Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of the most iconic horror novels ever written, and with good reason. I’ve read it several times over the years and it’s one I always love to revisit. I listened to the Audible edition performed by a full cast including Alan Cumming and Tim Curry on my most recent reread. It’s very well done and I highly recommend it, particularly for those who’ve struggled with the format or language of the physical book or ebook. 

⚰️Spoiler Free Book Review⚰️

“The world seems full of good men, even if there are monsters it.”

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The epistolary format with diary entries and letters from multiple points of view helped me to connect with the various characters on a deeper level. The descriptive language, particularly during Jonathan Harker’s time in the castle and in the later return trip to Transylvania, inspired such a feeling of dread that at times I was literally reading on the edge of my seat. The bonds of friendship and love are explored so well within this horror novel and those relationships are as important as the mysterious Dracula himself.

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This novel is not without faults. It is at times, tedious, and the language is occasionally difficult, typical for a classic imo. I also had a bit of difficulty connecting with Lucy’s character. I wish there were a bit more background so her popularity were easier to understand.

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I’ve seen many people talk about misogyny in this book and not to say that isn’t correct, since that’s also typical for the time period, but I took it a different way. I believe the obvious misogynistic tendencies of the male characters, and complementary writing of Mina that consistently followed, were Stoker’s way of showing how ridiculous misogyny is. 

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While this novel sets the bar for gothic horror, it’s also much, much more. I love vampires, and Dracula is a great one, but he isn’t my favorite character, and that speaks to what a wonderful story this is. Mina is a role model and Van Helsing is my favorite hero as I’m a bigger sucker for sweet old men.