REVIEW: The Bloody Road to Castle Dracula by Steven J. Rolfes

BY: DAVEY

The Bloody Road to Castle Dracula: Explore the History of Vampires & the Inspiration Behind Bram Stoker’s Masterpiece by Steven J. Rolfes is a new book from Llewellyn that digs into the real history and folklore that shaped Dracula. It came out in August, and it’s a perfect read for this time of year.

Rolfes is a historian from Cincinnati who has written several books on Ohio history and folklore, along with Supernatural Lore of Ohio and Beware the Banshee’s Cry. He has volunteered at the Cincinnati History Museum and once hosted a radio talk show on the supernatural.

The book is part travelogue, part literary detective story, and part cultural history. Rolfes follows the threads that led to Stoker’s Count, from volcanic disasters and aristocratic scandals to secret societies, and introduces the poets, exiles, actors, and real-life monsters who helped build the legend.

Vampire history is right up my alley, and this one pairs nicely with Van Helsing and His Kin by Daniel O’Brien, which I reviewed last month. I love dark tourism, so the travel side of the book was a highlight for me, and I’d happily follow Rolfes on a whole book of Dracula road trips. A great pick for any vampire fan this Halloween.