Bram Stoker's Notes for Dracula: A Facsimile Edition

by Bram Stoker, Robert Eighteen-Bisang, Elizabeth Miller

Overview

Bram Stoker's initial notes and outlines for his landmark horror novel Dracula were auctioned at Sotheby's in London in 1913 and eventually made their way to the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, where they are housed today. Until now, few of the 124 pages have been transcribed or analyzed.

This painstaking work reproduces the handwritten notes both in facsimile and in annotated transcription. It also includes Stoker's typewritten research notes and thoroughly analyzes all of the materials, which range from Stoker's thoughts on the novel's characters and settings to a nine-page calendar of events that includes most of the now-familiar story. Ample annotations guide readers through the construction of the novel and the changes that were made to its structure, plot, setting and characters. Nine appendices provide insight into Stoker's personal life, his other works and his early literary influences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786477302
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	10/16/2013
Edition description:	Facsimile
Pages:	342
Sales rank:	873,540
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The late Bram Stoker was an Irish writer of novels and short stories and the business manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London. The late Robert Eighteen-Bisang, owner of the world’s largest private collection of vampire books, was an authority on Dracula and vampire literature. He was a member of the Horror Writers Association and lived in Vancouver, British Columbia. The late Elizabeth Miller, professor emeritus (Memorial University of Newfoundland), was recognized internationally as a leading Stoker and Dracula scholar. She lectured regularly on both sides of the Atlantic and published several books. She lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     
Foreword by Michael Barsanti     
Introduction     
Methodology     

Bram Stoker’s Original Foundation Notes & Data for His “Dracula”

Part I: Handwritten Notes on the Plot     
Part II: Handwritten Research Notes (“‘Dracula’ Notes, etc.”)     
Part III: Typed Research Notes (“‘Dracula’ Notes. etc.”)     

Overview     
The Myth of Dracula     

Appendices:
I. The Rosenbach Page Numbers     
II. Bram Stoker: A Brief Biography     
III. Bram Stoker: A Brief Bibliography     
IV. Bram Stoker’s Nonfiction Sources for Dracula     
V. “Vampire” from the Encyclopædia Britannica (1888)     
VI. Possible Literary Influences     
VII. Bram Stoker’s Library     
VIII. Dracula: The Novel vs. the Notes     
IX. Dracula: The Novel We Could Have Read     

Works Cited     
Index of Bram Stoker’s Original Notes (as Transcribed)     
Index of Editors’ Annotations     

Editorial Reviews

the book is a thing of beauty...a serious book...is a real treasure...an amazing variety of material. Both authors are experts in vampire lore...a scholarly, well-organized and aesthetically pleasing marvel of a reference...a must-read”—macabreink.com; “it is a tool to study the birth of a literary classic...invaluable...stir the imagination and cast new light on a beloved tale”—Rue Morgue; “valuable and enthralling examination”—The Tomb of Dark Delights; “fascinating...a must”—Midwest Book Review; “meticulous research...an extraordinary work of scholarship”—Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts; “a very interesting compilation...a very interesting look into the creative process”—Critical Mass; “recommend[ed]”—Vampire Empire; “essential...a must-have companion piece”—www.vampyres.ca; “invaluable source. Both thumbs up on this book”—Patricia’s Vampire Notes; “with the wonderful annotations and insights of the coauthors you can picture yourself looking over Bram’s shoulder as he works. The painstaking work and detail put into this book is mind boggling and was surely a labor of love...exceptional...the absolute must companion piece for Bram Stoker’s epic tale. A mind boggling journey through Bram Stoker’s handwritten notes. A must book to own if you own Dracula”—Famous Monsters of Filmland; “I cannot help but imagine the array of new scholarship this book will engender. Given the limited number of texts that deal directly with Stoker’s Notes, this book will certainly expand an already thriving field of study to new possibilities, making it an invaluable addition to any collection”—Studies in the Fantastic; “a great job organizing and laying out the progression of the notes, it will be the benchmark for all researchers and fans alike”—Dacre Stoker, (Bram Stoker’s great-grandnephew); “Eighteen-Bisang...may well be the world’s leading authority on Dracula”—The Republic of East Vancouver Newspaper; “fascinating in-depth view”—Vampyres.

From the Publisher

valuable and enthralling examination

The Tomb of Dark Delights

it is a tool to study the birth of a literary classic...invaluable...stir the imagination and cast new light on a beloved tale

Rue Morgue

the book is a thing of beauty...a serious book...is a real treasure...an amazing variety of material. Both authors are experts in vampire lore...a scholarly, well-organized and aesthetically pleasing marvel of a reference...a must-read

macabreink.com