Bram Stoker's Journal Discovered

[mklhawley]

Greetings all,

The following cnn article talks about Bram Stoker's personal journal recently being discovered by a family member, which will be published next spring.

(http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/29/world/...tml?hpt=hp_bn4 )

Not only was Stoker the author of Dracula, he was the business manager of the Lyceum Theatre, which was playing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde during the Whitechapel murders. It would be very interesting to see if he commented on the murders. It's probably wishful thinking though.

Sincerely,

Mike

[ChrisGeorge]

Greetings all,

The following cnn article talks about Bram Stoker's personal journal recently being discovered by a family member, which will be published next spring.

(http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/29/world/...tml?hpt=hp_bn4 )

Not only was Stoker the author of Dracula, he was the business manager of the Lyceum Theatre, which was playing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde during the Whitechapel murders. It would be very interesting to see if he commented on the murders. It's probably wishful thinking though.

Sincerely,

Mike

Hi Mike

From the CNN article it looks as if this is a journal from 1881 rather than from later even though it seems to have some information related to the origins of the character of Renfield in Dracula. Indeed the article ends with Dacre Stoker, described as "a professor in South Carolina who has written a book about Bram Stoker", expressing hopes that such a later journal will turn up.

Chris

[Errata]

Bram Stoker was named after his dead older brother whose grave the family visited every week. A grave with his name on it. No wonder he wrote Dracula.

[mklhawley]

Hi Mike

From the CNN article it looks as if this is a journal from 1881 rather than from later even though it seems to have some information related to the origins of the character of Renfield in Dracula. Indeed the article ends with Dacre Stoker, described as "a professor in South Carolina who has written a book about Bram Stoker", expressing hopes that such a later journal will turn up.

Chris

Hi Chris,

That certainly is one way of interpreting the article's author and probably the correct one. It could also mean that the 1881 entry's last comment was this, and there's additional entries later based upon years. If that's the case, then my wishful thinking just might be satisfied...of course, that's wishful thinking.

Interesting info Errata. I've heard of this way of naming before.

Mike

[Scorpio]

Bram Stoker was named after his dead older brother whose grave the family visited every week. A grave with his name on it. No wonder he wrote Dracula.

Dont we all have a grave with our name on it?.

[ChrisGeorge]

Dont we all have a grave with our name on it?.

That's a grave remark to make.

[Dave O]

1881 was a bad year for Stoker to have left it because it was the very next year that he jumped into the Thames trying to save a suicide, testified at one of Dr. Diplock's inquests, and then received a medal from the Royal Humane Society.

Dave

[mklhawley]

1881 was a bad year for Stoker to have left it because it was the very next year that he jumped into the Thames trying to save a suicide, testified at one of Dr. Diplock's inquests, and then received a medal from the Royal Humane Society.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Yes indeed. I would have also been intrigued by what he had to say about his trips to the US in the 1880s with Irving. Here's an example from the New York Tribune:


New York Tribune, June 8, 1883, page 5.
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES.
Mr. Bram Stoker will accompany Henry Irving on his tour in America.


Sincerely,
Mike

[ChrisGeorge]

Bram Stoker and Henry Irving as described in the The Evening World, New York City, February 22, 1883:




Irving and Ellen Terry were at the time appearing with the Lyceum Company in "Olivia" and "The Lyons Mail" at the Star Theatre, New York City.

Chris

[ChrisGeorge]

Sorry my last post should have read that the article on Bram Stoker and Henry Irving was in The Evening World, New York City, February 22, 1888 not 1883.

[mklhawley]

Sorry my last post should have read that the article on Bram Stoker and Henry Irving was in The Evening World, New York City, February 22, 1888 not 1883.

That's even more interesting Chris. In the beginning of 1888, they were in NYC at NYC's Lyceum and then at the end of 1888 (during the murders) they were at London's Lyceum (showing Jekyll and Hyde).

Mike

[ChrisGeorge]

That's even more interesting Chris. In the beginning of 1888, they were in NYC at NYC's Lyceum and then at the end of 1888 (during the murders) they were at London's Lyceum (showing Jekyll and Hyde).

Mike

Rather, Henry Irving's Lyceum Company was appearing at the Star Theatre in NYC at the beginning of 1888.

C

[mklhawley]

Rather, Henry Irving's Lyceum Company was appearing at the Star Theatre in NYC at the beginning of 1888.

C

Coincidentally, that same Ellen Terry played Lady MacBeth with Henry Irving at London's Lyceum Theatre in December 1888 (after Jekyll and Hyde). The Royalty was not too fond of him putting on that play.

Mike