I read this book because of your recommendation on a previous video. The first part of this book is epic, it’s really good. The character of Dracula is some next level genius writing. The book bogs down in the middle and honestly was a bit dreadful. I had to put it down in favor of some other stuff I was reading. A month later I picked it back up and gave it my full attention. In its totality, it is a great book and probably even worth a re-read now that I know what to expect and won’t be so impatient. You’re just wanting so badly for Dracula to reappear that you get insanely frustrated with the book. For me the book was about the power of friendship and what friends will do for each other when they love one another. It’s also very metaphorical in regards to dealing with evil (psychopathic) people. I think Dracula is a metaphor for those people. Overall this book is worth reading. The parts that are good are really really good. There’s some great messages inside it about humanity that I thought were pretty deep.
A novel one can sink one's teeth into; where the villain has so much at stake he has to go to bat for his victims who don't want to stick their necks out for him.
Terrific synopsis and analysis, Michael. Dracula has been one of my favorites for fifty years, give or take a few months. And I absolutely love the cover that you're holding..
I've been through it many times, but I will never forget Roberet Neville's comment on the book: "The book was a hodgepodge of superstitions and soap-opera". Which it is, but I still like it.
I just picked up the out of print Essential Dracula edited by Leonard Wolf. Years ago I greatly enjoyed A Dream of Dracula by the same author. The best movie adaptation of Dracula I've watched remains the silent 1922 Nosferatu directed by F.W. Murnau.
Nice video - impressive how your channel captures the aesthetic of that time when our modern genre culture seems to have emerged - other influential vampire novels that come to mind include Carmilla; Varney the Vampyre; I Am Legend; Interview w the Vampire; Let the Right One In - but nothing comes close to Dracula - Universal used novels like Dracula as the ground for its horror pantheon - could you also do videos on might-have-been ur-texts, like Werewolf of Paris, or Loudon's 1927 The Mummy?
I read this last month for the first time in probably thirty years. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it had me wondering; who are the three women in his castle? Where did they come from? Are they related to the witches in Macbeth? How does Van Helsing have all of this knowledge about vampires? Where did he get his training? Are there any books out there that explain these subjects?
lol Even I've talked about Dracula on my channel. I was also surprised to find how much of what we consider as part of the vampire trope came right out of this book.
I just finished the recently released Norton Critical Edition of Dracula last week! The editor's notes seem a bit agenda driven, unfortunately, and unnecessarily so under the circumstances, but the text is wonderfully unsettling. I can't imagine how it would have unnerved its audience upon release.
This is perfect timing Michael. I started Dracula as part of my spooky season reads but thanks to life's digressions (work,family,work, illness and work), I still have 100 pages to go. I really like it alot, but easily would be loving it without these digressions pulling me away. My only head scratcher (minor spoiler) is how our heroic little group of protagonists are so complimentary and lovingly courteous to each other. I love good chemistry in my heroes (Indy 4, 1999s The Mummy) but good god, this goes to another level. Still gonna love it though once I finish it in ten years!
This is my current read. I have some time off this week due to Thanksgiving and I hope to finish this and a couple other books im in the middle of like The Illustrated Man. But with family and some work I need to catch up on that might be to hopeful of a reach lol. Soeaking of, have you ever done videos of Bradbury? Hes one of my favorites and I would be interested in your thoughts.
Took me something like 32 years to finish Dracula (even longer than Ulysses, which only took me 17). I think I first tried reading it unsuccessfully around 1991, and read it successfully just a few months ago. Don't know why it took me so long, given how many screen versions I've seen of the story*, but there you go. To be honest I'm not sure I felt it was worth it. It's good but I appreciate its historical importance in the genre more than I like it as such. And yes, far less Van Helsing and far more of the title character likely would've improved it vastly. I am, however, curious to read some of the contemporary "translations" that actually more rewrote the thing than just reworded it in other languages. *Universal and Hammer series, the Coppola version, the 1977 BBC version, Jess Franco's 1970 version with Christopher Lee, and Nosferatu 1922 and 1979 (curious about the forthcoming version by Robert Eggers). I own but haven't watched the 1968 Mystery and Imagination episode, and the clips I've seen of the Dario Argento version indicate that I don't have enough masochism in me to watch that one.
I'm currently reading Carmilla, which came 26 years earlier and supposedly had a big influence on this. Did you read that, and if so, would you agree? I still need to read Dracula itself, which I might right on the heels of Carmilla. Is there a particular version you'd recommend?
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 to be completely honest, I checked because I thought blood typing came about MUCH later (think 1950s). It actually surprised me when I saw it was in 1900.
even dracula book very influential and good the perfect dracual book movie game what ever not maded yet. bcouse the ficton dracula lack of real one vlad stroy. ottoman connection. man in start almost like muslim. its should be diffrent from frankestein like total ficton story. he should be dead in war like real one and sultan friend should mentioned. otherwise it become only gothic monster like character. alamut caslte book vladamir batrol also smilar but more realstic as should be.
Interesting analysis. I stopped reading it (recently) half way through. Might get back to it, but it was a snooze fest for me. Victorian authors and me just dont get along.
Dracula is simply the best horror novel ever written. Simple as. Name me another to even rival it, I dares ya.
Frankenstein
I read this book because of your recommendation on a previous video. The first part of this book is epic, it’s really good. The character of Dracula is some next level genius writing. The book bogs down in the middle and honestly was a bit dreadful. I had to put it down in favor of some other stuff I was reading. A month later I picked it back up and gave it my full attention. In its totality, it is a great book and probably even worth a re-read now that I know what to expect and won’t be so impatient. You’re just wanting so badly for Dracula to reappear that you get insanely frustrated with the book.
For me the book was about the power of friendship and what friends will do for each other when they love one another. It’s also very metaphorical in regards to dealing with evil (psychopathic) people. I think Dracula is a metaphor for those people. Overall this book is worth reading. The parts that are good are really really good. There’s some great messages inside it about humanity that I thought were pretty deep.
I read this for the first time last year and loved it! The movie from the 90s was surprisingly faithful with a few exceptions lol.
A novel one can sink one's teeth into; where the villain has so much at stake he has to go to bat for his victims who don't want to stick their necks out for him.
One of your best videos. I read this book every 5 years. It has aged very well.
Thanks!
Terrific synopsis and analysis, Michael. Dracula has been one of my favorites for fifty years, give or take a few months. And I absolutely love the cover that you're holding..
Possibly my favourite classic!
I've been through it many times, but I will never forget Roberet Neville's comment on the book: "The book was a hodgepodge of superstitions and soap-opera". Which it is, but I still like it.
Me too.
An all time gothic favorite!
Quincey has my heart 🤎🤠
I just read the prequel novel written by Bram’s great grandnephew Dacre Stoker, and it was excellent!
I’m glad it was good.
I have Dracula on my Christmas wishlist... let's hope Santa will bring it to me! :D I even want to read it more after this video !!
Dracula....still waiting for my copy to come in!
I remember reading Dracula for the first time and kicking myself for not reading it before. I think I probably assumed it was just like the old movie
The Marvel Comics version just arrived today- you know, the one you talked us into buying! 😉
I just picked up the out of print Essential Dracula edited by Leonard Wolf. Years ago I greatly enjoyed A Dream of Dracula by the same author. The best movie adaptation of Dracula I've watched remains the silent 1922 Nosferatu directed by F.W. Murnau.
Nice video - impressive how your channel captures the aesthetic of that time when our modern genre culture seems to have emerged - other influential vampire novels that come to mind include Carmilla; Varney the Vampyre; I Am Legend; Interview w the Vampire; Let the Right One In - but nothing comes close to Dracula - Universal used novels like Dracula as the ground for its horror pantheon - could you also do videos on might-have-been ur-texts, like Werewolf of Paris, or Loudon's 1927 The Mummy?
Yes. I talked about Werewolf of Paris but that was a while ago. Probably should talk about that one more.
I read this last month for the first time in probably thirty years. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it had me wondering; who are the three women in his castle? Where did they come from? Are they related to the witches in Macbeth? How does Van Helsing have all of this knowledge about vampires? Where did he get his training? Are there any books out there that explain these subjects?
lol Even I've talked about Dracula on my channel. I was also surprised to find how much of what we consider as part of the vampire trope came right out of this book.
Such a great novel! Is there a more diabolical villain 🤔
Looking dapper master Vaughan!! And Roger? Always sharp as a khopesh!!
I just finished the recently released Norton Critical Edition of Dracula last week! The editor's notes seem a bit agenda driven, unfortunately, and unnecessarily so under the circumstances, but the text is wonderfully unsettling. I can't imagine how it would have unnerved its audience upon release.
Looking forward to see what's next in your series. This kind of thing very much up my (dark and forboding) alley! Good stuff. 😊
Funny enough, I’ve been reading this book. I figured after 20+ years I should reread it.
This is perfect timing Michael. I started Dracula as part of my spooky season reads but thanks to life's digressions (work,family,work, illness and work), I still have 100 pages to go. I really like it alot, but easily would be loving it without these digressions pulling me away. My only head scratcher (minor spoiler) is how our heroic little group of protagonists are so complimentary and lovingly courteous to each other. I love good chemistry in my heroes (Indy 4, 1999s The Mummy) but good god, this goes to another level. Still gonna love it though once I finish it in ten years!
Panicky correction here!!!! Indy THREE.......in a perfect world, there is no four......or five for that matter.
I actually picked up a copy at the end of October. It will probably be my next book.
This is my current read. I have some time off this week due to Thanksgiving and I hope to finish this and a couple other books im in the middle of like The Illustrated Man. But with family and some work I need to catch up on that might be to hopeful of a reach lol. Soeaking of, have you ever done videos of Bradbury? Hes one of my favorites and I would be interested in your thoughts.
I have done a couple Bradbury videos but they were a while ago.
Took me something like 32 years to finish Dracula (even longer than Ulysses, which only took me 17). I think I first tried reading it unsuccessfully around 1991, and read it successfully just a few months ago. Don't know why it took me so long, given how many screen versions I've seen of the story*, but there you go. To be honest I'm not sure I felt it was worth it. It's good but I appreciate its historical importance in the genre more than I like it as such. And yes, far less Van Helsing and far more of the title character likely would've improved it vastly. I am, however, curious to read some of the contemporary "translations" that actually more rewrote the thing than just reworded it in other languages.
*Universal and Hammer series, the Coppola version, the 1977 BBC version, Jess Franco's 1970 version with Christopher Lee, and Nosferatu 1922 and 1979 (curious about the forthcoming version by Robert Eggers). I own but haven't watched the 1968 Mystery and Imagination episode, and the clips I've seen of the Dario Argento version indicate that I don't have enough masochism in me to watch that one.
I'm currently reading Carmilla, which came 26 years earlier and supposedly had a big influence on this. Did you read that, and if so, would you agree? I still need to read Dracula itself, which I might right on the heels of Carmilla. Is there a particular version you'd recommend?
I couldn’t wait… the Penguin Classics Deluxe looks gorgeous and is on sale, so I ordered it 😬
Blood groups weren't discovered until 1900, so I'll give Stoker a pass on that one.
Well….I guess…..🙄
Umm, I hate to be THAT person, but blood typing wasn't discovered until 1900, three years after Stoker published the book.
Darn it. It’s THAT person with the helpful facts!
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 to be completely honest, I checked because I thought blood typing came about MUCH later (think 1950s). It actually surprised me when I saw it was in 1900.
Second!!!! Ha ha......err, umm, yeah.
even dracula book very influential and good the perfect dracual book movie game what ever not maded yet. bcouse the ficton dracula lack of real one vlad stroy. ottoman connection. man in start almost like muslim. its should be diffrent from frankestein like total ficton story. he should be dead in war like real one and sultan friend should mentioned. otherwise it become only gothic monster like character. alamut caslte book vladamir batrol also smilar but more realstic as should be.
Interesting analysis. I stopped reading it (recently) half way through. Might get back to it, but it was a snooze fest for me. Victorian authors and me just dont get along.
You should get back to it. In the second half Dracula forms a vampire football team. The movies always skip that for some reason.
Hmmmm
First. Ha ha ha ha.