Bram Stoker, byname of Abraham Stoker, (born November 8, 1847, Clontarf, County Dublin, Ireland—died April 20, 1912, London, England), Irish writer. Bram Stoker who is best known for the Gothic horror novel “Dracula” was born in Dubin, Ireland, in November. His early years were rife with personal struggles for he was an invalid till the age of 7. He could not stand or walk. But even those difficult times had a profound creative effect on Stoker. “I was naturally thoughtful, and the leisure of long illness gave opportunity for many thoughts which were fruitful according to their kind in later years.” Stoker would write later.
After making a full recovery. he became an athlete and football player in school. He also earned a degree in mathematics from Trinity College, Dubin.
A passion for theatre
Even as he was in civil service at Dublin Castle in 1876, he doubled as a drama critic for the Dublin Evening Mail. Though an unpaid job, it quenched his passion for theatre. Around this time that he acquainted himself with English actor Henry Irving. Stoker was Irving’s manager for about 27 years until the actor’s death.
Foray into the literary world
It was in 1879 that Stoker published his first book. Titled “The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland,” it was a handbook in legal administration.
He later turned to writing fiction and published his first novel, “The Snake’s Pass,” a romantic thriller. In 1897 came his masterstroke – “Dracula.”
An epistolary novel – a novel written as a collection of diary entries, telegrams, and letters from the characters – “Dracula” was celebrated and led to a lot of subcultures. The book went through a multitude of incarnations, being adapted for movies, television series, theatre, books and so on.
“Dracula”
The Gothic novel starts off with a young lawyer Jonathan Harker on his journey to Transylvania. His destination – Castle Dracula where he is set to meet Count Dracula, a client of his firm, to finalise a property transaction.
The story features a Transylvanian vampire who survives by feeding on the blood of innocent people. Eventually, after many exploits, Dracula is destroyed.
During the course of his literary career, Stoker wrote a number of short stories and 12 novels, including “The Mystery of the Sea” (1902), “The Jewel of Seven Stars” (1903), and ‘The Lady of the Shroud” (1909).
Personal life
Stoker married actress Florence Balcombe and the couple had their only son Noel in 1879. The final years were difficult, for Stoker had to grapple with financial struggles and deteriorating health. He suffered a number of strokes and renal impairment. Stoker passed away in April 1912.
Picture Credit : Google
