Bram Stoker

Bram Stoker was an Irish writer who became famous for his Gothic horror novel Dracula, published in 1897. He was born in Clontarf, Dublin, and suffered from a mysterious illness that left him bedridden until he was seven years old. He recovered and went on to excel as an athlete and scholar at Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied mathematics and became involved in various literary and debating societies. He worked as a civil servant and a theatre critic before becoming the personal assistant and manager of the renowned actor Sir Henry Irving, whom he admired greatly. He travelled extensively with Irving and wrote many letters and articles for him. He also wrote several novels and short stories, mostly in the horror and romance genres, but none of them achieved the fame and popularity of Dracula, which was inspired by his visits to Whitby and Cruden Bay, as well as his research on folklore and legends. Dracula is considered one of the most influential and iconic works of English literature, and has been adapted into countless films, plays, and other media. Stoker died in London in 1912, after suffering from locomotor ataxia, a degenerative disease of the nervous system. He was cremated and his ashes were placed in a display urn at Golders Green Crematorium. He is remembered as one of the masters of the Gothic genre and a pioneer of modern horror fiction.