@Kardamom If I’m not mistaken several writers like Stephen King benefited by paying tribute to Stoker’s narrative approach in this novel.
He was clueless on how successful and effective his “formula” of building suspense and raising tension would inspire future writers and entertain the global masses decades upon decades after he was gone.
Only in the past several years that I understood the connection between King’s Stand By Me, Salem’s Lot, It, that other movie of his, Dreamcatcher(?) and in
one of his recent books lately about an evil entity which can copy other people….and Stoker’s Dracula. All these films carry a similar theme….strangers and/or friends bonding together to fight against a common enemy, a great evil that can only be defeated by a strong alliance of good people. How many times have I seen that?
The few vampire novels I read written before Dracula never had the same interesting and engaging quality as the Dracula characters’ possessed. Individually and as character ensemble. As ensemble they shine the brightest and the excitement they generate is awesome.
I always tell my friends Dracula was the very first “Mission Impossible” story ever told. Just read how Stoker meticulously set it all up, beginning with seemingly benign daily goings-on in the lives of normal people living normal lives…interwoven with one of the main characters’ equally seemingly benign business trip abroad.
He wove all these anecdotal fragments masterfully. Until eventually the bright kaleidoscope of colors turned dark and more dreadful
with each turn.
It’s a successful formula that bears repeating. Just love it.