Daily Dracula

Discussion of fine arts and literature.
Post Reply
User avatar
Frelga
Meanwhile...
Posts: 22448
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:31 pm
Location: Home, where else

Daily Dracula

Post by Frelga »

May 3 begins a new round of Daily Dracula.

https://draculadaily.substack.com/about
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is an epistolary novel - it’s made up of letters, diaries, telegrams, newspaper clippings - and every part of it has a date. The whole story happens between May 3 and November 7. So: Dracula Daily will post a newsletter each day that something happens to the characters, in the same timeline that it happens to them.
Because if you haven't read the book where a vampire gets into a knife fight with a cowboy, you should.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.

Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
User avatar
Alatar
of Vinyamar
Posts: 10585
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:39 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Alatar »

I'm in! Are we discussing?
Image
The Vinyamars on Stage! This time at Bag End
User avatar
Frelga
Meanwhile...
Posts: 22448
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:31 pm
Location: Home, where else

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Frelga »

I'd like to.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.

Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
User avatar
Jude
Lán de Grás
Posts: 8195
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:54 pm

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Jude »

I just signed myself up.
Image
User avatar
Frelga
Meanwhile...
Posts: 22448
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:31 pm
Location: Home, where else

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Frelga »

We may need group therapy when we get to the part with the escalating flies, spiders, etc.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.

Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
User avatar
Inanna
Meetu's little sister
Posts: 17685
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:03 pm

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Inanna »

Me too.
'You just said "your getting shorter": you've obviously been drinking too much ent-draught and not enough Prim's.' - Jude
User avatar
Frelga
Meanwhile...
Posts: 22448
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:31 pm
Location: Home, where else

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Frelga »

May also need one of these.

Victorian Era Vampire Hunting Kit (Etsy)
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.

Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
User avatar
Jude
Lán de Grás
Posts: 8195
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:54 pm

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Jude »

That’s ultra-cool but… did you see the price? :shock:
Image
User avatar
Jude
Lán de Grás
Posts: 8195
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:54 pm

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Jude »

I just received the first instalment. Anyone else?
Image
User avatar
Inanna
Meetu's little sister
Posts: 17685
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:03 pm

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Inanna »

Me too!
'You just said "your getting shorter": you've obviously been drinking too much ent-draught and not enough Prim's.' - Jude
User avatar
Frelga
Meanwhile...
Posts: 22448
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:31 pm
Location: Home, where else

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Frelga »

Yessss! It came to us, precious.

This also popped up today.
Anthony Oliveira wrote: although called “Count” Dracula, no such honorific was used in any of the centuries Dracula was operating in Transylvania. As he himself says, he is “Boyar”, one of the aristocrats of the region. He also frequently signs his letters as “-D.”

THIS ****’S NAME IS BOYAR D.
There's more in the thread but some of it is a bit spoilery, if this is your first read.
FvOWTGvWIAkdwvg.jpg
FvOWTGvWIAkdwvg.jpg (13.78 KiB) Viewed 2719 times
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.

Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
User avatar
Alatar
of Vinyamar
Posts: 10585
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:39 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Alatar »

So, my thoughts. I've read the book several times over the years, but I'll avoid spoilers.

I love the style of the book. A collection of letters, diaries and newspaper cuttings stitched together to tell a compelling story.

We start with a typical travelogue, Harker has the usual English superiority complex and while he appreciates the beauty and traditions of Hungary, he finds it all a bit amusing. He finds the food tasty and makes note to get recipes, but is quite dismissive of the locals, particularly the ladies, who obviously don't live up to English standards. He also jokes to himself about the lack of punctuality (and one would presume civilisation) the further one gets from London.

On May 4th we get our first real sense of unease (apart from fitful sleep on the night of the 3rd). Despite Harker's amusement, he is bothered by the old woman's obvious concern for his safety. Naturally, he dismisses it as superstition, but he is definitely shaken by it.
Image
The Vinyamars on Stage! This time at Bag End
User avatar
Inanna
Meetu's little sister
Posts: 17685
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:03 pm

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Inanna »

I didn’t get May 4th. :(. Must have deleted it by mistake.
'You just said "your getting shorter": you've obviously been drinking too much ent-draught and not enough Prim's.' - Jude
User avatar
Jude
Lán de Grás
Posts: 8195
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:54 pm

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Jude »

Want me to send it to you?
Image
User avatar
Frelga
Meanwhile...
Posts: 22448
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:31 pm
Location: Home, where else

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Frelga »

On my Gmail, 3 went to updates but 4 went to promotions for some reason. Maybe it looks like spam?
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.

Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
User avatar
Inanna
Meetu's little sister
Posts: 17685
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:03 pm

Daily Dracula

Post by Inanna »

Jude wrote:Want me to send it to you?
Pliss.

Edit: thank you.
Last edited by Inanna on Fri May 05, 2023 10:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
'You just said "your getting shorter": you've obviously been drinking too much ent-draught and not enough Prim's.' - Jude
User avatar
Jude
Lán de Grás
Posts: 8195
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:54 pm

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Jude »

Sent.

Did you get today's installment?
Image
User avatar
Inanna
Meetu's little sister
Posts: 17685
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:03 pm

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Inanna »

Yes, I did. Reading that now.
'You just said "your getting shorter": you've obviously been drinking too much ent-draught and not enough Prim's.' - Jude
User avatar
Inanna
Meetu's little sister
Posts: 17685
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:03 pm

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Inanna »

Wow. Loving it.
'You just said "your getting shorter": you've obviously been drinking too much ent-draught and not enough Prim's.' - Jude
User avatar
Frelga
Meanwhile...
Posts: 22448
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:31 pm
Location: Home, where else

Re: Daily Dracula

Post by Frelga »

I find it endearing how non-genre savvy Harker is. Why would he be? The tropes are being established in this book.

Edit: a tweet commented that many older ghost stories begin "Seeing as I was beset by Nerves, my doctor prescribed I travel the Continent for three months," which is properly broody and sensitive. And then there's "I was on a business trip to help this rich guy buy property in England... "
/edit


Vlkoslak is probably related to volkodlak or vurdalak as it ended up in Russian (thanks, Pushkin). Despite being obviously derived from a word for wolf, it is applied more commonly to an undead monster, who leaves his grave to prey on his former loved ones. Usually, they are not very bright.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.

Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Post Reply