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Stoker's Dracula (Cliffs Notes)

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It is ironic that Cliffs Notes state emphatically that they are to be used as a study guide and not as a substitute for reading the book, when summarizing the plot of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" is what these Notes do best. The critical commentary barely analyzes the novel's technique and gives no criticism of its content. It would be more useful to someone who hadn't read "Dracula" than someone who has, but still does a disservice by not telling the reader what there is of substance in the novel or why this Victorian pot-boiler is so imitated and hotly debated more than a century after it was written.

The Cliffs Notes have eight sections: A short biography of author Bram Stoker, a plot summary, a list of characters, summaries and critical commentary by chapter, an essay on "German Expressionism and the American Horror Film", a selected filmography, a list of topics for discussion, and a bibliography. The bulk of the book are the chapter summaries, each of which is followed by commentary by Samuel Umland.

There are a few little errors here and there, such as the assertion in the General Plot Summary that Jonathan Harker can "barely stave off" the female vampires he encounters in Dracula's castle. In fact, he is nearly unconscious and makes no attempt to thwart them. The summary of chapters 2-4 states that everything in Dracula's castle is "old and musty". Old-fashioned, perhaps. But Dracula is an aristocrat, and his castle is very well-appointed. In the summary of chapters 26-27, the author claims that 6 people converge on the caravan of gypsies. Four people converge; the other two observe through field glasses from afar.

In the filmography, the editors have attempted to compile a list of important "Dracula" films that can easily be obtained by American audiences. They have omitted the Spanish version of 1931's "Dracula", which is superior to the English version of the film. The Spanish version is available on DVD and is an essential Dracula film, so don't miss it. They have rated John Badham's 1979 film poorly, but it is an important adaptation of the novel nevertheless. Werner Herzog's 1979 film is called "Nosferatu" in the filmography, which is easily confused with F.W. Murnau's 1922 film. The full English name of Herzog's film is "Nosferatu the Vampyre". Note that Francis Coppola's 1992 film "Bram Stoker's Dracula" is also a significant interpretation and essential viewing. It was made after these Cliffs Notes were compiled, so did not make the list.

While these Cliffs Notes excel at providing a reminder of the major plot points, they give next to no guidance as to the many contemporary discussions of "Dracula". The reader is therefore unprepared to say anything of substance about the book, and, even assuming he has read the novel, will not know what aspect of it preoccupies the current academic thinking. Although "Dracula" has been interpreted as representing just about every doctrine imaginable, the most common discussions these days are of the novel's psychosexual implications, the question of who is villain and who is victim, and the impotence vs helpfulness of science and technology in the face of ancient evils. There is also no mention of "Dracula"'s famously insufferable prose style. The novel is badly written -to the amusement of some academics and the consternation of others.

this book needs to focus more on Dracula, especially at the end when Dracula just up and gets killed