The Real Dracula: Historical Origins of Bram Stoker's Vampire

Vampires did not originate with the Twilight series. They did not begin with Bram Stoker's Dracula either, but it is—and will probably remain—the most iconic vampire book ever written. Ever since Dracula became a bestseller, its main character has been the subject of much speculation. Numerous articles and books have been dedicated to finding Dracula’s real-life prototype, and several historical figures—including Vlad the Impaler, Countess Elizabeth Bathory, and Jack the Ripper—have been proposed as the inspiration behind the most famous vampire in the world.

- Was there a real-life historical inspiration for Count Dracula?
- Were other characters in Dracula inspired by real people?
- Is there a scientific explanation for “vampirism”?
- Did Stoker believe in vampires? What sources did he study while working on his novel?
- Was Dracula a cautionary tale for Victorian society?

Drawing on historical accounts and recent scholarship, Evelyn Abernathy leads you through the REAL inspirations behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula in an attempt to establish myth vs. reality in the search for Dracula’s historical antecedent.