Summary of Dracula
In Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”, English lawyer Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania, a region in central Romania, to assist his client, Count Dracula, with the purchase of a house in Purfleet, England. He stays at Dracula’s castle, only to discover that his client is a vampire who intends to use him as a meal for his vampire brides and then embarks to England. Harker manages to escape the castle and returns home with his fiancée. Meanwhile, Dracula wreaks havoc in the English coastal town of Whitby, preying on innocent women and drinking their blood. With the help of his friend Abraham Van Helsing, Harker resolves to hunt down Count Dracula.
Reasons to read Dracula
“Dracula” is a classic Gothic novel, written more than a hundred years ago, and often regarded as a seminal work of horror literature, presented through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It is the most famous work of Irish writer Bram Stoker, inspired by Transylvanian legends and folklore. Although some believe the character of Dracula is based on the historical figure Vlad III the Impaler, Stoker’s notes do not seem to confirm this connection.
Setting: Romania & UK
Book set in Romania and England: The exact location of Dracula’s Transylvanian castle is not specified in the novel. Some suggest it is near the Tihuța Pass (or Borgo Pass) in the Bârgău Mountains, while others propose the Călimani Mountains. Both ranges are part of the Inner Eastern Carpathians. There is also speculation that it could be Poenari Castle on Mount Cetatea or Bran Castle in Brașov County. The novel’s English setting includes Whitby in Yorkshire.
Original title: Dracula
Year of publication: 1897
Nr of pages: 352
