Reflections on Dracula: Ten Essays
Review by Anne Fraser, submitted on 27-Apr-1998

Reflections on Dracula: Ten Essays. by Elizabeth Miller. White Rock, B.C.: Transylvania Press, 1997, ISBN: 1-55135-004-1

Now *here* is a book that's good to the last drop! The long-awaited group of essays authored by Professor Elizabeth Miller (Bloofer to her friends) on her studies of _Dracula_. There is a short preface, acknowledging all the help Prof. Miller received during building this book, and then we are taken straight to the goodies.

The first chapter is an expansion of her arguments for the divorce of Count Dracula from Vlad Tepes that was the highlight of Dracula 97 in L.A. last August. As with each successive essay, it is thoroughly researched and entertainingly written. You will most likely come away convinced unless your name happens to be McNally. (*wink*). Or at least you will agree "separation granted, divorce denied"... Has Dracula Lost His Fangs?, co-written with Margaret L. Carter, is a discussion of the evolution of modern vampire literature. I certainly was taking notes as to which books to go out and read! While I don't necessarily agree that the modern literary sympathetic vampire is "fangless" (er, how could I?), it is interesting to see how heavily the pendulum has swung in that direction in a century. Typing Transylvania and Adventures in Draculand both offer us fascinating glimpses of Romania and its perception of the Dracula phenonmenon, while Life As a Dracula Afficiondo gives us an even more fascinating glimpse into what it means to be Elizabeth Miller! "She looks like somebody's mother", indeed!

There are also essays on the vampire hunters, on the various editions of _Dracula_ the novel and on sequels, prequels and re-writings by other authors, a chapter on _Dracula_ and _Frankenstein_, one on Shakespeare (I will spare everyone from Adrian's answer to this!); and the last essay deals with Dracula's continuing appeal and the furtherance of scholarly inquiries into the text and the vampire legend. There is an extensive bibliography at the end, which should send several scholars leaping to their local library.

Get this book. Read this book. A few typographical errors aside, it's the best read I've had in a long time.