Dracula Survey

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Aha! Finally back on topic!

Yes, it's a really great book. I loved it to bits. I expected the "epistolary" (or whatever ) writing style to make it a bit stilted and hard to read, but it flows extremely well.

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

I'm actually posting on topic. I'm rather impressed with myself.

Yeah, I like the style, with the journal entries and whatnot. Wasn't that a common style for novels, for the time? Other kinds of narrative were less common, as I recall.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Really? Quite interesting. I guess that debunks people saying that Tolkien belonged to the Victorian Age.

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

Well, maybe not that common, now that I'm recalling some other novels of the time. But still pretty common. But I can't imagine Tolkien being considered a Victorian! Wow...ya learn somethin' new everyday

[Huan]

Epistolary style was indeed extremely common in novels of the 19th century. It was especially common in Gothic novels and mysteries. Frankenstein is written as one hundred-page letter from an explorer to his sister. If they weren't written as a collection of letters, then often they were written as a journal or collection of them. I feel that Dracula made one of the best and most creative and complex uses of the technique, and it's really amazing if you do the homework to match up the dates of the various letters, journal entries, newspaper articles, etc., just how much attention Stoker paid to consistency in his timeline.

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

I'm noticing that, with the journal entries and whatnot, as I read. I also really like the newspaper articles he has in there. Like the one with the wolf that escaped from the zoological gardens.

Yesterday when I was waiting for my friends to get out of school I was sitting in front of the school building (my old high school...heh) and reading Dracula. Spent about 45 minutes doing that...I suppose I could have been in watching stuff, but I was far too into Dracula!

[wahine]

Originally posted by Eruviel Greenleaf
Well, as I've said, I still have to read it. Stoker has him in Transylvania where Vlad was from Wallachia, but there were some stories/rumors, etc, especially from the Russian records of the time, that Vlad himself was a vampire. I'll have to look that up soon as I get my book, In Search of Dracula.

This is a bit late, and I believe I discussed some of the questions with Gwai on AIM.

I read the book, long ago, likes it. Can't remember most of it

I liked an independant film adaptation, but cannot remember the name.

What I know about Dracula's namesake...

Vladimir Tepes, or Dracul was a warlord from Romania in the 1400's *?* Vlad was catholic and was at one point as a child abuducted by Turks. Later in life he became a prince of wallshia*?*

During his reign *which was just shy of 7 years* he prosecuted people both guilty and innocent to avenge his fathers death *and his brothers torture and murder* His favorite form of torture and murder was IMPAILMENT (thus Vlad, the Impailer). In Myth, he was said to feed children to their parents.He was also said to throw a feast for peasents, then lock the doors and burn the building (about 8 times *?* this is documented to have happened)

This is all off the top of my well occupied mind.

Ta-ta.

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

I wouldn't put it past him...the burning of occupied buildings--in fact I think I read about that. I got my In Search of Dracula book, as I said, but I haven't read it yet because I'm still reading Dracula. However, the same guys wrote a biography of Vlad, which I really want to find. Also, Vlad ruled as prince twice, once for about 7 years, and then again for something like...um...two years? Much less? Don't remember. Anyway, that ended in 1476, with...something.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally posted by wahine
Vladimir Tepes, or Dracul was a warlord from Romania in the 1400's *?* Vlad was catholic

Wasn't everyone?

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
Wasn't everyone?

Excepting the Jews, and the Muslims, yes. Everyone was Catholic then.

[wahine]

Roman Catholic is what he was, different than the way the Spanish worshipped.

So geographically, no, not everyone was.

[Elvellon]

1) Have you read Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula?

Yes.

2) How many (if any) of the film adaptations have you seen?

Several, probably about 6.

3) If you can remember, which ones were they?

Bran Stoker’s Dracula (the one with Francis Ford Coppola as the director) and the The original Silent movie, Nosferatu. The others were Hammer movies, I believe.

4) Have you read any works of Bram's which were related to Dracula?

No.

5) Do you prefer to book to the films?

Yes.

6) Which film adaptation was your favourite?

“Bran Stoker’s Dracula”

7) Which film adaptation would you deem to be closest to the book, if you have read the book?

The same.

8) Do you know of Vlad Tepes, the historical figure from whom the name (and possibly the character) of Dracula is taken? If so, how much?

Yes. Basically I know the usual about him, quite a disturbing character.

[Spock]

The Vampires strength lies in the fact that no one believes.

[GrayMouser]

Originally posted by Eruviel Greenleaf
Excepting the Jews, and the Muslims, yes. Everyone was Catholic then.

Don't forget the Orthodox to the north and south of Romania

1) yes
My problem with Dracula was that before I had read the original I read a fairly-well written spoof of it, told from the vampire's point of view (Van Helsing as an obsessive maniac) which spoiled my reaction- same thing happened with "The Sun Also Rises"

2)four or five , many more if you count those that don't follow Stoker's story.

3) same as everybody else (advantage of late posting.)

4)No

5)Have to read it again- it's been a long time

6) 1931 Bela Lugosi version

7) Bram Stoker's Dracula

8) Vlad the Impaler, fought the Turks, Rumanian hero- saw a movie about him.

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

icky. movie. on vlad. well, can't say that 'cause i haven't seen it really, but i stared at the box for a while. . .movies just usually don't get things right.

okay, okay, was being stupid and not thinking. yesh. was thinking catholic/protestant stuff not around and not thinking. so sue me.

[jerseydevil]

I just wanted to say that I love Dracula. While other kids pretended they were super heros like Superman and Spider-man - I was using my beach towel to pretend I was Dracula and saying "I vant to suck your blood".

I read the book a bunch, and I have probably seen almost every movie - except for that god awefuil 1992 Bram Stokers crap (I actually did see parts of it). It was so ridiculous that one. Bela Lugosi's Dracula the best - which I have on DVD. I also have Christopher Lee's Dracula: Prince of Darkness too on DVD. There were so many other Draculas that I loved to - but now I can't remember them. I love classic black and white horror movies.

Yes - I know all about Vlad the Impaler too. He's my hero - next to Hannibal Lecter. j/k

[kaziklu_bey]

<i>
http://www.draculascastle.com/html/poenari.html
</i>

Dracula infact, not fiction was a Knight and not a vampire.

A cunning leader beloved by his people.

Hatted by the lying, self serving and greedy.

He was not a vampire. No.

He was not evil, and he was also not good. He was a great, wise leader who did what he had to do during his time when the old Hungarian border colonies were being threatenned by the Ottoman Turks.

The Order of the Dragon was bestowed upon his father. His father bestowed the Dragon upon Vlad; who was educated and trained in Germany and England with his fathers guidence.

Vlad impailed the lying and those who dared invade Romania. He did, however bring order and peace to the starving and good of hearted. His proclemation to all; " everyone is to have a job".

I am not an expert, just a former US Marine in Ca, USA who since I was young has been personally inspired by the tru story of Vlad.

I am planning a trip to Romania and would like to hike to Poenari, a place feared by many, and most rightfully so!

It was however home to some people too. With permission from Romania my friend Robert, his uncle Radu and I will hike up the trails to the fortress. We will also have, (again with their permission), swords. our reason is to pay tribute to the warrior spirt. Not to judge. Not to generalize, not to take, but to acknowledge by the sound of sword blades, and to give pleasure to the voivode spirits still residing there; who sacraficed so much defending a strong and beautiful land. The sweet sound of the blade. A sound remembered in battle and in training.

God bless Romania

[kaziklu_bey]

He was not a vampire

He was taken prisoner as a young teenager with his younger brother Radu and held prisnor in Constantinople for many years. He saw horrors that terrified and hardened him. The Sultan took an "interest" in peaceful, sweet younger Radu, Vlad spit in their faces and called them Muslim rats! He resisted their attempts to convert him. He knew they were impierial expansionalists and it will be there eventual undoing!

Why? Because his father once told him "Greed is a force more powerful then any army".

You see, the Sultan played on greed. He made Romanians, well certain Romanians pay tribute to him. When the Dracul, Vlad's father tried to unite the nobles they killed him. Barried in a box! and the greedy nobles betrayed Vlad and Radu to the Sultan...

May I recommend seeing the film, vcr, cd whatever; Dracula:The Dark Prince, with Rudolf Martin and jane March.

Ending was a little cheesy but otherwize mostly true. Filmed in Romania too.

I wonder; "Will the Romanian people ever see any of the money that has been made in Dracula's name"?

I wonder....

[Nautipus]

Originally Posted by Gwaimir Windgem

Added a few questions:
8) Do you know of Vlad Tepes, the historical figure from whom the name (and possibly the character) of Dracula is taken? If so, how much?

I did alot of research on this character while doing a story that hinged on vampires (as well as werewolves, Frankenstein, and several other Eastern European legends and literatures). The Turks would have done well to keep him in prison.