Bill Doxey
05-24-2005, 06:07 PM
DRACULA is a compelling story for several stylistic reasons. One is scenic. The author "paints" a scene as an visual artist of his time would; then he begins the action of that scene as though he were a movie director calling for 'Lights, camera, action!" <br><br>Of course, movies weren't in existence in 1897. However, Stoker spent many years professionally involved in the stage. As an author he probably read novels of the time with a "thief's eye" as do most successful writers. The "scenic" style was fairly common. In fact, it was vividly emphasized by the practice then of including as part of a novel a half-dozen or more handsome illustrations of "moments" by well-known illustrators. As a footnote, Leonid Pasternak (the father of Boris, author of DR. ZHIVAGO) did the illustrations for at least one of Tolstoy's novels. Boris Pasternak fondly recalled the (then) old man's visits and sitting on his lap and tugging at his great gray beard. When Tolstoy lay dying in the dingy train station at Astopavo ... But I digress. Check Stoker's scenes for writing tips.