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Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
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Sat, 1 Apr 2023 12:04:21 -0700
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Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
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Scott Holmes <[log in to unmask]>
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Thanks for the reference, Barbara.  I found a copy on Abe Books along 
with another bio of Stoker, "Something in the Blood".

On 4/1/23 11:48, Barbara Schmidt wrote:
> One resource that may be of interest is BRAM STOKER AND THE MAN WHO WAS
> DRACULA by Barbara Belford (2002). She examines Stoker's relationship with
> both Twain and Burton. No quotes from letters from Stoker to Twain
> regarding Burton, but the details she covers indicate there were plenty of
> opportunities for discussion. Stoker was even an investor in the Paige
> typesetter.
>
> Barb
>
> On Sat, Apr 1, 2023 at 12:17 PM Scott Holmes<[log in to unmask]>  wrote:
>
>> Some of you are, no doubt, aware of my interest in finding commonality
>> between Richard Francis Burton and Mark Twain. The closest I’ve come has
>> been to compare their respective journeys across North America; Burton
>> in 1860 and Sam Clemens in 1861. Other points include their interest in
>> the Arabian Nights and both men had visited Baalbek. An additional point
>> has recently come to my attention, that of friendship with Bram Stoker,
>> the author of “Dracula” and acting manager of the renowned actor Sir
>> Henry Irving.
>>
>> Another book that Stoker wrote was “Personal Reminiscences of Henry
>> Irving”. It has an entire chapter regarding his introduction to and
>> conversations with Richard F. Burton. Some descriptions of Burton are
>> thought to point directly to descriptions of Count Dracula. Of
>> particular interest in regards to Burton’s character was an incident
>> that occurred during Burton’s pilgrimage to Mecca. Gribben’s volume 2 of
>> Literary Resources lists Burton’s “Personal Narrative of the Pilgrimage
>> to El-Medinah and Mecca” as being signed by Twain, no dates mentioned. I
>> would suggest that it was Stoker that suggested this book to Twain.
>>
>> In regards to Count Dracula, it has been noted that there exists a
>> striking similarity between a remark made by Van Helsing, in the book,
>> and an entry from Pudd’nhead Wilson’s New Calendar (Following the
>> Equator, Chapter 12). Van Helsing says “I heard once of an American who
>> so defined faith: “that which enables us to believe things which we know
>> to be untrue.”” From the calendar “Faith is believing what you know
>> ain’t so.”
>>
>> Mark Dawidziak gave a talk on Twain and Dracula during the fall portion
>> of the 2020-2021//The Trouble Begins //Lecture Series presented by the
>> Center for Mark Twain Studies. He speaks of this quotation but also
>> notes that Stoker was a frequent visitor with Twain during Twain’s
>> self-imposed exile at Tedworth Square, in London, England.
>>
>> Other than recommending Burton’s book, I’m curious about any other
>> references to Burton that Stoker might have made to Twain, in
>> conversation or in letters. Letters of such late date are not available
>> as text from the Mark Twain Project but there are several referenced as
>> existing.
>>
>> --
>> /Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado/
>>
-- 
/Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado/

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