Bram Stoker’s 1897 classic ‘Dracula’ has inspired countless works centred around its titular character. The themes may have stood the test of time, but what about the often glossed-over physical details of the book? In this review, I will be assessing this classic novel for what it truly is. An object.
Weight: 0.25 kg
At 0.25 kg, Dracula pales in comparison with many other novels like Shantaram (0.75 kg) and 1984 (0.3 kg). It weighs the equivalent of two and a half medium-sized apples. Are you on a trip with a weight limit on checked-in luggage? Make your choice. Two and a half medium-sized apples or this skinny king?
Thickness: 0.6 inches
Printed on 418 off-white pages, the book is 0.6 inches thick. That means that an individual page is about 0.00143 inches.
Should you ever get into an altercation, do not rely on Dracula to provide any protection. It will do you no good. It won’t stop a bullet or a knife. Though its weight will not serve you with either protection or as a weapon, if tossed correctly, it could distract any assailants as you make your escape.
Dimensions: approximately 7×4 inches
With a length of 7 inches and a width of 4 inches, it is a small book which can easily be snuck places should the need ever arise. The drawback of its compact nature is that it will not provide much warmth when set on fire. In general, this may not seem like a major concern but what about if you were to find yourself trapped on a cold desert island? This is precisely why when asked the question, “What three books would you take with you to a desert island?”, you are always supposed to pick large ones.
Page Colour – Brown and/or off-white
The pages are a shade of brown. However, they were not always that way. Time has taken its toll on Dracula. The pages are still in fantastic condition but it is not the same as it once was. It is currently a colour that brings about memories of official envelopes from the 1970s.
Cover: Some sort of house seen from behind a tree
On the cover is a castle pictured from behind a tree in a blue-ish hue. Whose castle is that? Why is the photographer hiding behind a tree? What time is it? These are questions that made me decide it was time to actually read the contents of the book. A brilliant cover.
The Ipe Collection 