| Bram Stoker was born in 1847 in Dublin, he | | | | greatest influence behind many theatrical and film |
| attended Trinity College from which he graduated | | | | interpretations. Before writing Dracula, Stoker |
| with honours in mathematics. In 1876 while | | | | spent seven years researching European folklore |
| employed as a civil servant, Stoker wrote a | | | | and vampirism. The name Dracula is derived from |
| non-fiction book and became the theatre critic for | | | | the word draco in the Megleno-Romanian language |
| the Dublin Evening Mail newspaper. In 1878 he | | | | meaning devil. |
| married Florence Balcombe and the couple moved | | | | Some aspects of his character appear to have |
| to London where Stoker became business | | | | been inspired by the fifteenth century Romanian |
| manager of Henry Irving's Lyceum Theatre. | | | | prince Vlad the Impaler. When it was first |
| His position allowed him entry into London high | | | | published Dracula was not an immediate bestseller |
| society and he also travelled the world with | | | | although it was acclaimed by the critics. He wrote |
| Irving's shows. Stoker supplemented his income | | | | several other novels among them The Mystery |
| by writing a number of novels, by far his most | | | | of the Sea (1902), The Jewel of Seven Stars |
| famous being the tale of Dracula which was | | | | (1904) and The Lady of the Shroud (1909) but |
| published in 1897. Although Stoker did not invent | | | | none of them were to approach the popularity of |
| the vampire, the novel contributed greatly to the | | | | Dracula. |
| popularity of them and is attributed as the single | | | | |