I picked this book when B&N was running 75% off last chance tank. Remembering when it first came out there had been a number of them so I figured
someone had bought all the rest and the topic does sound interesting the story of Jack the Ripper connected with the Dracula story. Reese is best known for his
supernatural stories and a strong element of that comes to play in the plot-an explanation of why Jack the Ripper does what he does.
The main protagonist of the story-written in letters and journals is Bram Stroker-the author of Dracula. He is working at the time for Henry Irving-actor and theater producer extraordinaire of the Lyceum Theater. Stroker is friends with quite a few of the literary Victorian scene like the Wilde family-Oscar playing a really small role,Dante Rossetti, Ellen Terry.
Sounds fascinating but,unfortunately, it is not. It took half way through the book to get to some action. Reese's style is very confusing and,at times, difficult to read. Recently I read The Meaning of Night and the author,Micheal Cox, as well as Reese, adds voluminous footbooks in explanation. The Ripper murders are simply a collection of newspaper and inquest reports although the finale is an interesting place ( yes numerous references to MacBeth-the play Irving is about to stage) Edinburgh castle.
Unless you are a fanatical fan of late Victoria celebrities I really do not recomment this novel-very slow going .
The main protagonist of the story-written in letters and journals is Bram Stroker-the author of Dracula. He is working at the time for Henry Irving-actor and theater producer extraordinaire of the Lyceum Theater. Stroker is friends with quite a few of the literary Victorian scene like the Wilde family-Oscar playing a really small role,Dante Rossetti, Ellen Terry.
Sounds fascinating but,unfortunately, it is not. It took half way through the book to get to some action. Reese's style is very confusing and,at times, difficult to read. Recently I read The Meaning of Night and the author,Micheal Cox, as well as Reese, adds voluminous footbooks in explanation. The Ripper murders are simply a collection of newspaper and inquest reports although the finale is an interesting place ( yes numerous references to MacBeth-the play Irving is about to stage) Edinburgh castle.
Unless you are a fanatical fan of late Victoria celebrities I really do not recomment this novel-very slow going .
