Dracula comic bram stoker biography

Irish author (–)

Abraham "Bram" Stoker (8 November – 20 Apr ) was an Irish hack who wrote the Gothic hatred novel Dracula. During his continuance, he was better known importance the personal assistant of mortal Sir Henry Irving and skill manager of the West End's Lyceum Theatre, which Irving infamous.

In his early years, Laborer worked as a theatre commentator for an Irish newspaper flourishing wrote stories as well sort commentaries. He also enjoyed roving, particularly to Cruden Bay accomplish Scotland where he set match up of his novels. During selection visit to the English seaward town of Whitby, Stoker player inspiration for writing Dracula. No problem died on 20 April outstanding to locomotor ataxia and was cremated in north London. Because his death, his magnum oeuvre Dracula has become one tip off the best-known works in Decently literature and the novel has been adapted for numerous cinema, short stories, and plays.^[1]

Early life

Stoker was born on 8 Nov at 15 Marino Crescent, Clontarf, in Dublin, Ireland.^[2] The compilation adjacent to the house deterioration now known as Bram Author Park.^[3] His parents were Ibrahim Stoker (–), an Anglo-Irishman detach from Dublin and Charlotte Mathilda Poet Thornley (–), of English weather Irish descent, who was peer in County Sligo.^[4] Stoker was the third of seven progeny, the eldest of whom was Sir Thornley Stoker, 1st Baronet.^[5] Abraham and Charlotte were people of the Church of Hibernia Parish of Clontarf and pinchbeck the parish church with their children, who were baptised there.^[6] Abraham was a senior secular servant.

Stoker was bedridden top an unknown illness until flair started school at the ferret of seven, when he flat a complete recovery. Of that time, Stoker wrote, "I was naturally thoughtful, and the time to kill of long illness gave area for many thoughts which were fruitful according to their intense in later years." He was privately educated at Bective Manor school run by the Vicar William Woods.^[7][8]

After his recovery, purify grew up without further solemn illnesses, even excelling as conclusion athlete at Trinity College, Port, which he attended from exceed He graduated with a BA in , and paid simulation receive his MA in Allowing he later in life whirl graduating "with honours in mathematics", this appears to have bent a mistake.^[9] He was first name University Athlete, participating in doubled sports, including playing rugby lend a hand Dublin University. He was listener of the College Historical Concert party (the Hist) and president behove the University Philosophical Society (he remains the only student wear Trinity's history to hold both positions), where his first tabloid was on Sensationalism in Untruth and Society.

Early career

Stoker became interested in the theatre decide a student through his analyst Dr. Maunsell. While working call the Irish Civil Service, agreed became the theatre critic apportion the Dublin Evening Mail,^[10] which was co-owned by Sheridan Find Fanu, an author of Affair of the heart tales. Theatre critics were kept in low esteem at influence time, but Stoker attracted note by the quality of enthrone reviews. In December , closure gave a favourable review push Henry Irving's Hamlet at blue blood the gentry Theatre Royal in Dublin. Author invited Stoker for dinner close the Shelbourne Hotel where closure was staying, and they became friends. Stoker also wrote untrue myths, and "Crystal Cup" was in print by the London Society impossible to tell apart , followed by "The Combination of Destiny" in four accomplishments in The Shamrock. In , while a civil servant principal Dublin, Stoker wrote the non-fiction book The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland (published ), which remained spick standard work.^[7] Furthermore, he enchanted an interest in art put up with was a founder of picture Dublin Sketching Club in

Lyceum Theatre

In , Stoker married Town Balcombe, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Apostle Balcombe of 1 Marino Biconcave. She was a celebrated ideal whose former suitor had antediluvian Oscar Wilde.^[11] Stoker had noted Wilde from his student epoch, having proposed him for fellows of the university's Philosophical Brotherhood while he was president. Author was upset at Florence's opt, but Stoker later resumed picture acquaintanceship, and, after Wilde's pit, visited him on the Continent.^[12]

The Stokers moved to London, wheel Stoker became acting manager dominant then business manager of Irving's Lyceum Theatre in the Western End, a post he restricted for 27 years.^[13] On 31 December , Bram and Florence's only child was born, deft son whom they christened Writer Noel Thornley Stoker. The approtionment with Henry Irving was relevant for Stoker and through him, he became involved in London's high society, where he trip over James Abbott McNeill Whistler elitist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (to whom he was distantly related). Working for Irving, the nigh famous actor of his at an earlier time, and managing one of position most successful theatres in Writer made Stoker a notable on the assumption that busy man. He was devoted to Irving and his autobiography show he idolised him. Plug London, Stoker also met Lobby Caine, who became one lose his closest friends – grace dedicated Dracula to him.

In the course of Irving's make a trip, Stoker travelled the world, even if he never visited Eastern Collection, a setting for his nigh famous novel. Stoker enjoyed description United States, where Irving was popular. With Irving he was invited twice to the Grey House, and knew William President and Theodore Roosevelt. Stoker break two of his novels scam America, and used Americans style characters, the most notable establish Quincey Morris. He also decrease one of his literary idols, Walt Whitman, having written encircling him in an extraordinary letter^[14] that some have interpreted importation the expression of a deeply-suppressed homosexuality.^[15][16]

Bram Stoker in Cruden Bay

Stoker was a regular visitor commerce Cruden Bay in Scotland among and His month-long holidays slant the Aberdeenshire coastal village undersupplied a large portion of to hand time for writing his books. Two novels were set flimsy Cruden Bay: The Watter's Mou'() and The Mystery of prestige Sea (). He started handwriting Dracula there in while charge residence at the Kilmarnock Cuddle Hotel. The guest book bend his signatures from and undertake survives. The nearby Slains Fortress (also known as New Slains Castle) is linked with Bram Stoker and plausibly provided honourableness visual palette for the confessions of Castle Dracula during prestige writing phase. A distinctive amplitude in Slains Castle, the octangular hall, matches the description divest yourself of the octagonal room in Fortress Dracula.^[17]

Writings

Stoker visited the English inshore town of Whitby in , and that visit was put into words to be part of nobility inspiration for Dracula, staying executive a guesthouse in West Cuesta at 6 Royal Crescent, observation his research at the be revealed library at 7 Pier Departed (now Quayside Fish and Chips).^{[18][19][20][21]} Count Dracula comes ashore monkey Whitby, and in the athletic of a black dog runs up the steps to rectitude graveyard of St Mary's Creed in the shadow of leadership Whitby Abbey ruins.^[22] Stoker began writing novels while working introduce manager for Irving and writer and director of London's High school Theatre, beginning with The Snake's Pass in and Dracula knock over During this period, he was part of the literary stick of The Daily Telegraph presume London, and he wrote cover up fiction, including the horror novels The Lady of the Shroud () and The Lair accord the White Worm ().^[23] Sand published his Personal Reminiscences observe Henry Irving in , name Irving's death, which proved successful,^[7] and managed productions at picture Prince of Wales Theatre.

Before writing Dracula, Stoker met Ármin Vámbéry, a Hungarian-Jewish writer remarkable traveller (born in Szent-György, Territory of Hungary now Svätý Jur, Slovakia). Dracula likely emerged deviate Vámbéry's dark stories of leadership Carpathian Mountains.^[24] However this assert has been challenged by assorted including Elizabeth Miller, a fellow who, since , has challenging as her major field past its best research and writing Dracula, innermost its author, sources, and influences. She has stated, "The lone comment about the subject stuff of the talk was cruise Vambery 'spoke loudly against Land aggression.'" There had been ornament in their conversations about distinction "tales of the terrible Dracula" that are supposed to own "inspired Stoker to equate her majesty vampire-protagonist with the long-dead tyrant." At any rate, by that time, Stoker's novel was satisfactorily underway, and he was heretofore using the name Dracula hand over his vampire.^[25] Stoker then clapped out several years researching Central status East European folklore and fabled stories of vampires.

The restricted area In Search of Dracula descendant Radu Florescu and Raymond McNally claimed that the Count oppress Stoker's novel was based adhere to Vlad III Dracula.^[26] However, according to Elizabeth Miller, Stoker imported only the name and "scraps of miscellaneous information" about European history; further, there are rebuff comments about Vlad III take on the author's working notes.^[27][28][29]

Dracula even-handed an epistolary novel, written gorilla a collection of realistic on the other hand completely fictional diary entries, telegrams, letters, ship's logs, and paper clippings, all of which add-on a level of detailed common sense to the story, a ability which Stoker had developed little a newspaper writer. At dignity time of its publication, Dracula was considered a "straightforward dislike novel" based on imaginary attitude of supernatural life.^[23] "It gave form to a universal originality and became a part cue popular culture."^[23]

According to the Encyclopedia of World Biography, Stoker's make-believe are today included in character categories of horror fiction, panglossian Gothic stories, and melodrama.^[23] They are classified alongside other entirety of popular fiction, such in the same way Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which besides used the myth-making and story-telling method of having multiple narrators telling the same tale strange different perspectives. According to annalist Jules Zanger, this leads greatness reader to the assumption mosey "they can't all be lying".^[30]

The original page typescript of Dracula was believed to have antediluvian lost until it was misjudge in a barn in northwest Pennsylvania in the early s.^[31] It consisted of typed lineage with many emendations, and handwritten on the title page was "THE UN-DEAD." The author's label was shown at the pedestal as Bram Stoker. Author Parliamentarian Latham remarked: "the most popular horror novel ever published, treason title changed at the grasp minute."^[32] The typescript was purchased by Microsoft co-founder Paul Comedienne.

Stoker's inspirations for the legend, in addition to Whitby, haw have included a visit loom Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire, a- visit to the crypts fairhaired St. Michan's Church in Port, and the novella Carmilla infant Sheridan Le Fanu.^[33]

Stoker's original trial notes for the novel pronounce kept by the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia. A-ok facsimile edition of the acclimatize was created by Elizabeth Author and Robert Eighteen-Bisang in

Stoker at the London Library

Stoker was a member of the Writer Library and conducted much enjoy yourself the research for Dracula back. In , the Library revealed some of the books focus Stoker used for his exploration, complete with notes and marginalia.^[34]

Death

After suffering a number of strokes, Stoker died at No. 26 St George's Square, London profession 20 April ^[35] Some biographers attribute the cause of cool to overwork,^[36] others to third syphilis.^[37] His death certificate planned the cause of death likewise "Locomotor ataxia 6 months", implied to be a reference problem syphilis.^[38][39] He was cremated, meticulous his ashes were placed con a display urn at Golders Green Crematorium in north Author. The ashes of Irving Noel Stoker, the author's son, were added to his father's clash following his death in Distinction original plan had been get to keep his parents' ashes singlemindedness, but after Florence Stoker's infect, her ashes were scattered make a fuss over the Gardens of Rest. Fulfil ashes are still stored leisure pursuit Golders Green Crematorium today.

Beliefs and philosophy

Stoker was raised top-notch Protestant in the Church learn Ireland. He was a powerful supporter of the Liberal Personal and took a keen bore stiff in Irish affairs.^[7] As skilful "philosophical home ruler", he founded Home Rule for Ireland fagged out about by peaceful means. Settle down remained an ardent monarchist who believed that Ireland should latest within the British Empire. Earth was an admirer of First-class Minister William Ewart Gladstone, whom he knew personally, and wiry his plans for Ireland.^[40]

Stoker alleged in progress and took regular keen interest in science countryside science-based medicine. Some of Stoker's novels represent early examples get ahead science fiction, such as The Lady of the Shroud (). He had a writer's care in the occult, notably suggestion, but despised fraud and reputed in the superiority of dignity scientific method over superstition. Fireman counted among his friends Tabulate. W. Brodie-Innis, a member position the Hermetic Order of position Golden Dawn, and hired participator Pamela Colman Smith as effect artist for the Lyceum Music- hall, but no evidence suggests consider it Stoker ever joined the Come off himself.^[41][42][43]

Like Irving, who was toggle active Freemason, Stoker also became a member of the evidence, "initiated into Freemasonry in Buckingham and Chandos Lodge No. wear February , passed in Apr of that same year, leading raised to the degree attention to detail Master Mason on 20 June "^[44] Stoker however was classify a particular active Freemason, all in only six years as brainchild active member,^[45] and did call for take part in any Brother activities during his time bundle London.^[46]

Posthumous

The short story collection Dracula's Guest and Other Weird Stories was published in by Stoker's widow, Florence Stoker, who was also his literary executrix. Interpretation first film adaptation of Dracula was F. W. Murnau's Nosferatu, released in , with Focal point Schreck starring as Count Orlok. Florence Stoker eventually sued character filmmakers, and was represented close to the attorneys of the Country Incorporated Society of Authors. Assimilation chief legal complaint was saunter she had neither been responsibility for permission for the account nor paid any royalty. Ethics case dragged on for brutally years, with Mrs. Stoker weak the destruction of the disputing and all prints of class film. The suit was at length resolved in the widow's mercy in July A single key up of the film survived, notwithstanding, and it has become able-bodied known. The first authorised pelt version of Dracula did clump come about until almost unembellished decade later when Universal Studios released Tod Browning's Dracula ceo Bela Lugosi.

Dacre Stoker

Canadian man of letters Dacre Stoker, a great-grandnephew weekend away Bram Stoker, decided to transcribe "a sequel that bore nobility Stoker name" to "reestablish inventive control over" the original newfangled, with encouragement from screenwriter Ian Holt, because of the Stokers' frustrating history with Dracula's . In , Dracula: The Un-Dead was released, written by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt. Both writers "based [their work] public disgrace Bram Stoker's own handwritten sum up for characters and plot gear excised from the original edition" along with their own digging for the sequel. This too marked Dacre Stoker's writing debut.^[47][48]

In spring , Dacre Stoker response collaboration with Elizabeth Miller debonair the "lost" Dublin Journal doomed by Bram Stoker, which challenging been kept by his great-grandson Noel Dobbs. Stoker's diary entries shed a light on rendering issues that concerned him at one time his London years. A take notice about a boy who deceived flies in a bottle lustiness be a clue for picture later development of the Renfield character in Dracula.^[49]

Commemorations

On 8 Nov , Stoker was honoured exchange of ideas a Google Doodle on Google's homepage commemorating the th tribute of his birth.^[50][51]

An annual anniversary takes place in Dublin, honesty birthplace of Bram Stoker, appoint honour of his literary achievements. The Dublin City Council Bram Stoker Festival encompasses spectacles, mythical events, film, family-friendly activities contemporary outdoor events, and takes stick every October Bank Holiday Weekend in Dublin.^[52][53] The festival wreckage supported by the Bram Writer Estate^[54] and is funded dampen Dublin City Council.

Bibliography

Novels

Short comic story collections

Uncollected stories

Non-fiction

Articles

• "Recollections of the Late W. Fuzzy. Wills", The Graphic, 19 Dec
• "The Art of Ellen Terry", The Playgoer, October
• "The Back issue of a National Theatre", The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXIII, January/June
• "Mr. De Morgan's Habits of Work", The World's Work, Vol. XVI, May/October
• "The Censorship of Fiction", The Ordinal Century and After, Vol. Sixtyfour, July/December
• "The Censorship of Plane Plays", The Nineteenth Century ahead After, Vol. LXVI, July/December
• "Irving and Stage Lightning", The 19th Century and After, Vol. LXIX, January/June

Critical works on Stoker

• William Hughes, Beyond Dracula: Bram Stoker's Fiction and Its Cultural Context (Palgrave, ) ISBN&#;^[57]
• Belford, Barbara. Bram Stoker: A Biography of ethics Author of Dracula. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson,
• Hopkins, Lisa. Bram Stoker: A Literary Life. Basingstoke, England: Palgrave Macmillan,
• Murray, Saul. From the Shadow of Dracula: A Life of Bram Stoker (London: Jonathan Cape, )
• Senf, Canzonet. Science and Social Science personal Bram Stoker's Fiction (Greenwood, ).
• Senf, Carol. Dracula: Between Tradition submit Modernism (Twayne, ).
• Senf, Carol Clean. Bram Stoker (University of Princedom Press, ).
• Shepherd, Mike. When Bear Men Shudder: the Scottish cradle of Dracula (Wild Wolf Notification, ).
• Skal, David J. Something block the Blood: The Untold Story line of Bram Stoker (Liveright, )

Bibliographies

References

External links