level, he also won out over Oscar Wilde. The pair `competed’ to marry the beautiful and sought – after Frances Balcombe – and Stoker won. The young couple next moved to London, where his ambition, hard work and new contacts, soon brought success. He become a personal assistant to Henry Irving, and also Business Manager at the Lyceum Theatre. Work brought regular travel, and Stoker especially enjoyed trips to the United States.
Bram Stoker was also the personal assistant of the celebrated Victorian actor Sir Henry Irving
Clearly, however, his ambition never left him for long. During his tedious periods of youthful bed rest, he may well have encountered stories of the notorious medieval dictator, Vlad the Impaler VIII, Prince of Wallachia.
We now recognise Wallachia as what would have been part of the modern country of Romania. In the fifteenth century, however, it had a ruler with what today would be called severe underlying psychological issues! Not a man who believed in consensus politics or reconciliation, one of Vlad’s favourite forms of dealing with enemies was impaling them on stakes – hence his nickname.
Dracula, however, proved a good choice of literary subject matter for Stoker. His mixture of horror and romance touched the dark side in some readers. The mystery, the sense of surrounding death and decay added to the drama of the ancient fight between Good and Evil.
Slains Castle near Aberdeen, Scotland was thought to be the inspiration for Castle Dracula
Stoker was thorough and enthusiastic in his background research. He enjoyed visiting Scotland, and was inspired by the Cruden Bay area, in Aberdeen. It was near to Slains Castle, which may have influenced his vision for Castle Dracula. The octagonal hall in Slains, entered by opening a door, ‘which led into a small, octagonal room, lit by a single lamp and seemingly without a window of any sort..’ is mentioned as one possible influence. However, his imagination was not fired only by imposing and historical sights – the small English coastal town of Whitby provided the brooding background for the arrival of the evil Count.
The Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby provided the brooding background for the arrival of the evil Count
He also devoted time to extensive research into vampires and folklore. From Irish fairyfolk, both malevolent and benign, through to Central European changelings, plus, of course, vampires – Stoker read up on his topic. His vampires, many feel, manage to represent both attraction and repulsion. Stoker’s vampire was not a ghastly, stain and blood dripping entity, who roamed the earth at night, complete with mad red eyes and stained rags. Rather, he or she combined allure with terror, rising from a well made coffin, and seeking retreat with the approach of sunlight. This creature of the night who happened to drink blood, was vulnerable to sunlight and destined to eternal life apart from his/her loved ones.
Replace the power of the written word with the filmed variety – and around two hundred of those have been made so far, and the interest in Dracula continues to grow. Perhaps the ability to keep moving with the times the real key to eternal life!
