Dracula by Bram Stoker

Published in 1897, Dracula has become a staple in horror and gothic literature.

Jonathan Harker is a solicitor sent to conduct business with Count Dracula in Transylvania. Harker barely escapes Dracula's castle and returns to England where he reunites with his fiancée, Mina. At the same time, Dracula expands his vampiric operation to England. Mina's best friend, Lucy, receives three marriage proposals. An unknown illness makes Lucy deathly ill and Dr. John Seward, one of her suitors, steps forth to cure her. When he can't figure out what's wrong, Seward calls upon his former professor, Dr. Van Helsing, to help. It is determined that the cause of Lucy's illness is a vampire bite and this reveals that the Count has come to England. Jonathan, Van Helsing, Mina, Seward, and Lucy's two other suitors form a coalition against the Count, and make plans to track him down.

A unique attribute of Dracula is its interesting story-telling format. The story alternates among protagonists' diary entries, memoranda, and letters to reveal the action. I found this format refreshing and unlike anything I've ever read.

Honestly, I was disappointed that the story wasn’t scarier. Perhaps our definition of what is scary has evolved over time and that is why I didn’t find it bone chilling, where a contemporaneous reader might have. Sure, there were a few creepy and suspenseful moments but overall I thought the “fear factor” was lacking. 

Dr. Van Helsing was annoying because he always acted superior to everyone else, and even though he was only invited to help with the operation, he took it over. His cockiness could have been toned down.

One of the most fascinating elements of the story was its portrayal of women in Victorian society. At the noble end of the spectrum, there is the innocent and intelligent Mina who has a “man’s brain” and a “woman’s heart.” As the secretary of the group of vampire hunters, Mina plays a key role in tracking down Count Dracula, and she is the type of woman I would have aspired to be had I lived in the 1800s. In the middle of the spectrum lies Lucy who, like Mina, is smart. However, Lucy’s beauty is described more frequently than her intelligence, and it prompts three marriage proposals. After Dracula bites Lucy, she becomes a highly sexualized vampire. Using Lucy as an illustration, Bram Stoker shows how a woman’s reputation could quickly improve or become tarnished. At the evil end of the spectrum are Dracula’s female, vampire prisoners who try to seduce and kill any men they can. By the end of the story, Dracula’s prisoners and Lucy have been killed, and only Mina lives a full and happy life. 

Overall, Dracula's storytelling and interesting portrayal of vampires are incredible, however, it won't keep anyone up at night. Three out of five stars.