Dracula by Bram Stoker (novel #138)

…the world seems full of good men – even if there are monsters in it. ~ Mina Harker

Pure evil dwells in the hills of Transylvania, but this remote terror takes on epic proportions when blood-thirsty Count Dracula seeks richer feeding grounds in the teeming metropolis of London. The vampire threatens something worse than death to its victims; who are condemned to a hellish existence after death. The small group of innocents caught up in this tale are in a struggle against pure evil with their very souls at stake.

For if we fail in this our fight he must surely win; and then where end we? Life is nothings; I heed him not. But to fail here, is not mere life or death. It is that we become as him; that we henceforward become foul things of the night like him – without heart or conscience, preying on the bodies and the souls of those we love best. To us for ever are the gates of heaven shut; for who shall open them to us again? We go on for all time abhorred by all; a blot on the face of God’s sunshine; an arrow in the side of Him who died for man. ~ Van Helsing

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is an epistolary novel: told through letters, diaries, news articles, and other correspondence. I’m not always a fan of the technique, but in this case I thought it worked very well. It allowed Stoker to tell the tale through frequently changing first-person narrators. And even though I knew the premise of Dracula, I still found it riveting, terrifying, and a little creepy – in the way a horror novel should be creepy. Stoker did a masterful job, though his narrators, portraying their slow, and then in some cases sudden, realization of the unimaginable horror they were facing.

In the horror genre, there is Dracula, Frankenstein, and everything else. I would argue that Frankenstein, though classic, is not truly Horror, leaving me of the opinion that Dracula is the Gold-Standard of the genre. Like Frankenstein, Dracula has been retold so often it is nearly cliché, but the numerous renditions seldom do justice to the original – or even resemble it. For me, the greatness of Bram Stoker’s Dracula transcends the genre. An epic contest between good and evil, yes; but there is much more to this masterpiece. The terror, like a vampire, sneaks up on the reader subtly, and then manifests suddenly. But stoker, uses this mastery of subtlety to weave other themes among the terror, themes of courage and duty (of course), mercy, and sacrificial love. 

My rating: 4 1/2  of 5 Stars

I read this, along with a few other spooky stories, for the R.I.P. XIV Challenge.

Two disclaimers: This is not your teen girl’s sexy vampire – though there is a seductive sensuality in Stoker’s version, it is – at the risk of over using the word – subtle. Also, though considered a horror story, the blood, death, and violence is not terribly graphic, and I would recommend it even if you do not ordinarily read horror.

Excerpts:

Listen to them – the children of the night. What music they make! ~ Count Dracula referring to the howling of wolves

God keep me, if only for the sake of those dear to me! ~ Jonathan Harker

I am encompassed about with terrors that I dare not think of… ~ Jonathan Harker

Away from this cursed spot, from this cursed land, where the devil and his children still walk with earthly feet! ~ Jonathan Harker

God does not purchase souls in this wise; and the Devil, though he may purchase, does not keep faith. ~ Van Helsing

We want no proofs; we ask none to believe us! This boy will some day know what a brave and gallant woman his mother is. Already he knows her sweetness and loving care; later on he will understand how some men so loved her, that they did dare much for her sake. ~ Jonathan Harker

Vampire trivia: In some vampire legends (not Stoker’s version), vampires are afflicted with arithmomania – the obsessive need to count their actions or objects in their surroundings. This obsession can even be used as a defense by spreading seeds, or grains of rice in their way – which will confound them with the need to count the grains. And now – The Count, of Sesame Street fame, doesn’t seem quite so absurd does he?

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Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (77 down 23 to go)

(translation by Charles E. Wilbour)

Jean Valjean wept for a long time. He wept burning tears, he sobbed with more weakness than a woman, with more fright than a child.

When you shall have learned to know, and to love, you will still suffer. The day is born in tears. The luminous weep, if only over those in darkness. 

This is the first time I’ve read Les Misérables or Victor Hugo. The Romantic Period novel is the third-person narrative of Jean Valjean, a peasant in early 19th Century France, who is imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread.

This novel satisfies category #4, a classic in translation, of the 2017 Back to the Classics Challenge.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

 

A masterpiece. In the author’s words, Les Misérables is the tale of

…the march from evil to good

Jean Valjean is initially sentenced to five years in the galleys for stealing bread. Another 14 years is added for attempted escape. He serves his full sentence and is released, but…

Liberation is not deliverance. One gets free from the galleys, but not from the sentence.

Wherever Valjean traveled, he was denied lodging and food, even though he could pay. As a convict, he had to register with the police and show his passport which marked him as a convict. The news would spread and Valjean was offered no kindness.

Until he encounters Bishop Myriel – Christ-like Bishop Myriel. Valjean is stunned when the Bishop gives him food and shelter.

The Bishop, who was sitting close to him, gently touched his hand. “You could not help telling me who you were. This is not my house; it is the house of Jesus Christ."

In spite of this kindness, Valjean robs the Bishop and flees in the night. The Bishop never alerts the police, but Valjean is apprehended and brought to the Bishop, because the police suspect he has robbed the Bishop. The Bishop assures the police Valjean is innocent and that the valuables in his possession were a gift from the Bishop to Valjean.

Again, Valjean is stunned. Before he leaves, the Bishop admonishes him…

Do not forget, never forget, that you have promised to use this money in becoming an honest man.

Although, Valjean never really made any such promise. He stumbles on his way, trying desperately to understand this strange mercy – and more than mercy – grace.  (Mercy: unmerited clemency; Grace: unmerited favor)

You might expect Valjean to be a changed man at this point – he is only a troubled man.

Later, on a lonely road, he robs a child of a coin – perhaps out of habit. But then he stands motionless for hours brooding over his life. His darkened soul is finally touched by the compassion of Bishop Myriel.

Jean Valjean wept for a long time. He wept burning tears, he sobbed with more weakness than a woman, with more fright than a child.

He vows to indeed become an honest man – first by searching fruitlessly for the child in order to restore the coin.

And here begins Valjean’s march from evil to good.

It is not an easy road. He adopts a false identity, becomes an honest businessman, makes a fortune, and becomes the beloved, benefactor of his town.

But Valjean is forever dogged by zealous police inspector Javert. The course of the book is Valjean attempting an honorable and humble life, while avoiding Javert. Along the way, Valjean tries to help the pitiful Fantine. Oh, if only someone had pitied her. She is the victim of a cad who promised his love, got her pregnant, and then forsook her. She tries to make an honest living and care for her daughter Cosette, but like Jean Valjean – she finds little compassion.

What is this history of Fantine? 

It is society purchasing a slave.

On Fantine’s deathbed, Valjean promises to care for Cosette. He rescues her from pitiless foster parents, and Valjean and Cosette live a life of assumed names, ever changing lodgings, and no friends. When Valjean does not feel the heat of inspector Javert, he is happy with Cosette, and she with him.

The Bishop had caused the dawn of virtue to rise on his horizon; Cosette caused the dawn of love to rise.

…he told himself that he really had not suffered sufficiently to merit so radiant a bliss, and he thanked God, in the depth of his soul, for having permitted him to be loved thus, he, a wretch, by that innocent being.

But there was always Javert. Javert was a rigid slave to duty – and the law. He had seen, or at least had opportunity to see on several occasions that Valjean was a good and decent man. He had paid his debt. His only guilt now was living under an alias – in order to live. It mattered not to Javert. Until…

Javert is stunned – when Valjean – the criminal – the fiend – shows him mercy. Javert cannot reconcile this. The following excerpts describe some of his inner turmoil.

Javert felt that something terrible was penetrating his soul – admiration for a convict. Respect for a galley-slave – is that a possible thing? He shuddered at it, yet could not escape from it.

…in the depth of his thought he had heard a voice, a strange voice crying to him: - “It is well. Deliver up your savior. Then have the basin of Pontius Pilate brought and wash your claws.”

Javert’s ideal, was not to be human, to be grand, to be sublime: it was to be irreproachable.

But how was he to set about handing in his resignation to God?

In my opinion, it is Javert, not Valjean, who is – le misérable.

Oh and…along the way, Cosette blossoms into a beautiful young woman. You know where that goes.

I have only one complaint with this book: it is unnecessarily long. Hugo makes frequent detours from the story, to describe in painful detail some trifle that is not essential to the story. What do I know? Hugo wrote a masterpiece, I write a blog, all that…all true, but…

Just one example: at one point, Valjean takes to the sewers to escape. Hugo then takes 6 chapters to describe the condition and history of Paris’ sewers. A couple of profound excerpts:

The history of men is reflected in the history of sewers.The sewer is the conscience of the city.

But still – 4 ½ stars, it’s brilliant, I’m glad to have read it. Have you read Les Misérables? What did you think?

Other excerpts (contains a spoiler):

Can the man created good by God be rendered wicked by man?

He loved books; books are cold but safe friends.

Breaking the gloomy bonds of the past is a mournful task.

It is very easy to be kind; the difficulty lies in being just.

…that grand human thing which is called the law, and that grand divine thing which is called justice.

War has frightful beauties which we have not concealed; it has also, we acknowledge, some hideous features.

Social prosperity means the man happy, the citizen free, the nation great.

Cosette had been beautiful for a tolerably long time before she became aware of it herself. But, from the very first day, that unexpected light which was rising slowly and enveloping the whole of the young girl’s person, wounded Jean Valjean’s somber eye. He felt that it was a change in a happy life, a life so happy that he did not dare to move for fear of disarranging something. This man, who had passed through all manner of distresses, who was still all bleeding from the bruises of fate, who had been almost wicked and who had become almost a saint, who, after having dragged the chain of the galleys, was now dragging the invisible but heavy chain of indefinite misery, this man whom the law had not released from its grasp and who could be seized at any moment and brought back from the obscurity of his virtue to the broad daylight of public opprobrium, this man accepted all, excused all, pardoned all, and merely asked of Providence, of man, of the law, of society, of nature, of the world, one thing, that Cosette might love him!

An observer, a dreamer, the author of this book…~ Narrative in which Hugo describes himself, his real-life experience being caught in the crossfire of the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris

Love is the folly of men and the wit of God.

He was dead.

The night was starless and extremely dark. No doubt, in the gloom, some immense angel stood erect with wings outspread, awaiting that soul.

What is the amount of truth that springs from your laws, and what amount of justice springs from your tribunals? ~ Victor Hugo

Film Renditions: Prior to reading the novel, I'd seen both the 2012 musical version starring Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe, Anne Hathaway, and Amanda Seyfried, and the 1998 adaptation with Liam Neeson as Jean Valjean, Geoffrey Rush as Javert, Uma Thurman as Fantine, and Claire Danes as Cosette. I did not rewatch the musical, though I remember it being quite powerful. Still, I did not want to watch the musical because: a. it is a musical, and b. I didn't like the casting. I think the casting for the 1998 film is perfect and it was well acted. However, what I did not remember, it is not terribly faithful to the book. It can't be in 2 hours. I would accept some edits for the sake of time, but the happily ever after ending...not so much. So, I liked both in different ways, and disliked both in different ways. Skip the films, read the book.

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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (68 down, 32 to go)

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." ~ Opening line

This is the first time I’ve read Pride and Prejudice and the second work I’ve read by Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is a third-person narrative, Romantic era novel. It tells the story of the Bennet family, early 19th century England, and particularly of the two eldest daughters, Jane and Elizabeth. 

This novel satisfies category one: A 19th Century Classic, from the Back to the Classics Challenge 2016.

My rating: 4 stars

In short, I loved it.

Mr. Bennet, is an English gentleman whose estate is irrevocably entailed to his nearest surviving male relative. As Mr. Bennet has only daughters, five in all, the estate is to be settled on his nephew, Mr. Collins. But as I said, the story is mostly about Jane and Elizabeth (Lizzy). More precisely, Lizzy is the main character, while Jane, her dearest friend and confidante is only slightly less significant. Lizzy is the favorite of her father, and the least favorite of her mother. Both are fond of Jane. Mr. Bennet believes his three youngest, Catherine (Kitty), Mary and Lydia are simple and silly, much like his wife.

I liked Pride and Prejudice, perhaps a bit more than Emma. Having read two Austen novels, I am now an expert. They go something like this.

Among a crowd of laughable and likeable characters, emerge two people perfectly suited for each other, but maddeningly blind to it themselves. Fate or circumstance, gradually bring the two slowly together, but when they finally overcome their own prejudices, they are prevented from obstacles of rank, duty, convention, or familial responsibility.

Don’t mistake my glib description as criticism. It is not. It is a time-honored motif, employed in many eras, by many great writers, producing many superb tales. It works well, but it requires a writer of some craft. In this instance, Austen approached genius.

None of the Bennet girls have much hope in society other than to marry well. This is not at all hopeless as Jane and Elizabeth at least, are considered great beauties. When Mr. Collins comes to call, already heir to the estate, he clearly intends to improve his position by winning the hand of one of his cousins. He first sets his sights on Jane, but learns that she has an admirer and quickly transfers his interest to Lizzy. If ever there was a terrible match, it would be Mr. Collins and Lizzy. He is pompous and officious, whereas Lizzy is intelligent, witty, discerning and sincere. Mr. Collins cannot conceive that any woman would refuse him, and Lizzy cannot imagine any would have him.

Bit more on Mr. Collins: he never reads novels. Who could like such a man?

Enter Mr. Darcy: extremely wealthy, tall and handsome, aloof and proud. And the time-honored motif is set, but as I’ve implied, Austen does an extraordinary job of confounding what the reader so desperately believes must happen.

Bravo!

His [Mr. Darcy] understanding and temper, though unlike her own [Lizzy], would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her ease and liveliness his mind might have been softened, his manners improved, and from his judgment, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance.

Film Rendition: I’ve only seen the 1995 A&E mini-series, starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. I thought it was an excellent portrayal and superbly cast. In the novel, Lizzy is often described as having fine or beautiful eyes and I’m not certain there’s an actress in Hollywood with such beautiful eyes as Jennifer Ehle.

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The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (58 down, 42 to go)

Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!

This is the first time I’ve read The Scarlet Letter or Nathaniel Hawthorne. The novel is subtitled A Romance. I hardly consider it a romance, though it is written in the Romantic, or more precisely Dark Romantic style/period. It is the third person narrative, realist novel of Hester Prynne, a woman guilty of adultery in mid-17th century, Puritan, Boston.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

I did not know what to expect from this novel. I was familiar with the basic premise: a woman forced to publicly bear her shame, but I had no idea of the outcome. For her crime, Hester is forced to wear, on her breast, the scarlet letter A, for adultery. She becomes a symbol of sin and shame and is an outcast to the pious residents of Boston. Hester is admonished to name her guilty partner, but refuses. At her sentencing, Hester is forced to stand exposed to public shame on a scaffold for three hours, along with the infant daughter and proof of her crime, little Pearl. I was captivated immediately by this novel, and found that I pitied and admired Hester.

Pity is easy to understand, as she received none from her townsfolk. It is more difficult to explain why I admired her. Let me be clear: Hester was guilty. This was never in dispute, and I do not mean to excuse her sin. But at her public shame, I could not help but think of another adulteress, who was brought before Christ. The rulers of her time called for execution (there were some of Hester’s time who called for the same) and asked Christ what was to be done. He adjured that whoever was without sin should cast the first stone.

Yes, Hester was guilty – but who is not? I admired her for the peace and grace with which she bore the shame, venom, and hypocrisy. She did not revile her accusers, cringe before them, or justify herself. I cannot find the words to describe her. Hawthorne did and his words filled me with admiration.

If Hester’s sentencing reminded me of the words of Christ, the remainder of her life reminded me of words of Abraham Lincoln: 

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruit than strict justice.

There is much grief and ruin in this tale. I wonder how different it would be had Hester received a measure of mercy.

This is a novel about over-harsh judgment, of human folly, over-zealous veneration of human piety, of legalism, sin, guilt, penance, repentance, hypocrisy and revenge. It is filled with foreshadowing and symbolism.

SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers.

There are only four major characters: Hester; her daughter Pearl; the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale; and Roger Chillingworth. The reader learns that Dimmesdale is Pearl’s father, and Chillingworth is Hester’s husband, but the townsfolk are ignorant of both facts. They consider Rev. Dimmesdale a monument of piety and virtue. They believe Hester’s husband was lost at sea and have never known him. When he arrives, at the moment of Hester’s sentencing, he remains incognito and later, privately vows Hester to secrecy. She agrees, but refuses to reveal her co-sinner. Chillingworth swears to discover him and make him suffer justice.

The reader and Hester are the only ones who know the full truth. Pearl is capricious and insolent. She has almost a sixth sense that reveals the secret evils and fears hidden in the hearts of others, especially her mother, father, and Chillingworth. To be honest she was a bit unnerving, and rather unbelievable. In the most heartbreaking passage in the book, Hester tells Pearl that the Heavenly Father had sent Pearl to Hester. Pearl responds: 

He did not send me! Cried she, positively. I have no Heavenly Father!

Elsewhere, the narrative says: 

Pearl was a born outcast of the infantile world. An imp of evil, emblem and product of sin, she had no right among christened infants. Nothing was more remarkable than the instinct as it seemed, with which the child comprehended her loneliness: the whole peculiarity, in short, of her position in respect to other children.

One might expect to sympathize with Chillingworth, the wronged and innocent party, but no. Hawthorne is not explicit but it is clear that Chillingworth enticed Hester into a loveless and ill-advised marriage. Chillingworth himself acknowledges this and is not angry with Hester, only with her partner. While Chillingworth might have the right to exact justice, he seeks not justice, but revenge. He seeks it in such a dark and sinister manner that his physical visage is changed and becomes almost demonic. 

In a word, old Roger Chillingworth was a striking evidence of man’s faculty of transforming himself into a devil, if he will only, for a reasonable space of time, undertake a devil’s office.

Neither is Dimmesdale likeable or pitiable. He lives in the adoration of his flock, though this is torture to him. For though they consider him a miracle of holiness, he considers himself utterly a pollution and a lie! He longs to confess and share Hester’s shame, but does not until his death. It was too little – too late, in my opinion. He does have one shining moment. He finally takes the hand of Hester and Pearl in public to announce his guilt; but this is the least he should have done years before. The moment I referred to is when he prays for Chillingworth – his tormentor: 

May God forgive thee! Said the minister. Thou too hast deeply sinned! 

That was indeed Christ-like.

Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. Towards her mother, too, Pearl’s errand as a messenger of anguish was fulfilled.

Narrative regarding Dimmesdale’s confession and death: 

…in the view of Infinite Purity, we are sinners all alike. It was to teach them, that the holiest amongst us has but attained so far above his fellows as to discern more clearly the Mercy which looks down, and repudiate more utterly the phantom of human merit, which would look aspiringly upward.

But it is only Hester that I liked. In short, she was more Christ-like than any of the fine Christian folk among whom she daily wore her shame. The Holy Scriptures name other sins besides adultery. Many of Hester’s townsfolk might have worn a scarlet P (for pride). It is because of Hester’s character that I enjoyed The Scarlet Letter so much. I suppose there are some who might call it an indictment of Christianity, but I do not. I believe it is an indictment of misguided Christianity. At that point, I still might be inclined to dislike this novel – if there were no Hester standing in sharp relief.

In the first chapter, Hawthorne foreshadows the moral of this story with a wild rose found growing outside Hester’s jailhouse: 

It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow.

Hester was the rose.

I would compare The Scarlet Letter to Wuthering Heights and The Count of Monte Cristo on the topic of revenge.  On the topic of adultery, I would compare it to Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, The French Lieutenants Woman, and Jane Eyre.

Other excerpts:

Narrative regarding the townsfolk:

a people among whom religion and law were almost identical…

Narrative regarding Hester:

…the world was only the darker for this woman’s beauty, and the more lost for the infant that she had borne.

Hester

…my child must seek a heavenly father; she shall never know an earthly one!

Narrative regarding Pearl:

Her mother, while Pearl was yet an infant, grew acquainted with a certain peculiar look, that warned her when it would be labour thrown away to insist, persuade or plead.

Narrative regarding Rev Dimmesdale:

Trusting no man as his friend, he could not recognize his enemy when the latter actually appeared.

Hester’s words when after seven years she was told the magistrates were considering letting her remove the scarlet letter:

It lies not in the pleasure of the magistrates to take off the badge, calmly replied Hester. Were I worthy to be quit of it, it would fall away of its own nature, or be transformed into something that should speak a different purport.

Let men tremble to win the hand of woman, unless they win along with it the utmost passion of the heart!

Film Rendition: The 1995 film is awful. I won't name the stars because it wasn't their fault, and I won't name the director or screenwriter, to avoid being sued...but this is perhaps the worst film adaptation of a classic book I've seen. It does say in the opening credits "freely adapted" - that's an understatement. I don't have a problem with a director or writer making changes, even significant changes, if they capture the theme of the book - but this film entirely missed the point. DEFINITELY skip the film; read the book.

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