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Bram Stoker

& The Haunting of Marsh's Library

Marsh's Library Exhibits an online exhibition

About

‘Bram Stoker and the Haunting of Marsh's Library’ is an online version of an exhibition at Marsh’s Library, Dublin. 

It describes what the author of Dracula read in our small library as a teenager in 1866 and 1867. Click on the images below to read a short description of each item Stoker requested from the librarian.

Several books Stoker consulted here mention Transylvania and the historical figure of Dracula, but it is unlikely that his trips to this library directly inspired his most famous novel, which was published three decades later.

The books Stoker requested in Marsh’s do explain, though, why the vampires in the Dracula story are killed on 5 November. For many, this was the date on which Britain was saved from evil, with the discovery of Guy Fawkes' plot in 1605 and the invasion by William of Orange in 1688.

You can purchase the beautifully-produced exhibition catalogue via the link below. It provides further details on the context of each item on exhibition. An extended essay explains the importance of Stoker’s interest throughout his life in the books and pamphlets of the seventeenth century.

Exhibit

Click thumbnails to see more

Bram-Stoker.jpg
Bram Stoker by W. & D. Downey (photogravure, 1906)
NPG x3769 © National Portrait Gallery, London: Creative Commons
ML.10 Shaw Recommendation.jpg
1. Letter of recommendation from Dr Shaw
ML.1.jpg
2. Stoker Signs the Visitors’ Book
ML.3 117.jpg
3. Readers’ Register, 1866-67
H3.3.13 (05) Title Page.jpg
4. A volume of pamphlets shelved at H3.3.13
H3.3.11 (07) Title Page.jpg
5. A volume of pamphlets shelved at H3.3.11
Map of Hungary and Transylvania
6. Atlas Geographus: Or, a Compleat System of Geography, Ancient and Modern, 5 vols, (London, 1711-17).
Harris Drake.jpg
7. John Harris, Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca: Or, a Compleat Collection of Voyages and Travels (London, 1705).
Cluver Map Of Italy.jpg
8. Philipp Clüver, Italia Antiqua (Leiden, 1624).
Chambers Detail 01.jpg
9. Ephraim Chambers, Cyclopaedia: or, an universal dictionary of Arts and Sciences, 2 vols, (Dublin, 1740).
Dryden Fables Title Page.jpg
10. John Dryden, Fables Ancient and Modern; Translated into Verse, From Homer, Ovid, Boccace & Chaucer (London, 1700).
Purchas Map Of Africa.jpg
11. Samuel Purchas (ed.), Purchas His Pilgrimes. In Five Bookes, 4 vols, (London, 1625).
Heylyn Title Page.jpg
12. Peter Heylyn, Cosmographie in foure Books Contayning the Chorographie & Historie of the whole World (London, 1682).
Spenser Works Title Page.jpg
13. The Works of that Famous English poet, Mr. Edmond Spenser (London, 1679).
Chaucer The Knights Tale.jpg
14. The Workes of Our Ancient and learned English poet, Geffrey Chaucer (London, 1602).
Waller Poems Title Page.jpg
15. Edmund Waller, Poems, &c. Written Upon Several Occasions, and to Several Persons (London, 1664).
G3.4.13 (08) Absalom Page.jpg
16. A volume of pamphlets shelved at G3.4.13.
Jonson Works 1616.jpg
17. The Workes of Beniamin Jonson (London, 1616) and The Workes of Benjamin Jonson, 2 vols, (London, 1640).
Downes 1824 Title Page.jpg
18. G. Downes, Dublin University Prize Poems: With Spanish and German Ballads &c (Dublin, 1824).

Gordon Poems 1836 Title Page.jpg
19. M. Gordon, Poems (London, 1836).
Z4.1.11 (01) Sydney Title Page.jpg
20. A volume of pamphlets shelved at K4.4.27
Ramesey-TP.jpg
21. William Ramesey, Astrologia Restaurata; Or, Astrologie Restored (London, 1653).
02.5.20 (01) 103.jpg
22. A volume of pamphlets shelved at O2.5.20.
L1.429 (15) Title Page.jpg
23. A volume of pamphlets shelved at L1.4.29
Collier Dictionary Title Page.jpg
24. Jeremy Collier, The Great Historical, Geographical, Genealogical and Poetical Dictionary, 4 vols,(London, 1701).
Fox Volume 2 Page 469.jpg
25. John Foxe, Acts and Monuments of Matters Most Special and Memorable, Happening in the Church: With an Universal History of the Same, 3 vols, (London, 1684).
Printed Catalogue available to buy online

Credits

Exhibition curated by Jason McElligott


Jason McElligott is the Director of Marsh's Library and Adjunct Professor in the School of History, University College Dublin.


Online version curated by Miriam Roßa


Miriam Roßa is pursuing a B.A. in Library and Information Science at the University of Applied Science at Leipzig in Germany, and was an intern in librarianship at Marsh's Library during 2018/19.

Curatorial and editorial assistance was provided by Renee Letz, who is currently a Library Assistant at the Irish Management Institute.


Contact The Library

Email: information@marshlibrary.ie

Phone: +353 1 4543511

The library is open to visitors: see here for opening hours and directions.