What a fine essay on Dracula. Stoker himself was immersed in the world of the Theatre and had divided feelings over Henry Irving (his model for Dracula). That Mina is the moral center had not occurred to me, but I think you are right.
Glad it landed well, Ricky. I did a little biographical digging on Stoker. I wish I had time for more. I’m going to read his mummy novel soon, The Jewel of Seven Stars.
He was Henry Irving's manager for over 20 years and wrote a 2 volume memoir about him. Worth a skim. Jewel is a good novel, but it falls apart (IMO) in the last third. It's an interesting novel, though.
Thank for your review. I shared it with my daughter, who is a great fan of Dracula, and whose literary opinion I greatly respect. Her comments: "I do agree that Mina Harker is the heart of the novel, and there is in her and in her apology for mercy one of the fundamental elements of the novel's appeal. I do think that the review glosses over Van Helsing a bit too much, though. Mina is simultaneously their lodestar and their damsel-in-distress. She, as women in the best do, inspires the men in the story to feats of heroism and courage. Van Helsing's is the main mind in the story, though, for Mina does not lead, as she would consider it inappropriate anyway. She advises only."
I think that’s a very fair objection. Van Helsing is key—there’s, e.g., the fact that he knows what’s happening long before anyone else. But Mina is so easily overlooked and yet she actually not only compiles the very narrative but serves as its moral anchor. I think we gravitate to Van Helsing because he’s more cinematic, but Stoker seems to be saying something vital with Mina—and her point is thoroughly vindicated by the end, as seen in how (spoiler alert!!!) Dracula dies.
Joseph O'Connor's magnificent novel Shadowplay tells the story of Stoker's career working for the overbearing Henry Irving, while trying to make it as a writer. The creation of Dracula is a huge part of the story. The novel places Dracula in the context of Stoker's life in the theater and his complicated relationship to Irving -- and it does so in ways that totally changed and energized my outlook on a novel that I have read many many times and taught many many times. Highly recommended.
It has been many years since I read it in fascinated horror. It took a long time for the scene when an unfortunate woman with her infant wander near the castle to fade from my mind. It was so serious a book that I did not really understand why it became a source of campy movies and action/adventure films, much less a teen romance book series.
Yes! Dracula has been one of my favorite books for years. I usually read it during “spooky season” just because that’s fun, but I’m always drawn to the underpinnings of faith and mercy in the story.
I had no idea what to expect along those lines. I must say I was surprised. It’s a remarkably Christian (in the most generous and expansive sense of that term) novel.
Excellent essay on the Christian ethics embedded in this novel. I also like the way in which Stoker uses the sensuality in the vampire myth to write sexually charged passages without seeming to condone the sexual content in the story (I wrote about this briefly here: https://clairelaporte.substack.com/p/at-the-edge-of-death-waiting-mortuaries).
Dracula takes place almost entirely between May and November of a single year and is, as this essay notes, composed of documents including letters, journal entries, newspapers, and so forth. The Substack Dracula Daily (https://draculadaily.substack.com/) sends you the dated content from each day of the novel on that same day - a very easy and entertaining way to read this novel. I highly recommend it! If you sign up now, though, you will have missed out on the most entertaining part of the novel - the gradual recognition by Jonathan Harker that he is the prisoner of a vampire, and the gradual realization of the English crew that one of them (Lucy) is being preyed upon by a vampire. But sign up and read it next year! It's fun.
Thanks for this review, Joel. I have always assumed that Dracula was probably a so-so book that I didn't really need to read. But this makes it sound quite interesting. Maybe I'll have to give it a try one of these days after all!
That poster- "I looked at my watch and it was time to go/the bandleader said, "We ain't playin' no more.."".
But seriously: you are right. Mina plays an important part in assembling and directing the narrative which all of the film versions completely ignore...
"In that moment, Mina articulates the novel’s hidden theology: mercy over judgment. In Dracula Mina sees a mirror of her own corruption and appeals to grace rather than wrath."
What an arresting reflection. I read the novel long ago, and had no recollection of that particular passage. Thanks for sharing.
I really enjoyed this book when I re-read it last year. One thing I find a bit funny is how Lucy gets blood transfusions from different people and no one bats an eye because blood types hadn't been discovered when the book was published.
This is so well articulated. I've picked up my copy from the Library. And thanks for setting the context. Will surely give it a read this time. Keep sharing. Keep going.
What a fine essay on Dracula. Stoker himself was immersed in the world of the Theatre and had divided feelings over Henry Irving (his model for Dracula). That Mina is the moral center had not occurred to me, but I think you are right.
Glad it landed well, Ricky. I did a little biographical digging on Stoker. I wish I had time for more. I’m going to read his mummy novel soon, The Jewel of Seven Stars.
He was Henry Irving's manager for over 20 years and wrote a 2 volume memoir about him. Worth a skim. Jewel is a good novel, but it falls apart (IMO) in the last third. It's an interesting novel, though.
Yesss all of this! 100% on point!
Have you listened to the podcast series on "Dracula" from House of Humane Letters? SOOOO good.
No. Thanks for the tip!
You're welcome! :) They're actually featuring it this month (for obvz reasons 🤣😂) which makes it super handy to find in the latest episodes instead of having to #doomscroll through a bajillion other (granted, excellent) episodes. Here's the first - I want to say there are 5-6 in total for the full book: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/best-of-series-introduction-to-dracula-by-bram-stoker-ch-1-2/id1460580357?i=1000729225773
So great. Thanks!
You’re so welcome!!
Thank for your review. I shared it with my daughter, who is a great fan of Dracula, and whose literary opinion I greatly respect. Her comments: "I do agree that Mina Harker is the heart of the novel, and there is in her and in her apology for mercy one of the fundamental elements of the novel's appeal. I do think that the review glosses over Van Helsing a bit too much, though. Mina is simultaneously their lodestar and their damsel-in-distress. She, as women in the best do, inspires the men in the story to feats of heroism and courage. Van Helsing's is the main mind in the story, though, for Mina does not lead, as she would consider it inappropriate anyway. She advises only."
I think that’s a very fair objection. Van Helsing is key—there’s, e.g., the fact that he knows what’s happening long before anyone else. But Mina is so easily overlooked and yet she actually not only compiles the very narrative but serves as its moral anchor. I think we gravitate to Van Helsing because he’s more cinematic, but Stoker seems to be saying something vital with Mina—and her point is thoroughly vindicated by the end, as seen in how (spoiler alert!!!) Dracula dies.
I read it after seeing the Coppola film,.and was surprised how modern it seemed and how Mina Harker was so prominent.
yes, it does seem quite modern. I think the found document style of narration helps with that.
Joseph O'Connor's magnificent novel Shadowplay tells the story of Stoker's career working for the overbearing Henry Irving, while trying to make it as a writer. The creation of Dracula is a huge part of the story. The novel places Dracula in the context of Stoker's life in the theater and his complicated relationship to Irving -- and it does so in ways that totally changed and energized my outlook on a novel that I have read many many times and taught many many times. Highly recommended.
I had no idea about this backstory—stoker has Harker to Irving’s Dracula! I’ll have to read more about that. Thanks!
Enjoy!
It has been many years since I read it in fascinated horror. It took a long time for the scene when an unfortunate woman with her infant wander near the castle to fade from my mind. It was so serious a book that I did not really understand why it became a source of campy movies and action/adventure films, much less a teen romance book series.
Yes, several scenes are deeply unsettling. It is weird that it became so popular and in the way it did.
Bang on. One of my favourite books and now I get to re-read it looks for that lens of grace. Thanks.
Love hearing that! I wasn’t looking for it when I read it; it just bit me in the neck!
Yes! Dracula has been one of my favorite books for years. I usually read it during “spooky season” just because that’s fun, but I’m always drawn to the underpinnings of faith and mercy in the story.
I had no idea what to expect along those lines. I must say I was surprised. It’s a remarkably Christian (in the most generous and expansive sense of that term) novel.
Excellent essay on the Christian ethics embedded in this novel. I also like the way in which Stoker uses the sensuality in the vampire myth to write sexually charged passages without seeming to condone the sexual content in the story (I wrote about this briefly here: https://clairelaporte.substack.com/p/at-the-edge-of-death-waiting-mortuaries).
Dracula takes place almost entirely between May and November of a single year and is, as this essay notes, composed of documents including letters, journal entries, newspapers, and so forth. The Substack Dracula Daily (https://draculadaily.substack.com/) sends you the dated content from each day of the novel on that same day - a very easy and entertaining way to read this novel. I highly recommend it! If you sign up now, though, you will have missed out on the most entertaining part of the novel - the gradual recognition by Jonathan Harker that he is the prisoner of a vampire, and the gradual realization of the English crew that one of them (Lucy) is being preyed upon by a vampire. But sign up and read it next year! It's fun.
That’s wonderful. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for this review, Joel. I have always assumed that Dracula was probably a so-so book that I didn't really need to read. But this makes it sound quite interesting. Maybe I'll have to give it a try one of these days after all!
I was really surprised by it. I’d wholeheartedly recommend it.
That poster- "I looked at my watch and it was time to go/the bandleader said, "We ain't playin' no more.."".
But seriously: you are right. Mina plays an important part in assembling and directing the narrative which all of the film versions completely ignore...
I definitely see Mina as the anchor of the story. She’s just not as cinematic as Dracula or Van Helsing.
Excellent, insightful review of a classic. Yes, mercy, just as blood-sucking wokeness must be destroyed to be released from its tortured existence.
"In that moment, Mina articulates the novel’s hidden theology: mercy over judgment. In Dracula Mina sees a mirror of her own corruption and appeals to grace rather than wrath."
What an arresting reflection. I read the novel long ago, and had no recollection of that particular passage. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading, Mark. Glad it was provocative for you!
I really enjoyed this book when I re-read it last year. One thing I find a bit funny is how Lucy gets blood transfusions from different people and no one bats an eye because blood types hadn't been discovered when the book was published.
I wondered about that too!
Now I'm gonna have to read the book again, good stuff.
I bet it rewards a re-reading.
This is so well articulated. I've picked up my copy from the Library. And thanks for setting the context. Will surely give it a read this time. Keep sharing. Keep going.
Many thanks! It was a fascinating read and fun to write about.