The original preface, only published in the Icelandic version, included this statement from Bram Stoker:
“I am quite convinced that there is no doubt whatever that the events here described really took place, however unbelievable and incomprehensible they might appear at first sight. And I am further convinced that they must always remain to some extent incomprehensible“
“All the people who have willingly — or unwillingly — played a part in this remarkable story are known generally and well respected. Both Jonathan Harker and his wife (who is a woman of character) and Dr. Seward are my friends and have been so for many years, and I have never doubted that they were telling the truth…“
Due to the recent murders at Whitechapel in London that had taken place when the book was first submitted, the books editor decided it would not be of interest to publish the story as true to prevent the spread of mass hysteria. When the novel was first released on May 26, 1897, the first 101 pages of the story had been cut, numerous alterations had been made, and the epilogue had been shortened, changing Dracula’s ultimate fate.
In the 1980s, the original Dracula manuscript was discovered in a barn in rural Pennsylvania. Nobody knows how it made its way across the Atlantic. That manuscript begins on page 102. Jonathan Harker’s journey on a train, once thought to be the beginning of the story, was actually right in the middle.
The majority of this content comes from an article in Time magazine- you can read more about it here- https://time.com/5411826/bram-stoker-dracula-history/
This was a very interesting post but it does make you think. Just the thought that this could be nonfiction doesn’t really surprise me. Knowing what we have accomplished threw out history and the advances we have made makes you wonder what kind of people are among us. I can not even begin to imagine. Even Frankenstein could be possible. I know back when the book was made maybe not but now with the technology, anything is possible.
Wow, I really like this. It is a piece than no one else has included in their commonplacing. It’s completely different than what other people have brought but I like that. It shows an odd perspective and now I want to know what the first half of the story would have been. Also how did these alterations effect the success of the novel when it was first published and did these numerous murders ever get solved? Is it in reference to Jack the Ripper?
This is amazing! I love how you focused on the book and how it was edited at the time. Many other commonplace books mention Jack the Ripper being an influence to Stoker (since they happened around the time of the book). Do you think these murders were also caused by Jack the Ripper, which is why the first 101 pages would cause such a mass hysteria?
Hi Calista!
Wow super interesting CPB entry and I thought it was interesting how it makes you think about how many of the gothic novels we have read maybe could have been influenced by true events. Or are the authors just very vivid with their imagination? I guess it’s just something we might never know. The piece about the pages being cut out is super fascinating and it also makes you think of what could possibly be in the beginning.