It is probably the most famous horror story in the world with a new exhibition to explore how Bram Stokers trips to the far north east of Scotland helped to inspire his Dracula masterpiece.
Here, Mike Shepherd, who helped research the show, looks at how this corner of Scotland proved to be the perfect fodder for Stokers Gothic creation.
At the end of July, London society either took off to the grouse moors of Scotland or to spa retreats on the continent. Bram Stoker, the business manager of the Lyceum theatre and better known today as the author of Dracula, did neither. Instead, he took a 13 hour train journey to Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire where he spent most of August writing books.
A new exhibition to be held in the village on Saturday explains how the Irish author came across Cruden Bay on a walking tour in 1893 and in his own words, fell in love with the place. He returned year after year until 1910, two years before his death.
READ MORE: Six seafaring myths and superstitions of Scotland
Much of Dracula was written in Cruden Bay. The plot and main characters had been in planning for three years before 1893 and the authors first visit. Yet, Bram Stoker would not start writing the novel until 1895 when the first three chapters were written in the village.
What took him so long? Its a good question as most of his other books were written in a fury of inspiration. The project had stalled for some reason and it looks as if something about Cruden Bay got him going again.
I suspect one explanation is that he discovered something rather curious when he talked to the locals in the village. Although they were devoutly Christian, many of their superstitions and traditions had survived from pagan times, albeit detached from any original spiritual beliefs.
READ MORE: Who are Scotlands most successful living authors?
A local minister, Reverend John Pratt wrote just over thirty years before the publication of Dracula in 1897 that pagan fire festivals were still being lit in Aberdeenshire and that they, present a singular and animated spectacle - from sixty to eighty being frequently seen from one point.
The unlikely coexistence of Christian and pagan beliefs was compared at the time to flowers and weeds springing up together in an unkempt garden
Bram Stoker believed that God and the universe were equivalent, a pantheism he shared with his spiritual guide, the American poet Walt Whitman. He would have been impressed by the survival of both Christian and pagan beliefs side by side in the Aberdeenshire community, because he accepted all religions from all times and throughout the world as valid and part of the greater whole. This led him to a curious thought. What if an ancient god, devil or spirit turned up in the modern age and employed the old magic to wield mayhem in the modern era? This was possible in the spiritual universe that framed Bram Stokers gothic novels; and would bring forth a 15th Century vampire from Transylvania in Dracula and the spirit of an ancient Egyptian mummy in The Jewel of Seven Stars. The latter novel has been the inspiration for all the Hollywood mummy films.
Aspects of Cruden Bay crept into Dracula. For instance, Bram Stoker was greatly impressed by the dramatic cliff top setting of nearby Slains Castle. He would use it as a setting for at least five novels, three of them in disguised form but still recognisable from the description. The floor plan of Slains Castle is used for Draculas castle in the novel.
Jonathan Harker visits the Transylvanian castle and is led by the count into a small octagonal room lit by a single lamp, and seemingly without a window of any sort. A small octagonal room is a prominent feature in the centre of Slains Castle and the main corridors of the castle lead from it. It still survives after the castle fell into ruin in 1925.
While writing Dracula, Bram Stoker would walk up and down the coastline thinking out the story in detail. Perhaps this was when he noticed something unusual. Cruden Bay resembled a mouth he would write. The beach was the soft palate while the rocky headlands at both ends resemble teeth, some even looking like fangs.
Two of his novels, The Watters Mou and The Mystery of the Sea, were set in the village with much of the dialogue in the local Buchan (Doric) dialect. This is surprising as its largely impenetrable to anyone from outside the area. Whats even more surprising is that Bram Stoker also accidentally included a Doric phrase while writing the dialogue for a Whitby fisherman in Dracula, I wouldnt fash masel the fisherman says, - I wouldnt trouble myself. This is possibly the only instance of an internationally famous novel containing dialogue in Doric!
Ive spent the last six months researching Bram Stokers life and times in Aberdeenshire for both the exhibition and a forthcoming book on the topic. Although Bram Stoker last visited Cruden Bay in 1910, amazingly some residual memories of the author still survive in the village. One woman told me that her parents looked after Bram Stokers dog on one holiday because the local hotel would not allow pets in the rooms. When the author returned to London, he sent them an enormous box of chocolates with blue lace lilies on the front.
Another woman I talked to is the great-grand niece of Bram Stokers landlady when he stayed in the village of Whinnyfold near Cruden Bay in the later years. She remembers her Aunty Isy from the 1940s.
Although Cruden Bay in Bram Stokers time, then called Port Erroll, was a small village with a population of 500, life never got dull all the time he was here.
The author of Dracula found much in Cruden Bay to excite his interest.
Bram Stokers Cruden Bay Port Erroll Village Hall, Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire. Saturday 17th June, 10-4, free entry.
Read the rest here:
How Scotland inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula - The Scotsman
- PANTHEISM: Nature, universe, science and religion [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Pantheism - New World Encyclopedia - Info:Main Page - New ... [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Is your spiritual home right here on Earth? | World Pantheism [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- The Higher Pantheism - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Does pantheism relate to free will? - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Pantheism Master (Original Mix) - Video [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Pantheism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Pantheism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2015]
- Never losing dignity [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- How to Pronounce Pantheism - Video [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- Pantheism explained - Video [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2015]
- Wk 40 Katey on Pantheism and Souls - Video [Last Updated On: March 31st, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 31st, 2015]
- Metaphysics of Pantheism - Famous Pantheist Quotes [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2015]
- What is pantheism? - Bible Questions Answered [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2015]
- The Presence of God The Holy Spirit and Pantheism [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2016]
- Roman Gods And Pantheism - AllAboutHistory.org [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2016]
- Pantheism - RationalWiki [Last Updated On: December 18th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 18th, 2016]
- Pantheism | Neo-Paganism.com [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2016]
- Monism - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: January 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 12th, 2017]
- Pantheism Beliefs Explained - About.com Religion ... [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2017]
- Our fight to the death with nature is not one we can win - The Age - The Age [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Pantheism - Norse Mythology for Smart People [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2017]
- How Alexis de Tocqueville can help us stay sane - The Washington ... - Washington Post [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Veljo Tormis obituary - The Guardian [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Educational Reformer Hirsch Promotes Knowledge Against Its ... - National Review [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- 'Evilution:' The Secret Luciferian, Spiritual Origin To One of The Biggest Hoaxes in History Evolution - The Christian Truther [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Poet Robinson Jeffers to be topic at OLLI meeting - Chico Enterprise-Record [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- Our Lady of Fatima and the Battle With Freemasonry, Part 1 - Church Militant [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- What Is Wrong With Yoga? - Catholic Church [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- 4 books tell stories of Ky. drug world - Glasgow Daily Times [Last Updated On: March 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 3rd, 2017]
- Hinduism vs Hindutva: The search for an ideology in times of cow ... - Hindustan Times [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2017]
- Demystifying the Beliefs of Pantheism - thoughtco.com [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2017]
- Adventists appeal court ruling on Kellogg Sabbath accommodation case - Adventist News Network [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2017]
- 'Sgt. Pepper's' Turns 50: The Newsweek Review of The Beatles' Masterpiece - Newsweek [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2017]
- Seven Things Evil Is Not: What the Death of My Son Taught Me - ChristianityToday.com [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2017]
- My Turn: Respecting Mother - Concord Monitor [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2017]
- Who were the authors of the so-called Gnostic gospels, and what did they believe? - Aleteia EN [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2017]
- This Former MTV Icon Found Inner Peace Through Islam - HuffPost [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2017]
- Views | Pantheism.com [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2017]
- New Names for Old Gods - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2017]
- The Universe Is the Mind of God - The Costa Rican Times [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- On religion: Being aware of our connectivity to God and each other - The Intelligencer [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- A Modern Day Inquisition: Rabbi Joseph Dweck - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2017]
- Hinman's ABEAN Argument Part 3: More Objections - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2017]
- 20 Options on God (Find Yours Here) - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2017]
- Nelsons Leads Tanglewood Resurrection - The Boston Musical ... - The Boston Musical Intelligencer [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2017]
- Hindu-Americans Don't Vote Republican - The American Conservative [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Through the Viewfinder: Pamela Ryder with Peter Markus - Brooklyn Rail [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2017]
- A Critical Look At A New Sefer: Alternative Medicine in Halachah - Yeshiva World News [Last Updated On: July 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 20th, 2017]
- Why Dina Nath Batra wants Tagore, Urdu, Mughals removed from school books - DailyO [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2017]
- 'Heretics!' Illustrates the Contentiousness Surrounding Philosophy - PopMatters [Last Updated On: August 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 1st, 2017]
- Is Your Christian Worldview Cohesive? - Cape May County Herald [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2017]
- Senryu pries open 'The Jaws of Life' to explore death on latest release - Maryville Daily Times [Last Updated On: August 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 3rd, 2017]
- Star Wars' religious imagery is more than just coincidence - Catholic Herald Online (blog) [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2017]
- This World as Philosophically Necessary - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2017]
- Staying power: a poet's place in God's agenda - National Catholic Reporter [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2017]
- Gratitude So Burdensome? - First Things [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2017]
- Unitarian Universalism and Pantheism World Pantheism [Last Updated On: August 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 13th, 2017]
- Pantheism - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2017]
- Pantheism - History - AllAboutHistory.org [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2017]
- Dennis Andrew from Poole says 'I am Druid' - Somerset Live [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2017]
- Spinozism - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2017]
- World Pantheist Movement - Official Site [Last Updated On: January 26th, 2018] [Originally Added On: January 26th, 2018]
- World Pantheism - The online community for scientific pantheists [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2018]
- Pantheism. I believe that the universe created itself ... [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2018]
- Lesson 10: Pantheism and New-Age Mysticism | Free Sunday ... [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2018]
- Naturalistic pantheism - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2018]
- Pantheism | Inters.org [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2018]
- Pantheism | Encyclopedia.com [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2018]
- Pantheism - New World Encyclopedia [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2018]
- AN INTRODUCTION TO PANTHEISM - Personal/Professional [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2018]
- About | Pantheism.com [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2018] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2018]
- What is pantheism? | CARM.org [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2018] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2018]
- Pantheism | Philosophy Talk [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2018]
- Pantheism - Pantheism and panentheism in ancient and ... [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2018]
- Against Pantheism Undivided Looking - Wall [Last Updated On: January 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 7th, 2019]
- Pantheism | Britannica.com [Last Updated On: April 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 16th, 2019]
- Lay Faithful to Gather in Rome to Pray for the Church on Eve of Amazon Synod - National Catholic Register [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2019]
- Cdl. Burke: Revolution Is the Goal - Church Militant [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2019]
- EXCLUSIVE: Catholic priest defends burning Pachamama effigy as within law of God - Lifesite [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2019]