Bram Stoker cemented his literary legacy with his 19th-century Gothic novel Dracula, becoming one of the most revered figures in horror and Gothic fiction. Although Dracula is Stoker’s magnum opus, he has written several other stories that have defined the genres of horror fiction, Gothic romances, and melodrama.
Like any legacy, Stoker’s reputation came to be from a combination of successes and failures. Although he received acclaim for his horror novel The Lady in the Shroud and his romance Miss Betty, critics also cite Stoker as writing “one of the worst stories ever written,” which would be The Lair of the White Worm, another horror novel — which, interestingly, remains among his most popular novels.
To pay tribute to Stoker’s iconic literary career, we’ve compiled a list of some of Stoker’s most popular works. This list shows Stoker’s range, style, and ability to fail as often as he succeeded.
The Primrose Path
Carpenter Jerry O’Sullivan moves to London in search of a better job. When he arrives with his wife, Jerry gets hired as the head carpenter of a theatre in London. But a series of misfortunes sends him into a downward spiral where he eventually gives into the temptation of alcohol. His mind worsens as he suspects his wife of infidelity, an accusation that results in their gruesome deaths.
The Snake’s Pass
A storm forces young Englishman Arthur Severn to stay at a mysterious village for shelter. In this village, he learns the legend of “The Snake’s Pass,” which tells of St. Patrick and his battle with the King of the Snakes. Another legend also lurks, a demonic money-lender called Black Murdock who searches for the lost treasure of the King. Arthur and his friend Dick brave the sinister workings of Murdock to claim the treasures for themselves, but their journey may just cost them their lives.
The Lady of the Shroud
To inherit his uncle’s wealthy estate, Rupert Saint Leger must spend one year in his uncle’s castle in the Land of the Blue Mountains. One night, Rupert receives a shocking visit from a pale woman in a white shroud, Teuta who lives in the crypt of the local church. He offers her shelter and she quickly flees the next morning, although she visits him several times after. Despite believing she is a vampire, Rupert falls in love with her and asks for her hand in marriage. But their happy ending is disrupted by a Turkish invasion, a kidnapping, and the rumor of Teuta’s death, all of which Rupert must overcome to bring his bride to safety.
The Lair of the White Worm
Adam Salton receives a letter from his elderly great-uncle, Richard Salton, who wants to build a relationship with his only living family member. Upon meeting the two men hit it off and Richard reveals he wants to leave Adam his estate. Despite having his own fortune, Adam travels to the estate, known as Lesser Hill, and quickly becomes the center of several mysterious happenings with a friend of his great-uncle as his only ally.
Miss Betty
Following an accident that destroys a priceless family heirloom, Betty Pole learns she has a strange ability to sense things before they happen. That same night, she learns the truth behind her identity and becomes the heiress of her grandfather’s fortune, who is found dead the next morning. As time passes, Betty must hide the ability that will prove to be both a gift and a curse as she dodges suspicions of those around her.
If you are curious about more of Stoker’s work or simply want to add him to your collection, check out Bram Stoker: The Complete Novels, which has all of his completed novels compiled into one place for your convenience!
To learn more about Bram Stoker and his works, click here and here.
To purchase these books, or discover more such classic reads, head to our Classics section on Bookshop.org.