"Lord forgive me. I am quite shameless" — Rare letter offers glimpse into Bram Stoker’s early thoughts on Dracula (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The Bayliss Rare Books in London sold last month, for £15.000, a letter by Bram Stoker written only a few weeks after Dracula was published in 1897.

My dear Williams,

I send you Dracula & have honoured myself by writing your name in it.

How is enclosed for high? Lord forgive me. I am quite shameless.

Yours ever,

Bram Stoker

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[-] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago

I read a few articles to clarify "how is enclosed for high?" The meaning seems agreed to be asking for a review, "is this high literature?"

The articles all claim, mostly quoting the same guy, that "I am quite shameless" refers to the books 'Gothic excesses".

However, I read that quote to refer back to the shamelessness in the act of his request for praise.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

That's how I read it, too.

this post was submitted on 03 Jun 2025

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