Dracula by Bram Stoker; Unabridged MP3 Audio Book; Narrator Robert Whitfield

Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award

The Dracula mythology has inspired a vast subculture, but the story has never been better told than by Bram Stoker. He succeeds entirely in his aim to terrify. His myth is powerful because it allows evil to remain mysterious, unconquerable by strength of mind or virtuous action. Van Helsing's high-thinking and scientific skill cannot resist the dreadful potency of the undead. The high virtue of Lucy can simply be drained away, as her blood is drained away, until she too joins the vampire brood. Only the old magic—a crucifix, garlic, a wooden stake—can provide effective weapons against the Count's appalling power.

“The world's best-known vampire story comes to life in this expert performance by Robert Whitfield. No music, no special audio tricks detract from the chilling, gruesome tale of the un-dead. Whitfield's subtle shading of voice gives complete personality and motivation to each of the eight protagonists….With the same understated clarity, he brings full voice to the voluptuous vampiresses' seduction of their victims and to the malevolent machinations of the Count. For a classic performance of a classic work, this production must not be missed.”—AudioFile

“Whitefield’s competence is apparent in the retelling of Dracula. He wisely eschews over-dramatization, despite the horror story’s emotional extremes, resulting in a performance that generates even more impact for this classic.”—Media

Bram Stoker was born November 8, 1847, in Dublin, Ireland. His father was a civil servant, and his mother was a charity worker and writer. Stoker studied math at Trinity College in Dublin and graduated in 1867, after which he became a civil servant. At this time, he also worked as a freelance journalist, a drama critic, and editor of the Evening Mail. In 1876, he met Sir Henry Irving, a famous actor. Stoker accepted a job as personal secretary to Irving and went to England in 1878. Before he left Ireland, he published his first book, The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland. While working for Irving he met an aspiring actress named Florence Balcombe. They married in 1878 and had one son, Noel, who was born in 1879. In England, Stoker also began writing a series of short stories and novels, the first of which was The Snake's Pass. Although best known for Dracula, Stoker wrote eighteen books before he died in 1912.