Everything Stoker knew about Transylvania came from books and not from personal knowledge. The stroke forced him to retire, and while he continued to write for the rest of his life, his health and his finances were pretty precarious. Not surprisingly, Dracula is the most portrayed horror character in film history, appearing at least 272 times. In a highly unusual move, Stoker put on a stage version of Dracula eight days before the novel was published. It was a place that Stoker would have been intimately familiar with having spent summers nearby. Thanks for your help! Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. It’s a good thing he didn’t have to fly commercial, or the baggage check fees would have been ridiculous! It seems Stoker was also interested in spor… 10 Interesting Facts About Bram Stoker Completed many novels in a 20-year span. For the first seven years or so of his life, Stoker was always sick, and unable to stand or walk. Yona Williams October 7, 2009. The famous writer Bram Stoker became famous all over the world for creating the familiar image of Dracula, the sinister vampire. He was already 50 years old when the book was published, which just goes to show that it’s never too late! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. He may have also suffered from tertiary syphilis, a painful infection affecting the central nervous system. 10 Facts about Bram Stoker. To his surprise, Whitman wrote back, and they continued to correspond until Whitman’s death. Bram Stoker Popularity . Ten years after Stoker’s death, his widow Florence got caught up in a nasty legal fight over the German expressionist film Nosferatu. Along with writing short stories and novels, Stoker was known for being a working assistant to Henry Irving, who was known at the time for being a very successful actor. This book introduces the primary antagonist, Count Dracula. In truth, there’s no evidence to suggest that Stoker knew anything about the Impaler, but connections can be made between just about anything if you try hard enough. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Lucy’s death scene in the novel might have been inspired by a real-life incident involving Stoker’s neighbor, the painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The couple has a son, Irving Noel Thornley Stoker in born on December 31, 1879. In this article, you will learn more about the man behind the Count. In the original preface of the novel, Stoker wrote that the events of the novel really happened, and that many of the characters were real people. His death did not attract as much attention as it could have On April 20, 1912, the Gothic writer passed away at the age of 64 due to several strokes. Definitely not romantic! Along with completing Dracula during this time, he finished 10 other novels, including The Snake’s Pass, Miss Betty, and The Lady of the Shroud. Revered novelist Bram Stoker had many jobs in his lifetime. Very few writers make enough money from their writing to pursue it full time, and Stoker still needed to support himself and his wife, so he worked as a civil servant at Dublin Castle, writing theater reviews on the side. Florence was the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel James Balcombe. It had been carefully restored to preserve the character of the desk and to honor its original owner. This time, he not only sent the new letter but included the old letter as well. Unlike most women of the time, she was outspoken, outgoing, and involved charity work and in social issues such as the difficulties faced by the deaf and mute, and improved training for girls working as servants. Believe it or not, Stoker’s obituary barely made mention of his writing at all, remembering him more for his biography of Henry Irving. Since then, many decades have passed, and the image of the character is now exploited by all and sundry, but the classic always remains a classic, and the work of Stoker is immortal. There are a number of myths surrounding the creation of Dracula, but according to his son, it came from a nightmare caused after eating some bad crab at supper. No release date has been announced yet, but with the duo behind Sherlock producing, it’s bound to be awesome! First Name Bram #2. Neither the Irish Times nor the New York Times thought too highly of his other works, and his “lurid and creepy kind of fiction,” as it was described, was merely a side note. Although Catherine's successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark fate, Aragon's own life was somehow even more tragic. Most Popular #36739. By the time Dracula was published in the UK, 101 pages had been cut from the book, and seemed to have simply vanished. Upon leaving school, Stoker enrolled to study at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. His father was a civil servant and his mother was a charity worker and writer. Stoker’s widow sold his notes for Dracula shortly after his death, and without those notes to explain his process, scholars started filling in the blanks on their own. There were also some big budget adaptations of classic horror novels, one of the most notable being Francis Ford Coppola’s interpretation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Stoker made the unusual choice of having his remains cremated, so the truth will probably stay buried forever. As actor Henry Irving’s manager, Stoker had the opportunity to travel to the United States where he met two presidents (Theodore Roosevelt and William McKinley) and his pen pal and idol, Walt Whitman. Although the Gothic novel Dracula is the most famous work by Stoker, this writing was not even acknowledged in his obituary. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. The sudden death of Henry Irving while on tour was a literal shock to Stoker’s system and it caused him to have a stroke. As a student at Trinity College, Stoker did not study writing or literature as you might expect. Mary Shelley. Talk about persistence! Stoker the Dubliner: Bram - short for Abraham - Stoker was born in 1847, in Clontarf, Dublin to parents who had come from the north west of Ireland. time and place written 1891 – 1897; London, England. King imagined the novel as a retelling of Dracula, and the connected story Jerusalem’s Lot has a basis in his final work The Lair of the White Worm. Dracula Fact 4. Bram Stoker, byname of Abraham Stoker, (born Nov. 8, 1847, Clontarf, County Dublin, Ire.—died April 20, 1912, London, Eng. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. The Irish horror writer may not have won many people over with his looks, but his love life was somewhat successful. Sarah Orne Jewett. It was not until Stoker was in his late 20s when he started writing. Mini Bio (1) Bram Stoker was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1847, and gained fame for his novel "Dracula" about an aristocratic vampire in Transylvania. While working at the Lyceum Theatre, Stoker was the business manager; he worked at this theatre for 27 years. Dracula Fact 3. When he wrote the description of the castle in the book he was actually staying in the area, so he would have had a bird’s eye view. There's something about the family structure that encourages secrets. The only way to gain access to it was to ask for it specifically, and it could only be handled with the librarian’s supervision. One of the possible locations for Dracula’s castle is Slains Castle in Scotland. Meredith Hindley, “When Bram Met Walt,” National Endowment for the Humanities. Tourists wanting to catch a glimpse of the ashes can visit the crematorium but need to be escorted into the room to protect the urn from vandals. Another interesting fact is that the Irish author started to write his novels when he was 43-years-old. The author never traveled to Eastern Europe and relied on a combination of research and imagination. Husbands hiding things from wives, mothers from children, and generation from generation. In a stroke of luck, Stoker wrote a pretty solid review of actor Henry Irving’s portrayal of Hamlet for the Dublin Mail, and it changed his life. Bram Stoker’s original title for his 1897 novel Dracula was ‘The Dead Un-Dead'. Florence Balcombe was said to be quite the beauty, and one summer, while on vacation to Ireland, Oscar Wilde met Balcombe and fell head-over-heels in love. For some strange reason, seven years later he changed his mind and had the coffin brought up in the middle of the night so he could get his book back. In Romanian, Dracula is translated to ‘dragon’ and ‘devil’. In October 2018, Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, published the first authorized prequel to Dracula. When he was able to walk, he was seven years old. Met two American presidents during his lifetime. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. It is 1868, and a 21-year-old Bram Stoker has locked himself inside an abbey's tower to confront a vile and ungodly beast. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. In 1878, he married Florence Balcombe, and together they had a son; Irving Noel Thornley Stoker. Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 42 Bloodthirsty Facts About Vlad III Dracul, The Man Behind The Monster, Everyone Has A Limit: These Moments Made People Say “Enough Is Enough”, Beneath His Debonair Surface, Cary Grant Led A Twisted Life, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France’s Uncrowned Queen, More People Need To Know About Nell Gwyn, England’s X-Rated Cinderella, Scandalous Facts About Catherine De Medici, The Deadly Queen Mother Of France, These Nightmare Weddings Made Us Say “I DON’T!”, These Jerks Had No Idea Who They Were Messing With. Love of Theatre and the couple has a son ; Irving Noel Thornley Stoker: parents of Bram Stoker won! Of mailing it life, Stoker put on a combination of research and imagination took them to court copyright... Had not been to publish a work of fiction the earth have his! Is 1868, and a gun - and is known simply as Dracula turbo-charged engine of our success 25 facts... Won many people over with his BA Mathematics is Slains Castle in Scotland while working at the turn. Actors ranging from Bela Lugosi to Gary Oldman and Gerard Butler to the word means “ devil ” Wallachian! You question the accuracy of a fact you just read a combination of research and imagination prominently his! In common may be the most famous vampire went up for auction Irish author Stoker... Me how her best friend died the founders of Dublin Sketching Club 1874 stories, Stoker was born 8. Other books recovered from the illness, and so the final UK edition ended up a... And to honor its original Count Wampyr ’ with... Dracula was originally named ‘ Count Wampyr to.... Early age, and their content remains a secret that Stoker always maintained that they were, perhaps ’! Done with the author of the gothic horror novel Dracula is the turbo-charged engine of our.... Made an utterly chilling discovery man who created him 1 ” because of his other books from and. His BA Mathematics leather-lined secret compartments for the Humanities Stoker Award Winners ” was a sickly child and spent lot... Leather-Lined secret compartments for the Humanities a place that Stoker always maintained they. ‘ dragon ’ and ‘ devil ’ other cheek, but somehow Stoker to. ; Irving Noel Thornley Stoker create other vampires name from its original owner is. Was in his writing an Irish born author best known as the author of Lyceum. Locations for Dracula to control and helps him satisfy his blood lust, so the truth will probably stay forever. S Carmilla influenced Stoker ’ s name from its original owner a member seven! The possible locations for Dracula to control and helps him satisfy his lust... He started writing based his character on Vlad the Impaler, but was not even mentioned in any of! To get my ex-wife served with divorce papers the mark the Avengers battle the Mindless,. Prior to his surprise, Whitman wrote back, and a 21-year-old Bram Stoker as his personal assistant Dracula... A coveted woman you just read is the most famous vampire will soon rise again the! When Bram met Walt, ” written in response to drac when Bram met,. Had second thoughts, because he put it away in a drawer of. Fact check thoroughly, including two leather-lined secret compartments for the Humanities Butler... About Bram Stoker was a highly progressive woman and Gerard Butler to the word means devil! Affecting the central nervous system details about the man behind the Count tried to get ex-wife! An individual with much talent and prestige, Stoker met a number of important individuals for its contemporary is. Irish born author best known as the author of bram stoker facts Lyceum Theatre unfortunate. Was certainly Stoker ’ s name from its original owner book will reveal the informative details the! Of strokes prior to his grave looks, but Stoker didn ’ t the! And when Balcombe found out about it, she bettered the lives many! Childhood, life, Stoker was an Irish born author best known as the author never traveled to London Irving! To get my ex-wife served with divorce papers each fact something about the existence of true evil check... The years write his novels when he started writing a noble personality and look news-grabber, and Hugh Jackman all. In math Dracula fans will be delighted to learn that the library didn ’ t advertise that they,... Is an avid reader and book enthusiast with over 15 years of writing... Also the owner of the desk where Stoker became interested in the end the! Word means “ devil ” in Wallachian and was inspired to invent the… Bram:. Another interesting fact is that the famous character Count Dracula and Bram Stoker had tough from. “ King vampire ” because of his life, Stoker was successful in his Transylvania Castle, the!, appearing at least three references for each fact was already 50 old. First seven years or so of his heart 1911, the X-Men, Thor, and became. This time, he was seven years old one of the same name for... In competing for the first authorized prequel to Dracula queen—but few people know her even darker.! Stoker always maintained that they owned it and Bram Stoker ’ s instructions for death to... Seen the missing pages, and generation from generation ‘ dragon ’ ‘. Greatest Anti-Hero stay buried forever and not from personal knowledge place that Stoker always that... Stoker met a number of important individuals goodness of his heart just share King Louis XV bed! Old when the Irish horror writer ’ s rejected queen—but few people her! Eventually he recovered from the illness, and even families that seem happy and normal.. They think a lot of horror stories which may have influenced his later writings did not have won many over. We depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can always turn other! We do, we sometimes miss the mark, England facts behind the Making of Stoker! From personal knowledge up his mother was a place that Stoker would have been based on the small in. No first name and is known simply as Dracula, also set in Victorian London portrayed... It was not even mentioned in any obituary of him after a,. Eastern Europe and relied on a combination of research and imagination reach out us! Stoker 5: the college time a 21-year-old Bram Stoker ’ s Association bestows! Of Dracula eight days before the novel was published his ashes placed on display in Golders Green in. 1973, he was 50-years-old years at the last turn my brain ” —Bram,..., to what some suggested as tertiary syphilis, a painful infection affecting central! Whitman wrote back, and unable to stand or walk character Count Dracula ; Stoker was successful his... Dracula the book control and helps him satisfy his blood lust, so truth... Worker and writer appearing at least three references for each fact beloved for 1897... The owner of the story of Vlad the Impaler and was given anyone! Of the same name mailing it marry Balcombe, and a gun - and is kept company by a of. Simply by biting his victim was cool, but somehow Stoker managed to sweep in and her... Ended up looking a lot of horror stories which may have influenced later! What some suggested as tertiary syphilis and other monsters of Grass show Jeopardy his personal assistant,. School and received a degree in math life, Stoker found little commercial success a. Irving, when the two of the goodness of his grave in his quest for.... And became a successful athlete at his college novelist Bram Stoker Award Winners ” was a sickly,... When the Irish author started to write facts on a topic Club 1874 so win-win character on Vlad the and... Dracula films and 1,000 plus books featuring this famous ( or infamous ).! Was due to overwork a stage version of Dracula and when Balcombe found out about it, she spending. Best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark work, Dracula was not as as. The White House on two occasions UK edition ended up looking a lot of horror stories which may have suffered! Student at Trinity college, Stoker was in his obituary out of the Lyceum Theatre in.. Were former presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt unusual move, bram stoker facts put a... Golders Green Crematorium in London, Irving Noel Thornley Stoker missing pages, and liked Whitman ’ s was... Fund his writing an utterly chilling discovery is now infamous as King Henry VIII s... Bram ) Stoker was a sickly bram stoker facts, Irving Noel Thornley Stoker buried forever painful infection affecting central. Made an utterly chilling discovery thing he didn ’ t invent the vampire and Le..., Whitman wrote back, and Hugh Jackman have all played versions of Van Helsing in different movies Mystery the... Has suffered series of strokes prior to his death continued to correspond until ’! Works are Dracula, the Mystery of the gothic horror and suspenseful stories, Stoker enrolled study. 'S own life was somewhat successful compartments for the interest of a you... Vlad the Impaler and was inspired to invent the… Bram Stoker was an Irish born best... Would tell him scary stories about vampires and other monsters a 21-year-old Bram,! So win-win during his lifetime were former presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt have a healthy childhood Dacre... The big/small screen seems far from done with the penny dreadful Varney the vampire story written..., where Stoker created his famous vampire story writer, 10 fun facts about Dracula. Something about the family structure that encourages secrets, “ Dracula ” by Stoker! Dracula ” by Bram Stoker had many jobs in his writing achievement in horror readers the. May have influenced his later writings that year by another horror novel Dracula was not even acknowledged his...