Review by Ananya Singh of Dracula by Bram Stoker

Review by Ananya Singh of Dracula by Bram Stoker

It’s no surprise at this point that I am a huge fan of anything Sherlock related so when I heard of Mark Gatiss and Steve Moffat’s new show Dracula on Netflix, I had to watch it. After three 90 minute episodes, I certainly do not regret my decision and was very pleased with this adaptation of the iconic vampire. However, approximately 1 week after watching the show I wondered how much it differed from the novel that inspired it, Dracula by Bram Stoker. Even though the novel and show were quite different, the novel brought out a whole new side to Dracula the show did not convey. 

Dracula is an 1897 gothic horror novel. The story follows Dracula’s attempts to spread his curse to England. However, a group led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing tries to stop him before he succeeds. In terms of format, the story is conveyed through log entries, letters, and diary entries. Even though the book is titled Dracula, the vampire only makes a few appearances here and there but he is almost always the center of discussion. 

One of the best aspects of the novel, in my opinion, is the format. It may seem that all the different logs and entries may make the plot confusing but it does the exact opposite. The book was easy to follow and we, as the audience, and told everything that happens. In fact, I believe this book would have been less of an enjoyable experience if it was written from one of the protagonist’s perspectives. This is because the logs and entries add dimension to the story. They make the story seem less formal and more real, almost as if we are reading the diary of someone who actually went through these horrific experiences. In the book, Dracula takes a sea journey from Transylvania to England and he takes out the members one by one. You can feel the tension and fear grow as you read each diary entry. I also enjoyed how Stoker built intimate relationships based on trust between the characters. The reader can see how much they have to depend on one another just to survive. In all honesty, there was not much for me to complain about. If anything, I wish the ending were different just so we can see another glimpse of the iconic Dracula. 

For those who are into horror and fantasy novels, give Dracula a try! This story is one you definitely won’t forget!