Powers of Darkness

Foreword by Professor Clive Bloom and with Emil Åberg's original illustrations.

A unique version of Bram Stoker's seminal gothic masterpiece Dracula, this novel, from the turn of the nineteenth century, is a very early anti-fascist piece of literature, criticizing the Social Darwinism and scientific racism of the time. Powers of Darkness is also a splendid horror novel twice as long as Stoker's original.

First published in Sweden 1899-1900, very little is known about its background. Who was the signature A--e? Did Bram Stoker himself have anything to do with the creation of this mysterious Dracula manuscript? In addition to elements of political satire and international conspiracy, this edition of the story is much more violent and erotic than Stoker's original from 1897. It should not be confused with a book of the same title published in 2017, which was an English translation of a severely abridged Icelandic version of the same novel, only about half the length of Stoker's Dracula.

Count Draculitz (as he is called in the book) intends to spread vampirism throughout the world and conspires with kings and politicians to create a new world order with vampires as the "master race" -- propelling society into a ghastly future where pagan gods are worshipped in blood rites. Many of the characters are presented in new contexts, such as the fantastically beautiful "white lady" who walks the Count's castle, striving to lure the imprisoned lawyer Thomas Harker to his doom with her infernal "kisses."

Both fans of classic Dracula and new readers will have a very different story to delve into, one with a completely new ending. It is presented here by the discoverer of the novel, the author and publisher Rickard Berghorn. Here is also a gallery with Emil Åberg's original illustrations.