(Featured photo is of Dacre Stoker. Courtesy photo)
Bram Stoker had terrible penmanship as his great grandnephew can attest.
For more than a decade, Aiken’s Dacre Stoker who comes from the famous “Dracula” author’s blood line has researched the work, the author and his inspirations. He’s traveled the world presenting his findings, and in March, he’ll be in his own proverbial backyard sharing some of what he’s learned.
“I’m thrilled to be able to do this at home,” said Stoker, who will present “Stoker on Stoker: The Mysteries Behind the Writing of ‘Dracula’” from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. March 4, 11 and 18 at the University of South Carolina Aiken through its Center for Lifelong Learning.
Dacre Stoker has presented various forms of his Stoker-on-Stoker talks. He’s done lecture presentations as well as some with a more dramatic flair by intermingling them with actors such as at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston in 2022.
He’s also done “Dissecting Dracula” pieces which will show some of the journey he’s been on as a researcher, author and presenter.
The novel that has been in existence for more than 125 years isn’t the entire vision its author had in mind. There are missing chapters.
Also, Dacre Stoker delves into the origins of Bram Stoker’s fascination with vampires and legends.
One class exercise he’s created includes divvying up 20 to 30 pages of copies of Bram Stoker’s handwritten notes among the participants and asking them to find a set of key words in them.
“The handwriting is terrible, so It’s not easy to find,” he said.
He gives them 10 minutes or so to peruse them, before checking their progress. After a few more minutes he prompts them to flip the page over to find Dacre Stoker’s typed transcription. By the end of the session, the entire class has seen all the pages.
“Cumulatively, we find all the answers on ‘what were the missing chapters?,’ and ‘how do they come together?’,” he said.
For homework, Stoker assigns reading the novel or at least specific passages.
Also, as part of the class, Stoker will show a proof-of-concept documentary he filmed about some of the mysteries of Bram Stoker’s settings in Romania.
Stoker’s class joins a variety of offerings this winter and spring. Classes range from how to use your iPhone to nuclear science fundamentals to the art of Dr. Seuss. Registration began Jan. 3. To learn more visit here.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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