Stoker's Dracula

School Library Journal

Gr 7-10Students will delight in this melodramatic presentation which is accomplished with echoes, howling wolves, blood-curdling shrieks, and spooky music. The imaginative use of hundreds of sound effects grabs listeners attention as the St. Charles Players, ten actors and actresses, present this abridged version of the 1897 novel. Carefully chosen to represent appropriate ages, sexes, and accents (British, Transylvanian, and Texan), they read briskly and are usually clearly understood. The Count always rolls his rrrs and is enhanced with an echo. Some of the Victorian dialogue is retained, giving a period flavor to the radio-play. It is also accurate in that some of the presentation is made through journal entries and letters. Events happen quickly and dramatically. While certain details, especially motives and reasons behind events, are omitted from the plot, they are not significant since the overall storyline is retained. (However, there is an epilogue hint of future actions from a vampire that is not in the edition of the novel that I consulted.) The popularity of Dracula will ascertain that this will circulate with studentstoo bad the flimsy cardboard case will not survive for many circulations. Teachers could also use the tapes to motivate students to read the book.Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

From Barnes & Noble

Mysterious, gloomy castles and open graves at midnight are just two of the Gothic devices used to chilling effect in this 19th-century horror classic that turned an obscure figure from Eastern European folklore into a towering icon of film and literature.