Books

Tan cloth. With an image of a castle and sun rising behind to the front cover. Rebacked with a new spine in facsimile. New endpapers. The cover corners have had some restoration. Original cloth shows soiling, some light-colored staining along about the lower 1/4" of the front and rear. There is a name stamp to the half-title as well as to pages 99 & 378 (last page of text) . Three lines are underlined to the last page of text. There is also "Van Helsing" underlined to p. 281 along with a question mark in the margin. Several minor spots of soiling to the text. Minor dampstaining along the extreme lower pages numbering around 215-280. This is quite unobtrusive and only affects these lower margins. Very tight and otherwise presentable copy of this very scarce first American edition of Dracula. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 378 pages.

"Dracula" by Bram Stoker is a gothic horror novel that follows the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who seeks to spread his curse from Transylvania to England. Jonathan Harker, a young solicitor, visits Dracula's castle to assist with a real estate transaction, only to discover the terrifying truth about the Count. Dracula arrives in England, preying on innocent victims while evading detection by transforming into different forms. He targets Lucy Westenra, whose friends and suitors, including Dr. John Seward, Arthur Holmwood, and Professor Abraham Van Helsing, join forces to thwart the vampire's evil intentions. Structured as a collection of diary entries, letters, newspaper clippings, and ship's logs, "Dracula" introduces various themes such as the clash between modernity and ancient superstitions, the fear of the unknown, the allure of the forbidden, and the struggle between good and evil. Stoker's novel is significant for several reasons. First published in 1897, "Dracula" helped shape the modern vampire genre and established many conventions associated with vampires in popular culture, including their aversion to garlic, the use of wooden stakes, and their ability to transform into bats. Moreover, the character of Count Dracula has become an iconic figure in literature and entertainment, influencing numerous adaptations in films, television, theater, and literature. Thematically, "Dracula" delves into Victorian anxieties about sexuality, morality, and the changing social dynamics of the time. It explores the fears and desires of a society grappling with scientific advancements, the decline of traditional values, and the challenges posed by foreign influence. Stoker's skillful narrative, combined with the enduring appeal of the vampire archetype, has secured "Dracula" as a seminal work in gothic literature, leaving an indelible mark on both literary canon and popular culture, influencing subsequent generations of writers and artists exploring the supernatural and macabre.