Stoker was born with infirmity. Stoker was confined to his bed, due to unidentified causes, until he was seven years old. At that time he made a complete recovery. Stoker grew up without additional sickness and he was an athlete at Dublin's Trinity college. Stoker graduated with honors in 1870 and he earned a degree in mathematics.



Despite Bram's scientific studies, Stoker enjoyed fiction. Stoker's early years of infirmity resulted in countless hours of contemplation and fantasizing. As a young man Stoker was interested in the theater. After marrying Florence Balcombe, Bram and his new wife moved to London. Bram then became the acting and business manager of the Lyceum Theater.

Bram and Florence only had one child, Noel Thornley Stoker. Bram worked for the Lyceum Theater for over 27 years. Bram's wages wasn't sufficient to support his family. As a result, Stoker began writing so he could supplement his income. Bram spent numerous years researching gothic folklore throughout Europe. Stoker had a fascination with myths of vampires. Stoker visited gothic destinations such as Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire and the crypts of St. Michan's Church in Dublin. These and other travels only further sparked Stoker's curiosity with all things morbid.

Bram would go on to author numerous fantasy, gothic, and horror works including The Jewel of Seven Stars (1903), The Lady of the Shroud (1909), and The Lair of the White Worm (1911). But none would obtain the popularity of Bram's 1897 book, Dracula. But Bram made a huge error after releasing Dracula. Stoker didn't follow copyright law and as a result, Dracula was in the public domain in the United States from its initial publication.

Dracula was largely unappreciated during it's time. The book would not see mainstream-success for several decades. In 1922 F.W. Murnau filmed an unauthorized adaptation of Dracula titled Nosferatu. After the release of Nosferatu, the popularity of Bram's book Dracula increased significantly. Bram's widow attempted to have the film barred, but since Dracula was in the public domain her challenges to the film failed.

Bram Stoker passed away on April 20, 1912 in his home. Historians think that the reason for his death was a result of tertiary syphilis. Stoker had numerous strokes before passing away. Bram was cremated and his ashes put in an urn now on display at Golders Green Crematorium. Visitors who want to visit the urn must be escorted to the room the urn is housed in, mainly due to fears of vandalism.

In 1914, two years after Bram's death, Mrs. Stoker released the novella Dracula's Guest. Historians believe that this story was the original first chapter of Stoker's Dracula.