Shroud Art

Bram Stoker And His Novels

Abraham Stoker (his family called him Bram), was an Irish writer. Bram was born on November 8, 1847. Bram died on April 20, 1912. Bram Stoker came from a big Protestant family. He was the third born in a family of seven children.

Bram was born with infirmity. He was bedridden, because of mysterious causes, until the age of seven. He then made a full recovery. He grew up strong and he was an athlete at Trinity College of Dublin. He graduated with full honors in 1870 and Bram earned a degree in mathematics.

Despite Bram's science-based studies, he enjoyed fiction. Bram's early years of sickness resulted in numerous hours of fantasizing and thinking. As a young man Bram was interested in the theater. After marrying Florence Balcombe, Bram and his new wife relocated to London. Bram then became the acting and business manager of the Lyceum Theater.

Bram and Florence had only a single child, Noel Thornley Stoker. Bram worked at the Lyceum Theater for over 27 years. Bram's wages wasn't enough to support him and his family. As a result, he began writing to supplement his salary. Bram spent quite a few years researching vampire folklore throughout Europe. He was fascinated with tales of vampires. He visited gothic sites such as Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire and the crypts of St. Michan's Church in Dublin. These and other travels only further sparked Stoker's curiosity with all things morbid.

Bram would go on to author numerous fantasy, horror, and gothic novels including The Jewel of Seven Stars (1903), The Lady of the Shroud (1909), and The Lair of the White Worm (1911). But none would become as popular as Bram's 1897 work, Dracula. But Bram made a major mistake after publishing Dracula. He didn't follow copyright law and as a result, Dracula was put into the public domain in America from its initial publication.

Dracula was largely unappreciated during it's time. The novel would not see mainstream-success for several decades. In 1922 Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau filmed an unauthorized adaptation of Dracula titled Nosferatu. After the release of Nosferatu, the popularity of Bram's book Dracula increased quite a bit. Bram's widow attempted to have the film banned, but because Dracula was in the public domain challenges to the movie failed.

Stoker died on April 20, 1912 in his home. Historians think that the reason for Bram's death was due to tertiary syphilis. He suffered numerous strokes before passing away. Bram was cremated and his remains put in an urn now on display at Golders Green Crematorium. Visitors who desire to visit the urn must be escorted to the room the urn is at, mainly due to fears of vandalism.

In 1914, two years after Bram's death, his wife published the novella Dracula's Guest. It is widely speculated that this work was the original first chapter of Stoker's Dracula.

About the Author:

Gen Wright is a contributor to the online community Vampire Rave, a social network with a vampire theme. He also contributes to the Dark Network, a network of paranormal, supernatural, and darker websites.