Join Bram Stoker's great grand-nephew for a literary fright night at Northumbria

Dacre Stoker, the best-selling co-author of Dracula the Un-Dead, the official Stoker family endorsed sequel to Dracula is set to appear at Northumbria University next week.

In his free public lecture, Stoker on Stoker, author and presenter Dacre will explore Dracula’s history alongside Bram Stoker’s life in Dublin and London. He will separate fact from popular fiction and reveal the truth about all things Stoker and Dracula, exploring the issues behind the mysteries that have baffled Dracula scholars and fans since the book’s publication in 1897.  

Dacre has become well known and a respected figure in the world of vampires and has consulted and appeared in film documentaries about vampires in literature and popular culture. He is the co-editor of The Lost Journal of Bram Stoker: The Dublin Years and recently sold the film rights for his next novel, a prequel to Dracula, to Paramount Studios.

He said: “My Stoker on Stoker presentation reveals a number of stories behind the writing of Dracula. I detail the events in Bram Stoker’s life that either affected his writing of Dracula, or were included in the novel. I am lucky to be able to show on my slides images of Bram’s notes, people and places included in his novel Dracula.”

Nearly 120 years after its publication, Bram Stoker’s Dracula is widely regarded as a classic and continues to thrill new generations of readers and critics. It is also a book, which continues to be studied by English Literature and Creative Writing students at universities around the world, including at Northumbria. Speaking about the novel’s enduring appeal, Dacre added: “Dracula is a complex novel, it can be read on many levels, if one decides to examine many of the details and issues touched upon in the novel, you can enjoy it and get more out of it by reading and re reading it numerous times.

“I believe that since the story is based on superstitions and folklore about vampire like creatures that were present in many cultures and to some extent continue today, the story has universal and lasting appeal. The vampire myth was not invented by my great grand uncle, he used existing horror that was already in people’s consciousness.”

Dr Claire Nally, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, said: “Humanities at Northumbria are really excited to welcome Dacre Stoker. Bram Stoker’s Dracula always proves to be fascinating to students, as well as relating to staff research interests in vampires, Goth culture, and all things dark. Dracula’s visibility has never really gone away since publication in 1897 - but this event is different, as we will glean some new insights from his nearest living relative.”

Dacre’s next book, a prequel to Dracula, is due out in autumn 2018. Stoker on Stoker will take place on Tuesday 7 November at 7.30pm in the Presentation Hall on the ground floor of the Design building at City Campus East, Northumbria University. The event is free to attend. To book a place, please click here or email nu.events@northumbria.ac.uk