From novel to screen: Tracing the evolution of Bram Stoker’s Dracula on his birth anniversary

Irish novelist Bram Stokerrsquos creation Dracula remains one of the most terrifying literary figures In the 1897 Gothic novel protagonist Jonathan Harker describes what he sees ldquoThe whole man emerging from the windowhellip crawling down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss face down with his cloak spreading out around him like great wingshellip moving downwards with considerable speed just as a lizard moves along a wallrdquoBram StokerThe 1901 edition featured a fairly accurate Dracula illustration for the first time Since then there have been 700plus text adaptations Here are The Guidersquos top picksIllustrated cover of the graphic novel Pic CourtesyamazoninComics Dracula a Graphic Novel Retold by Michael Burgan and illustrated by Jose Ruiz this is a comicstyle version of the classic Through bold images and dialogues sharply borrowed from the original text Burgan makes the story accessible to those who prefer short form writing Burgan has also created a miniseries for younger kids aged eight12 years This includes What is the Story of Dracula with black and white images alongside the story to colourAvailable Leading bookstoresHutter finds out about Count Orlok in Nosferatu 1922Films Nosferatu A Symphony of Horror 1922 FW Murnaursquos film is among the earliest known adaptations of Stokerrsquos classic on screen Murnau made changes to the plot and characters but credited the novel as his primary inspiration Set in Wisborg the film follows Hutter his wife Ellen and Count Orlok Unlike the text Hutter finds a Book of Vampires at the inn before he visits the castle The book is later discovered by Ellen who reads that only ldquoa woman pure in heartrdquo could kill the vampire by offering herself to him While Ellen makes a sacrifice Orlok becomes sexually attracted to herLog on to Plex YouTubeWinona Ryder as Harkerrsquos wife Mina Murray in a 1992 adaptation Pic CourtesyYoutube Bram Stokerrsquos Dracula 1992 With a star cast featuring Gary Oldman as Count Dracula Keanu Reeves as Harker Winona Ryder as Mina and Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing Francis Ford Coppolarsquos film begins many years before Harkerrsquos visit to the Countrsquos castle It depicts Dracularsquos wife Elisabetarsquos death which leads to his transformation into a vampire He waits for her for centuries and when Harkerrsquos wife Mina appears before him resembling Elisabeta he believes shersquos returned Dracula embodies a wolflike wild figure and appears distinct from his description in the novel as well as any early depictionsLog on to NetflixTV shows Castlevania 2017 The Gothic horror tale has been adapted into multiple video games Castlevania was one such popular Japanese series which released its earliest version in 1986 on Nintendorsquos Famicom This animated film is based on the series and revolves around the adventures inside the castle It developed into a story about Trevor Belmont the last surviving member of a family of monsters Belmont takes up the challenge to save the nation of Wallachia from Dracula and his army summoned to end the populationLog on to NetflixA still from the animated series Castlevania Pic CourtesyNetflix Dracula 2020 BBC Onersquos threeepisode show directed by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss the creators of Sherlock is a modern retelling of the classic The show begins with Harker recalling what he witnessed years ago to the nuns nursing him Most of the show is in flashback when Harker recounts his encounter with Dracula and his stay at the ominous castle It is an unusual fascinating adaptation that unpacks Dracularsquos personality humanises him and inquires why he behaves the way he doesLog on to NetflixPodcast Dracula A Comedy of Terrors Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosenrsquos play is a humorous rewriting of the classic which satirises the Victorian gender ideals It maintains the premise but it is not meant to be a faithful adaptation This is a radio version of the play voiced by actors of repute John Stamos Annaleigh Ashford Alex Brightman Alan Tudyk among others Unlike the text which is written purely as a collection of diary notes letters and medical prescriptions this has an omniscient narrator who accentuates the moodLog on to broadwaypodcastnetworkcom