This engrossing book tells the story of the Florescu family, from its feudal blood ties, to the notorious 15th century figure Vlad Tepes (Count Dracula), right up to present day, touching on such diverse personalities as the Kennedys, Bill Clinton, and Michael Jackson. In the tradition of Alex Haley’s Roots, Dracula’s Bloodline relates a multi-generational saga through the prism of one family’s narrative, from medieval Eastern Europe to the post-Communist era. The book provides an inside look at Romania’s bloody and turbulent history—a mostly untold narrative that embraces the cruel Ottoman invasions, vying boyars seeking to change the political order at home, and the toppling of the Ceausescu regime. The story of each century is told through the eyes of one Florescu (or more) who had a unique perch from which to view his or her contemporary society. Florescu and Cazacu drew on research that had mostly been kept in family hands. To track the Florescu footprint down through the centuries since the 1400s, they used many sources: the Brasov archives in Transylvania, select letters, unpublished diaries, and extensive family documents that have been scattered from Europe to the United States. This fully indexed book offers many photographs from family archives, as well as a glossary of terms and titles, and a full genealogy showing the Florescu’s family links to Vlad Tepes.
Dracula's Bedlam is the second novel in the StokerVerse series, conceptualised and brought to life by writers Chris McAuley and Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker. Guest writer John Peel also contributes to this excellent addition to the series. It is a mixed media presentation with both story content and graphic novel elements from Frederick B. Roseman, along with an introduction from author of the Horror series Deadknobs and Doomsticks and much-loved UK personality Joe Pasquale. Is there a place more enthralling than that of the Asylum? The insane lurk in the shadows with gibbering mouths and twisted minds… Dr. Seward's asylum is particularly interesting; a serial killer has his mind peeled back, a mysterious nurse walks the halls with a sweet smile and devious mind… and, of course, there's the enigmatic Mr. Renfield… Set between the cracks of the original Dracula novel, the StokerVerse series hopes to shed a little light into the dark areas which were not wholly explored by author Bram Stoker. Familiar figures from Dracula and original characters created specifically for the StokerVerse appear in these dark and twisted tales. Dracula's Bedlam is the perfect read for a dark Halloween night… if you dare!
It has been some years since Jonathan and Mina Harker survived their ordeal in Transylvania and, vanquishing Count Dracula, returned to England to try and live ordinary lives. But shadows linger long and, the older their son Quincey gets, the deeper the shadows at the heart of the Harker family. Whilst, on the Continent, the vestiges of something forgotten long is finally beginning to stir.
Hammer Horror's "Dracula" was released in 1958 to a mixture of shock, outrage and praise. Yet this version of the Dracula tale, directed by Terence Fisher, was a milestone both for British cinema and for the horror genre. It made an international star of Christopher Lee and confirmed Hammer Films as one of the world's leading purveyors of cinematic terror. Peter Hutchings reveals how Hammer's newly eroticized version of "Dracula" differs from its previous incarnations. He explores the film's symbolism and narrative structure, as well as its potent sexuality and controversial take on gender. Aimed at students of film and fans of the horror genre, this lively guide reveals the legacy which Hammer's "Dracula" has left to cinema.
Brian Frost chronicles the history of the vampire in myth and literature, providing a sumptuous repast for all devotees of the bizarre. In a wide-ranging survey, including plot summaries of hundreds of novels and short stories, the reader meets an amazing assortment of vampires from the pages of weird fiction, ranging from the 10,000-year-old femme fatale in Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Conqueror to the malevolent fetus in Eddy C. Bertin’s “Something Small, Something Hungry.” Nostalgia buffs will enjoy a discussion of the vampire yarns in the pulp magazines of the interwar years, while fans of contemporary vampire fiction will also be sated.
"Kim Newman's Anno Dracula is back in print, and we must celebrate. It was the first mash-up of literature, history and vampires, and now, in a world in which vampires are everywhere, it's still the best, and its bite is just as sharp. Compulsory reading, commentary, and mindgame: glorious." - Neil Gaiman "Politics, horror, and romance are woven together in this brilliantly imagined and realized novel. Newman's prose is a delight, his attention to detail is spellbinding." - Time Out “Stephen King assumes we hate vampires; Anne Rice makes it safe to love them, because they hate themselves. Kim Newman suspects that most of us live with them… Anno Dracula is the definitive account of that post-modern species, the self-obsessed undead.” - New York Times “Anno Dracula will leave you breathless... one of the most creative novels of the year.” - Seattle Times “Powerful... compelling entertainment... a fiendishly clever banquet of dark treats.” - San Francisco Chronicle 'A ripping yarn, an adventure romp of the best blood, and a satisfying… read' - Washington Post Book World "The most comprehensive, brilliant, dazzlingly audacious vampire novel to date. 'Ultimate' seems an apt description... Anno Dracula is at once playful, horrific, intelligent, and revelatory." - Locus "A marvelous marriage of political satire, melodramatic intrigue, gothic horror, and alternative history. Not to be missed." - The Independent "Once you start reading this Victorian-era thriller, you will not be satiated until you reach the end." - Ain't It Cool "Anno Dracula is the smart, hip Year Zero of the vampire genre's ongoing revolution." - Paul McAuley "Kim Newman brings Dracula back home in the granddaddy of all vampire adventures. Anno Dracula couldn't be more fun if Bram Stoker had scripted it for Hammer. It's a beautifully constructed Gothic epic that knocks almost every other vampire novel out for the count." - Christopher Fowler "The most interesting take on the Dracula story... to date. Recommending this one to all those that love Dracula and historical fiction!" - RexRobotReviews -- It is 1888 and Queen Victoria has remarried, taking as her new consort Vlad Tepes, the Wallachian Prince infamously known as Count Dracula. Peppered with familiar characters from Victorian history and fiction, the novel follows vampire Geneviève Dieudonné and Charles Beauregard of the Diogenes Club as they strive to solve the mystery of the Ripper murders. Anno Dracula is a rich and panoramic tale, combining horror, politics, mystery and romance to create a unique and compelling alternate history. Acclaimed novelist Kim Newman explores the darkest depths of a reinvented Victorian London. This brand-new edition of the bestselling novel contains unique bonus material, including a new afterword from Kim Newman, annotations, articles and alternate endings to the original novel.