In 1897, Stoker published his best-known work, “Dracula.” This gothic horror novel received mostly warm reviews and became quite popular. Written in the form of letters and journal entries, the story follows the experiences of several people who encounter a vampire from Transylvania. He wrote several more novels, including “The Mystery of the Sea” (1902) and “The Lady of the Shroud” (1909), but none of them could match the success of “Dracula” (via Britannica). In his later years, Stoker experienced some health problems. He had a stroke shortly after the death of Sir Henry Irving in 1905, and he struggled to make ends meet, according to the Oxford University Press. In fact, the Royal Literary Society had to come to his rescue.

Stoker died on April 20, 1912, at his London home. Sources vary on the cause of his death, with some citing exhaustion while others indicate that it was syphilis. News of his death barely made the papers, as the world was focused on the sinking of the Titanic, which happened five days earlier. Stoker was laid to rest at the Golders Green Crematorium in London (via the Bram Stoker Estate). After his death, his widow published a collection of his short stories titled “Dracula’s Guest” in 1914. While Stoker has been gone for over a century, his creation, Dracula, remains a compelling character in popular culture to this day, becoming the subject of numerous films and television projects.