What is Dracula Abridged?
In 1897, Bram Stoker's novel Dracula was published by Archibald Constable and Company. In 1901, they published a paperback edition which was abridged by Stoker himself. Stoker removed roughly 15 percent of the novel, or approximately 25,000 words.
This abridged text has only been published twice, first in 1901 and again in 1994. Still, there are some Dracula scholars, such as Raymond McNally and Robert Eighteen-Bisang, who assert that the abridged text is the superior version.
While this blogger does not share that assertion, it is fascinating to see what Stoker himself considered inessential to his narrative. Due to the rarity of this text, existing copies are expensive and infrequently available. As such, Dracula Abridged is sharing a free version of the 1901 text for all Dracula fans to enjoy.
View the abridged text here.
