In it, we follow the adventures of the main character in Munich. It is Walpurgis Night and he decides to leave his carriage to wander off and see an abandoned village (which the driver has refused to drive to).
Obviously, there is a horrible storm and our character manages to seek refuge in a tomb. Several minutes and many, many supernatural instances later, he is found lying with a wolf on top of him ready to kill him (drink his blood?), but not before military men discover and save him. The search had been ordered because of a demand from his host Dracula that he may have been lost.
Having read this short story, I have to admit I still preferred Bram Stoker’s original novel, Dracula, because the plot has a lot more complexity and offers material for every taste. What I really liked about this story, however, is the rumour that this main character (who is never named) actually Jonathan Harker is before his first visit with the count (but that cannot be confirmed). Meaning that this could really be the prequel, with which we are smoothly introduced into one of the best classics...
Read for the Ireland Reading and Mystery and Suspense Reading challenges
Read for the Ireland Reading and Mystery and Suspense Reading challenges
Sounds like a really fun read. I had no idea there was a Dracula sequel.
ReplyDeletemore of a prequel, but indeed, very interesting idea at that time!!!
DeleteI didn't even know there was any type of sequel - how come?!
ReplyDeleteHow does he do on sense of place. Victorians do UK in general and London in particular wonderfully, but for me they always fail when it comes to other countris. I often have the feeling they never visited the country they're describing and know about them just by hear-say.
I think we'll never know why, but it sort of shows the author's insight in all things weird for the time. As to place description - I think that woods, storms, cemeteries and the like are to be found in every city at that time, so it wouldn't make any difference whether it was Munich or London...
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