In Who is Dracula’s Father? And Other Puzzles in Bram Stoker’s Gothic Masterpiece, John Sutherland explores the vampire classic with humour and insight, writes KATHERINE SANKEY
Who is Dracula’s Father? And Other Puzzles in Bram Stoker’s Gothic Masterpiece is one in a series of books by author John Sutherland which investigates the most puzzling elements in famous novels.
While the previous entries in the series drew on a variety of works, from Wuthering Heights to Great Expectations, here Sutherland commits an entire book to Stoker’s Dracula.
It is a well laid out book too. There is a useful contents page that allows the reader to skip to the question that might interest them the most. Interspersed between these chapters, and highlighted in bold lettering, are a few relevant summaries.
These include a short biography of Stoker, a brief introduction to Sheridan La Fanu’s Carmilla and a chronological rundown of Dracula. Finally there is the added bonus of a rather tongue in cheek précis of the novel called ‘Dracula Digested’ by John Crace.
Altogether the book is stuffed full of interesting facts about Dracula, its author, and its history.
Sutherland even uses footnotes to slip in extra bits information, along with references to his sources.
For example, he mentions that the scientists Seward talks about in his diary, John Burdon-Sanderson and David Ferrier, were real people.
Nevertheless, Sutherland keeps the book feeling light and easy to read. He writes in a humorous, friendly manner that does not patronise his audience or dumb down the material. He also appears to be writing for a general audience, including those unfamiliar with the book.
I realised this after reading the chapter called ‘Who washes Dracula’s Pinafore?’ The answer to this question, for those who have read the book before, is probably quite obvious. Since Dracula has no servants, and is caught laying the table and making Harker’s bed, he must be doing all the housework himself.
However, as redundant as this line of enquiry seemed to me at first, in hindsight it is a subject worth highlighting. The answer is so entertaining, how could it be left out? As Sutherland himself points out, there’s something rather incongruous – and I’d add amusingly ridiculous – about Dracula doing the dusting or washing his socks.
This is one of the strengths of Sutherland’s book. It introduces people to some of the little absurdities and quirks of the novel that don’t always make it into adaptations. Even if you have read the book, Sutherland picks out phrases or scenes which, taken out of context, make you realise how strange Dracula can be.
For example, I hadn’t remembered that Van Helsing talks about a giant spider living in a church, but apparently he did! Moreover, it is possible Stoker based the tall tale on real reports from Europe, which is bizarrely delightful.
Sadly, considering how many fascinating quotes and references litter the book, I was disappointed to find no bibliography at the end. While I realise that Who is Dracula’s Father? is aimed at a general audience rather than an academic one, I still feel this would have been helpful. Flicking back through footnotes is not quite as convenient as a list of titles and websites.
Nevertheless, this is a rather minor complaint. Altogether, I found this book highly enjoyable. Sutherland achieves an excellent balance between being entertaining and educational, discussing his subject with a sense of playfulness and fun. You feel like this is one of his favourite topics, and that makes the book all the more engaging.
Whether you’re a casual horror fan, a Dracula devotee or a student who’s sick of reading papers, Who is Dracula’s Father? And Other Puzzles in Bram Stoker’s Gothic Masterpiece is the perfect armchair read.
