The late nineteenth century novel, Dracula, was written by which English author?

Abraham "Bram" Stoker, an Irish author who spent much of his professional life in London, is the mind behind the legendary vampire. While working as the business manager for the acclaimed actor Sir Henry Irving, Stoker penned his masterpiece, which was published in 1897. The novel, told through a series of letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles, slowly builds a terrifying portrait of the ancient count's arrival in England and the small group of heroes who band together to stop him.

Stoker's creation was not born from a single idea but from years of research into Eastern European folklore and history. While he famously borrowed the name from the historical figure Vlad the Impaler, the character himself was a composite of various myths and legends. Stoker meticulously researched Transylvanian customs and landscapes from the confines of British libraries, weaving a tale that felt both fantastical and chillingly plausible to his Victorian audience.

Although the novel is a cornerstone of Gothic literature, its placement in the movies category is fitting, as film adaptations cemented the character's iconic status. The first significant, though unauthorized, version was the 1922 silent film *Nosferatu*. However, it was Universal Pictures' 1931 film starring Bela Lugosi that truly defined Dracula for the masses, creating the suave, caped aristocrat that has haunted the silver screen ever since and made Stoker's creation one of cinema's most enduring villains.