Carol A. Senf traces the vampire's evolution from folklore to twentieth-century popular culture and explains why this creature became such an important metaphor in Victorian England. This bloodsucker who had stalked the folklore of almost every culture became the property of serious artists and thinkers in Victorian England, including Charlotte and Emily Bronte, George Eliot, Charles Dickens, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Engels. People who did not believe in the existence of vampires nonetheless saw numerous metaphoric possibilities in a creature from the past that exerted pressure on the present and was often threatening because of its sexuality.

This volume collects some of the most significant critical responses to the works of Bram Stoker, a writer best known in our time as the author of Dracula. But Stoker wrote other works as well, and he responded to many of the issues that concerned Victorian England and which continue to concern the present-day reader. The introduction to the volume places Stoker in the larger context of the literature of his time and discusses his variety of works. Each section that follows is devoted to one of Stoker's works. Within each section are representative samples of criticism, ranging from the Victorian era to the present day. A selected bibliography concludes the volume. Through this book, Stoker emerges not only as a significant writer of horror fiction, but also as a writer concerned with the role of women in society, the social impact of science and technology, and the impact of racial and ethnic issues.

Best known today as the author of "Dracula, " Bram Stoker also wrote several other works, including "The Jewel of Seven Stars, Lady Athlyne, " and "The Lair of the White Worm." In his exploration of supernatural subjects, such as vampirism, he is clearly a Gothic writer. The fantastic elements of his novels seem very much at odds with the world of science. Stoker, nonetheless, draws upon a large body of scientific theory and technological innovation throughout his writings. This book studies his blending of Gothic subjects with emerging discoveries in science and technology.

The volume begins with an overview of Stoker's familiarity with scientific and technical developments. It then examines the role of science and technology in his various works, which demonstrate his familiarity with civil engineering, anthropology, physics, chemistry, and archaeology. While many of his writings seem to offer a rather uncritical celebration of science and its applications, some works, such as "The Jewel of Seven Stars, " reveal what happens when science oversteps its bounds. Stoker emerges as an early writer of science fiction whose work thoughtfully considers the place of science in society.

"Can you crack the code and solve the Mystery of the Sea?"

Archie Hunter travels to Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, to enjoy a little rest and relaxation in the small seaside village. But his holiday takes an unexpected turn when he begins to see spirits of the dead and an old woman named Gormala tells him he possesses the "Second Sight." According to Gormala, both he and she are Seers, and she proposes an alliance to solve the centuries-old "Mystery of the Sea."

But the sea holds more mysteries than one. Archie discovers a chest full of old documents he believes contain a coded message revealing the location of a lost treasure of the Spanish Armada. And then there is Marjory, the beautiful American girl Archie saves from drowning. Who is she, and why is she being pursued by a vicious gang of criminals and the American Secret Service?

Featuring a dizzying plot packed with adventure, romance, and the supernatural, "The Mystery of the Sea" (1902) is one of Bram Stoker's finest novels. This edition, the first published in the United States in more than a century, features the unabridged text of the first edition as well as an introduction and notes by Carol A. Senf, one of the world's foremost Stoker scholars.

Series Editor: Robert Lecker, McGill University

Written in an easy-to-read, accessible style by teachers with years of classroom experience, "Masterwork Studies" are guides to the literary works most frequently studied in high school. Presenting ideas that spark imaginations, these books help students to gain background knowledge on great literature useful for papers and exams. The goal of each study is to encourage creative thinking by presenting engaging information about each work and its author. This approach allows students to arrive at sound analyses of their own, based on in-depth studies of popular literature. Each volume: Illuminates themes and concepts of a classic text Uses clear, conversational language Is an accessible, manageable length from 140 to 170 pages Includes a chronology of the author's life and era Provides an overview of the historical context Offers a summary of its critical reception Lists primary and secondary sources and index