Bram Stoker

Abraham "Bram" Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912) was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula. During his lifetime, he was better known as personal assistant of actor Henry Irving and business manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, which Irving owned.

 BRIEF CHRONOLOGY:

1847 Born 8 November in Clontarf (Dublin), Ireland

Lived early childhood (bed-ridden) at 15 Marino Crescent
1860's Attended Trinity College (Dublin)

Awarded University Athletics Championship

Served as President of Philosophical Society
1871 Graduated with Honours in science (Pure Mathematics)

Took job with civil service at Dublin Castle

Started five year stint as theatre reviewer in Dublin (unpaid)
1876 Reviewed Henry Irving's performance in "Hamlet"

Met the actor and close friendship began
1878 Accepted offer to become acting manager at Irving's Lyceum Theatre

Moved to London with wife, Florence (Balcombe)

First book The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland published
1882 Under the Sunset, a collection of short stories, published
1890 Began working on vampire novel (as yet untitled)

Spent summer in Whitby where he came across the name "Dracula"

1891 First novel, The Snake's Pass, published

1897 Publication (26 May) of Dracula

1903 Publication of The Jewel of Seven Stars

1905 Death of Henry Irving

1906 Published Personal Reminiscences of Henry Irving

1911 Published The Lair of the White Worm, his last novel
1912 Died on April 20 in London
1922 First movie based on Dracula ("Nosferatu") released in Germany

Dracula

Dracula is an 1897 Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.

 Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing.

Dracula has been assigned to many literary genres including vampire literature, horror fiction, the gothic novel and invasion literature. The novel touches on themes such as the role of women in Victorian culture, sexual conventions, immigration, colonialism, and post-colonialism. Although Stoker did not invent the vampire, he defined its modern form, and the novel has spawned numerous theatrical, film and television interpretations.