Books of the Un-Dead (Imitators of Bram Stoker’s classic 'Dracula' have missed the point. Until now)

National Review ^ | 10/30/2009 | S.T. Karnick

[Maverick68]

Vlad the Impaler was an EVIL man who killed lots of muslims....broken clock?

[Alex Murphy]

From the start, Dracula establishes a strong contrast between the medieval-style religious faith of the Transylvanians and the more worldly outlook of the English. Little wonder, then, that the count chooses to travel to Britain, where people are reluctant to acknowledge anything beyond the most prosaically materialistic of concerns — and thus are more vulnerable to him.

Ping to read later

[C19fan]

The villan in this sequel Elizabeth Bathory is based on a real life 16th-17th century Hungarian countess. She probably holds the title for most profilic woman serial killer.

[SeekAndFind]

One of the earliest book covers of Bram Stoker's classic :

[SeekAndFind]

The villan in this sequel Elizabeth Bathory is based on a real life 16th-17th century Hungarian countess.

Well, I'm glad to know that there are writers out there trying to stay close to the original genre by Bram Stoker. Most of the vampires I see on film are being portrayed as either modern day studs or teenage glamour boys. I can't stand it !!

[SeekAndFind]

Vlad the Impaler was an EVIL man who killed lots of muslims

Well, it seems that the roles have been reversed in the 21st century. We have a disturbing number of EVIL muslims who kill a lot of non-muslims (including women, children and even handicapped). There is no Vlad the Impaler in existence today who will return the courtesy.

[GeronL]

interesting

[laotzu]

It took a Texan to save their asses last time.

[GeronL]

A long time ago, I used to buy National Review for articles like that.

[GeronL]

I think they are around they just have to be pushed a little harder.

[Perdogg]

ping

[SeekAndFind]

A long time ago, I used to buy National Review for articles like that.

They're still around. Just rarer.

[C19fan]

I have been watching this Japanese anime titled Hellsing. The main vampire named Alucard, reverse the name to see who he really is, is a complete bad *ss who has no qualms killing and inflicting havoc on his enemies. If he saw those wimpy vampires in popular culture today he would make say they are a disgrace to vampires and he would inflict a very painful death on them.

[ChessExpert]

I read Dracula several years ago and I either missed the religious messages, or took them as part of the background or setting. Maybe I should reread the book!

[BlueStateBlues]

The Devil you say!

[SeekAndFind]

If he saw those wimpy vampires in popular culture today he would make say they are a disgrace to vampires and he would inflict a very painful death on them.

Here's one disgrace to vampires:



But what can I say ? It was big hit ! (sigh)

[lawdave]

Dracula is one of my favorite novels. The author of the article misses or glosses over the overt Catholicism in the novel. Van Helsing makes liberal use of the Eucharist in warding off the 3 Women Vampires and armoring the vampire hunters against Dracula. I have always thought you could trace the secularization of America by tracing the change in the religious component of vampire movies.

Dracula(Lugosi) - crosses work

HAMMER FILMS - crosses still work

Fright Night - Crosses work if you believe

Vampires - The frickin Archbishop makes a deal to become a vampire.

Twilight - no religious compenent

[kickonly88]

‘interesting’

Very

[DannyTN]

Some disgrace vampires, some improve their image considerably