As someone interested in how popular stories are told and retold through culture, I appreciated reading this and seeing how the history of the manuscript and translations may have changed the Dracula that I know. In fact, the numerous introductions and prefaces to the text are a fascinating literary discussion about how this text was discovered, the role to which Stoker approved or was involved in the translation, and the liberties that the translator took in translating it. That's probably the best part of the whole book, learning how and where this version came from.
The story itself is decent but because the second half comes as an afterthought, it feels less exciting. I would have loved to see what the world of the first half of this translated text would have produced as a second half of the story if the same amount of detail and attention was given. Nov 18, Kevin L rated it really liked it. Part one of this interesting translation of Dracula was quite good. Part two is actually quite bad. This portion is rushed and passive and provides no engagement whatsoever. The departure from the epistolary format to simple narrative summaries falls completely flat.
Thankfully part two is very short which contributes to a very brusque feel. Still worth reading for the first part. Jul 20, Garrett rated it liked it. What a weird book. So, there are obviously multiple translations, into multiple languages of Bram Stoker's OG Vampire masterpiece, Dracula. Nosferatu me all you want, Stoker's widow sued for primacy. This volume, extensively annotated and researched, pulls together a version that's a sort of hybrid of Stoker's original and an Icelandic influenced one that may be the result of collaboration between Stoker and this new ish author, Asmundsson.
Some differences are notable and some are not; the ve What a weird book. Some differences are notable and some are not; the version of the story proper is somewhat unsatisfying and sandwiched between an exhaustive preface and a perfunctory epilogue. More fascinating than it is good, but still worth the ride. What a peculiar and wonderful book! Not technically amazing, the second half reads like they all just got a bit bored, but for the light it sheds on Dracula, it's well worth a read.
Sep 07, Marthe Bijman rated it liked it Recommends it for: In case you are wondering - is it real? Or more famously, the Vinland Map. Various scientists and historians have commented that the map cannot possibly be authentic due to the age of the paper, or the ink used, or the information in it, etc.
Conversely, others say it is absolutely the real thing and shows the movement of land masses and migrations of people in the s. The map, if genuine, would have shown that Norsemen were the first Europeans to reach the New World, landing in North America centuries before Christopher Columbus. If not, well, it is an interesting fake.
The diaries were purchased in for 9. The story behind the book So, back to Powers of Darkness.
He died in April The reception was generally positive but the book sank without fanfare. The manuscript subsequently had many different owners and in , it was bought at auction by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. It all rings true, backwards and forwards, cross-references, theories, proofs, writing style and all. The fact that this novel exists, and is in many respects very different from the original novel, is because firstly, Stoker himself had not over-emphasized the licentious aspects of his novel, leaving open the option of reinterpretation.
There are a whopping detailed footnotes. In terms of everything that is crucial, the work differs from the original.
There are obvious differences too - such as the names of the characters. Whatever the reader had visualized before starting this novel, ends up changed. This Dracula is animal-like scratching and licking , pretentious, lecherous, sniggering and plainly in it for the violence and the money, not the blood-sucking. But his English is nearly flawless. Lucia Westeros is no innocent little blossom. In this novel there is just one, but what a woman!
It smells bad, has tortuous tunnels and weird architecture, and is locked like a fortress. The location, high in the Carpathian Mountains, is as cold, isolated, sparsely populated and foggy as Iceland itself. And the people, from the cook to the villagers and coachmen, are tough old peasants who have somehow survived the Count and his minions, like Icelanders survived rule by Denmark.
Sorry, Denmark, for the allusion. This is not about a lifestyle of elegant dissipation - this is rough and ready animalistic passion, Icelandic style, at the sunset of the 19th century. On the whole, it is fun to read - it really gallops along and, just like a good horror story, made me want to keep the lights on. Jul 12, Stephany rated it really liked it.
Jun 27, Katherine rated it really liked it Shelves: Add to Add to Add to. Powers of Darkness presents one of those rare cases in which the story behind the book is just as, if not more, compelling than the narrative recounted in its pages. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study. The story itself is decent but because the second half comes as an afterthought, it feels less exciting. Preview — Powers of Darkness by Bram Stoker. In the course of Irving's tours, Stoker got the chance to travel around the world.
Logras sentir la angustia, el encierro y la desesperanza que vive nuestro protagonista. Es absorbente y esta muy bien logrado. De la segunda mitad hacia arriba fue mi momento de lectura menos favorito. Un giro que me gusto bastante. Esta lleno de toques goticos y oscuros. Dec 19, A. Preston rated it really liked it. This book proved a gem of a find and fascinating reading, both for its contents and its history. Powers of Darkness was written in by writer Valdimar Asmundsson as a translation of Dracula into his native Icelandic.
The result is a highly original plot and characters that can be read in their own right. The most fascinating of th This book proved a gem of a find and fascinating reading, both for its contents and its history.
The most fascinating of these changes to me was the scope of the story, which is transformed from a simple Gothic horror tale into something resembling a conspiracy thriller. The contents of this vision surprisingly anticipate real-world totalitarianism, which is portrayed poetic license notwithstanding in a way much in line with both conservative and libertarian analysis.
These two passages stand out as primary examples: Our cause acquires new followers every day. We have outgrown these slave morals and will soon reach the point where we can preach the message of freedom. The world must bow before the strong ones. In some aspects he seems to be very liberal, like a downright revolutionary man - but in other points his views are so very outdated that he may well be far more conservative than most other reactionary people. He spends much time thinking about socialists and anarchists, and he often expresses his peculiar views on both of these political movements.
He rubbed his palms together and Fire seemed to burn from his eyes. But only a very few understand the wisdom that lies in this truth. Oh, you Englishmen are so proud of your political freedom and progress - as you call it - but there are only two or three men among you who fully understand what progress is, and that this freedom for the masses is its worst enemy! As someone of broadly conservative, classically liberal views, I found this element greatly compelling. The POV is that of an omniscient narrator and the chapters have minimal dialogue, reading almost more like summaries than pieces of a fully-written story.
Perhaps Asmundsson suddenly tired of the project and was anxious to finish it as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, despite these shortcomings, Powers of Darkness is a worthwhile addition to the reading lists of anyone who enjoys the classic Dracula story. Mar 05, Kevin rated it really liked it. I first learned of this alternate version of Dracula a few weeks ago thanks to this article by the translator and annotator of the work, Hans Corneel de Roos. If you don't know what Powers of Darkness is about, go read that and then hop back here.
I mean I'm no Dracula scholor or Stoker nut, I have only read it maybe three times. But still, what an interesting opportunity and insight into Stoker's process as well as the difference in cultural norms in I first learned of this alternate version of Dracula a few weeks ago thanks to this article by the translator and annotator of the work, Hans Corneel de Roos. But still, what an interesting opportunity and insight into Stoker's process as well as the difference in cultural norms in Iceland versus Great Britain at the time.
I came close to one-click ordering from Amazon but at the last second thought, "Well, surely my library doesn't have a copy of this yet but let's give them a chance" and indeed they did. When I picked up my copy I was surprised by the physical dimensions of the book. It felt like I'd just found a treasure map.
The notes alone have been worth it.
The amateur linguistics nerd in me loves reading things like: See Boyer, , p. The main reason I've gone with four stars instead of five here is that the notes can't make up for the story. It's clear to me and fortunately it would appear the actual Dracula scholars of the world share my opinion that this is or is based off of a preliminary draft.
Compared to the version we all know the section with Harker in the castle is drawn out and far more detailed, and I thought this section was absolutely fascinating. The original Dracula has never left me wanting to jet off to Romania and start exploring crumbling old castles, but this one did. I don't know, like your friend trying to tell you the rest of the ending in as much detail as they can, but maybe they weren't paying attention and they certainly can't recite it all word-for-word and it just feels hollow and insignificant. If I ever do read this again I'll probably stop as soon as the castle section is over.
I won't go into further detail about the differences between the two, other than to say that in this book Dracula never even bites anyone! Oct 11, Dan Choquette rated it really liked it. Over the years of my vampire fandom, I thought I had read most of the classic vampire novels and stories out there. But I never thought I'd be able to read it so I shuffled it to the back of my memory banks and went on with my life. But then this comes along, an english translation of this supposedly lost version of Dracula. The opening essays on the history of this book and ho Over the years of my vampire fandom, I thought I had read most of the classic vampire novels and stories out there.
The opening essays on the history of this book and how it might have come about are actually the most interesting part of the book. To all appearances, this appears to be based on an earlier draft of Stoker's seminal novel, folding in a few new characters and much more detail. I found these essays to be facinating and engrossing, especially the maps of the interior of Dracula's Castle. Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu Varney the Vampire by James Malcolm Rymer Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova The Hunger by Whitley Strieber Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz Blood Ties series by Tanya Huff Fledgling by Octavia Butler Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher Night World series by L.
House of Night series by P. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness Twilight by Stephenie Meyer The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu In the midst of Victorian repression and moral hysteria came this taboo-breaking novel about a lesbian vampire named Carmilla. Vampire Fiction A few years ago, vampires were everywhere. Dracula's Powers One of Dracula's most notable supernatural powers is that he can control animals. Try it risk-free No obligation, cancel anytime.
Want to learn more? Select a subject to preview related courses: Dracula's Kryptonite In spite of his great supernatural powers, Dracula is still at the mercy of certain things.
Lesson Summary In this lesson, we defined supernatural as an ability that transcends the natural world, and we looked at the history of vampire fiction, which started in the early nineteenth century. Register to view this lesson Are you a student or a teacher? I am a student I am a teacher. Unlock Your Education See for yourself why 30 million people use Study. Become a Member Already a member? What teachers are saying about Study.
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