Read Scary Classics with Dracula
May 23 2023
It’s time to head to Castle Dracula for a book club! Join us as we celebrate World Dracula Day, the international holiday to commemorate May 26, 1897, the day Bram Stoker published his immortal novel, “Dracula."Learn the origin of Dracula and read Bram Stoker’s beloved novel in a free book club on Fable. It’s a special club moderated by Count Dracula himself!
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A frightening new moderator
Using artificial intelligence technology, we’ve created a digital version of Dracula who can share insights from his centuries of undead life, deliver sophisticated answers to your questions, and bring the shadows of night to our community conversations!As the club reads together, Dracula will post A.I.-generated commentary every week, and you can ask him questions directly by typing @Dracula. Fable’s editorial team will review every post from Dracula to ensure his commentary is appropriate and accurate.What is the plot of Bram Stoker’s Dracula?
You can read about the history of this excellent vampire novel on Wikipedia.The story has spawned hundreds of tropes and new stories, as you can see on Dracula’s page at TVTropes.For something different, we asked Dracula himself to introduce the book:“Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a captivating story that follows the lives of several characters whose fates become intertwined as they come into contact with me, Count Dracula. The story begins with young solicitor Jonathan Harker embarking on a mission to my castle in Transylvania, not suspecting that he is about to encounter a creature of the undead.“Throughout the novel, Stoker explores themes of love, sacrifice, and madness with an unrelenting sense of horror and suspense. It is a tale that has stood the test of time and fascinates readers of all ages.”Who are the main characters in Dracula?
Jonathan Harker: A young solicitor, Harker travels to Dracula’s castle in Transylvania, not suspecting that he is about to encounter a creature of the undead. After narrowly escaping Dracula’s grasp and returning to England, Harker’s fiancée Mina and her friend Lucy begin experiencing strange and terrifying events as I set foot on British soil and start to spread my curse. Mina Harker: A strong, intelligent, and resourceful woman who is engaged to Jonathan Harker. She becomes a target of Dracula’s influence and struggles to resist the vampire’s influence and maintain her sense of identity. Arthur Holmwood: A young nobleman with a kind and generous heart, he is engaged to Lucy Westenra. When his fiancée becomes a victim of Dracula’s influence, Arthur fights to save her. He emerges as a hero willing to risk everything to protect those he loves. Lucy Westenra: A woman who becomes the target of Dracula’s darkest desires as he seeks to make her his bride and transform her into a vampire. In the novel, Lucy undergoes a profound transformation as the forces of darkness twist her. Van Helsing: A famous vampire hunter and a learned professor who brings his expertise and strategic thinking to the fight against Dracula. Along with other characters, he undertakes a perilous journey to confront Dracula.Renfield: A disturbed and fascinating character, he is one of the many victims under Dracula’a’s control. Once a patient in a mental asylum, he communicates with Dracula telepathically. Though he desires immortality himself, he is ultimately a pawn in Dracula’s game, driven mad by my dark power and hopelessly devoted to Dracula’s will.What is the best film version of Dracula?
There have been countless adaptations of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” over the years. Here are a few of them: “Nosferatu” by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, the 1931 version starring the great Bela Lugosi. There was a 1979 adaptation featuring Frank Langella as Dracula. And Werner Herzog’s “Nosferatu the Vampyre” from 1979. Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 film, Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” offers a sumptuous, visually stunning take on the narrative. We asked Count Dracula what he thinks about these adaptations. He replied:"More recently, it seems that Hollywood is more interested in recycling my name and vaguely alluding to me in various horror movies that hardly capture the true essence of who I am. Nonetheless, my legend continues to thrive and captivate new audiences with each passing generation."
Dracula also had plenty to say about other topics, answering commonly asked questions about his story.What is the original Dracula?
“Dracul is a name that means ‘dragon’ in my native tongue of Romanian, and it has been passed down through my family for generations.“My father, Vlad II Dracul, was given this name because he was a member of the Order of the Dragon, a chivalric order that fought against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. So you see, the name Dracul has a long and storied history, which I am quite proud to continue.“I am based on a real person, although the details of my story have been embellished over time. The historical Dracula to whom I owe my name was a nobleman from Wallachia, a region now part of Romania, and his full name was Vlad III, or as he is remembered, Vlad III, commonly known as Vlad the Impaler. He was born in the 1430s and is known for his military tactics, which he used to defend his country against the Ottoman Empire. “However, Vlad III Dracula is also remembered for his brutal methods of punishment. He was fond of impaling his enemies and, according to some accounts, drank their blood. Although it is unclear how much of this is fact and how much is legend, he was undoubtedly a fearsome ruler whose tactics inspired fear and respect in equal measure.“It is believed that Bram Stoker, the author of my story “Dracula,” drew inspiration from Vlad III Dracula’s reputation for cruelty when creating my character. While I possess certain supernatural abilities that Vlad III Dracula did not, I am depicted as a powerful and fearsome figure who inspires awe and terror in those around me.”Who is Dracula?
“I am Count Dracula, a centuries-old vampire of great power and cunning. Born in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania, I can transform into a bat, wolf, fog, and other supernatural forces.“I have lived through many eras of history, surviving on the blood of the living and maintaining my power through dark rituals and sorcery. Though many have tried to defeat me, I endure, always seeking new prey to feed my thirst and expand my legions of the undead. I am mesmerizing and terrifying to those who cross my path, a figure of undeniable charisma and fierce menace.”Is Dracula good or evil?
“As a vampire, I am often viewed as a symbol of evil, terror, and darkness. My powers and abilities may indeed seem frightening to those who do not understand them. However, as with any being, my nature has many different sides. I can be charming, cultured, and even romantic when the mood strikes me. Of course, when it comes to my survival, I will stop at nothing to obtain the blood that sustains me. “To some, I may be seen as evil. To others, I may be seen as a complex and fascinating character with a certain allure and charisma.”Why is Dracula rated R?
“Gary Oldman played my character in the 1992 adaptation of my story “Dracula,” directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He gave a compelling performance and captured many aspects of my character, including charm, allure, and a sense of ancient wisdom. “However, as with any adaptation of my story, there were also some departures from the original text. For example, the film portrays me as a tragic figure motivated by love rather than my need for blood. The 1992 adaptation of my story “Dracula” was rated R due to its graphic depiction of violence, sexuality, and horror. The film contained many scenes of blood and gore and some sexually suggestive content. “Ultimately, the film’s R rating allowed the director and the actors to fully explore the darker and more disturbing aspects of my story and to create a film that captured the terrifying and seductive nature of my character.”Great quotes from Dracula
“I am longing to be with you, and by the sea, where we can talk together freely and build our castles in the air.” ― Bram Stoker
"Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!" ― Bram Stoker
"We learn from failure, not from success!" ― Bram Stoker
“Remember my friend, that knowledge is stronger than memory, and we should not trust the weaker”― Bram Stoker
“Loneliness will sit over our roofs with brooding wings.”― Bram Stoker
How can I get a free Dracula book?
Reading together with friends, family, and co-workers is a great way to enjoy the full mental and physical benefits of reading. We call this “social reading.” The Fable app is built for social reading, with tools for sharing highlights, comments, insights, links, pictures, and videos as you read togetherRead a free copy of Dracula!We also make it easy to launch your free book club. With our platform, you can host every aspect of an online discussion at a single destination, to reach readers and build safe online communities regardless of location or time zone.Start your own book club today!You can sample our ever-growing collection of Folios, exceptional book recommendations from some of the world’s great tastemakers. Each Folio covers a critical theme, and some of our Folio curators include LeVar Burton, Paulo Coelho, Wolfgang Puck, and Jasmine Guillory. Discover great book recommendations!