World-renowned Sherlockian Leslie S. Klinger’s annotated volumes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s short stories and novels met with delight and enthusiasm from critics and readers alike upon publication.  The Complete Short Stories won an Edgar Award, all three volumes were nominated for MacCavity, Agatha, and Anthony awards, and The Novels received a Quill Award nomination.  The collection has been praised by critics as “marvelous” (San Francisco Chronicle), “beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable” (Washington Post Book World), and “a vast work of entertaining ingenuity and erudition” (Boston Globe).

Now, Les Klinger focuses his critical eye and keen wit on Bram Stoker’s classic novel, Dracula, in THE NEW ANNOTATED DRACULA, with Introduction by Neil Gaiman (W.W. Norton: October 2008, hardcover, $49.95). 

Dracula has gripped readers since its first publication in 1897.  While the book has been studied by scholars in virtually every academic discipline, none have accepted Bram Stoker’s declaration that the work was based on historical fact.  For the first time, Klinger examines all of the evidence, both internal and external, including contemporary travel books, scientific texts, Victorian encyclopedias, as well as Stoker’s notes for the narrative and the original manuscript itself (which is owned by a private, anonymous collector).

“I’m fascinated by the Victorian age, and Dracula is its other great iconic figure (Sherlock Holmes being the first)” says Klinger.  “There’s a lot of cross-over in fan literature, with Holmes and the vampire as twin poles—Holmes standing for reason and justice, Dracula for unreason and evil. I also saw an opportunity to bring a fresh new approach to Dracula, one that Sherlockians have applied for a century to the stories of Holmes.  I considered the story in light of historical and scientific evidence to determine its veracity.”

Klinger’s appendices survey Dracula on stage and screen; the vampire family tree, ranging from Romanian folklore to the denizens of the universes of Anne Rice and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and vampire literature, both academic and popular.  With over 1,500 footnotes and more than 200 illustrations (Victorian pictures, movie stills & posters, stage bills and contemporary photos), a complete chronology, an extensive bibliography, and a guide to Dracula societies, this classic work illuminates the timeless genius of the king vampire.

Purchase The New Annotated Dracula at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or at Indie Bound.

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