The New Annotated Dracula Review

I spotted The New Annotated Dracula in my local library and commenced drooling. A foreward by Neil Gaiman, author of Stardust? Annotation in the margins about the Victorian Era, feminist criticism, psychoanalytic commentary--all sorts of wonderful discussion about one of my favorite books, Bram Stoker's Dracula? I was immediately hooked; I'm currently teaching the novel to my juniors in British Literature, and I have been referring to The New Annotated Dracula as my magical tome of wonder. It features so much interesting information that I have learned so much about this story that I love to read and teach.

Dracula is a story that is familiar to a contemporary audience, and The New Annotated Dracula offers new perspectives about this well-known tale. Featuring notes from author Bram Stoker, comments from literary critics, and fascinating information about the Victorian period. I feel like the annotations are a treasure trove of knowledge for me to navigate! There are maps, dates, pictures, and facts about the setting and story that I've been able to use with my students, such as illustrations of the main character, Dracula, and maps of Victorian London. I really like the assortment of Dracula imagery scattered throughout the text--film stills, comics, and etchings adorn various pages. In the introduction, Gaiman comments, "Dracula is a book that cries out for annotation." I have to agree! This text is an amazing resource for anyone who appreciates the depth of this vampire tale.

Part II of the text, entitled "Considering the Count," features five critical essays--my favorite is "Sex, Lies, and Blood: Dracula in Academia." There are four appendices, one of which is "Dracula's Guest," which was the short story Stoker composed that later morphed into his novel. At over 600 pages, this is not a book to speed read! It is a gem that has enhanced my teaching and my love for Stoker's fiction.

The New Annotated Dracula will be a great addition to your horror fiction library. The hardcover book has a list price of $39.95; my husband purchased it for $28.76 because he is a member of Barnes and Noble. My Viewpoint? Skip the young adult vampire fiction and go directly to its predecessor: The New Annotated Dracula.