Bram Stoker

Irish author Abraham “Bram” Stoker was born in Clontarf, Ireland, on November 8, 1847. He studied history, literature, mathematics, and physics at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was named University Athlete, despite a recurring illness that confined him to his bed as a child. After graduating with honors in Mathematics, Stoker began working as a civil servant in Dublin Castle. During his eight years there, he published short stories, including “The Crystal Cup” and “The Chain of Destiny,” and worked as a critic for Dublin’s “Evening Mail” and as an editor of “The Irish Echo.” In 1878, Stoker moved to London with his wife after Sir Henry Irving offered him the position of business manager at his Lyceum Theatre. In London, Stoker published his first book, “Under the Sunset” (1882), a collection of fairy tales, and in 1890 he published his first novel, “The Snake’s Pass.” He began researching for “Dracula” the same year, and in 1897, it was published. The novel brought Stoker international acclaim and has since been adapted numerous times for the stage and the screen. Stoker continued to write until his death in 1912. His other works include “The Jewel of Seven Stars,” “Personal Reminiscences of Henry Irving,” and “The Lair of the White Worm.”