Dracula, document by document

by @timescrolly3 May 1893 – 6 Nov 1893192 items

gothicnovels
Whitby Harbor, c. 1885 (the museum’s date), carbon print by Frank Meadow Sutcliffe. Cleveland Museum of Art (John L. Severance Fund, 1996.244), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Whitby Harbor, c. 1885 (the museum’s date), carbon print by Frank Meadow Sutcliffe. Cleveland Museum of Art (John L. Severance Fund, 1996.244), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Dracula, document by document

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) is built from dated diary entries, letters, telegrams, a ship’s log and newspaper cuttings, and so is this timeline: each is one item, titled with the text’s own heading and cited to the chapter where it begins in the Project Gutenberg text (#345). Consecutive entries by one narrator on one day are merged.

Fiction, and a year the novel never states. The novel gives days and months but no year, and its few weekday and moon clues do not agree, so no single year fits them all. 1893 does not fit Mina’s “Thursday last” for 22 September (a Friday that year) or the full moon of 11 August (a new moon). This timeline uses 1893 as a convention, not a proof. Times are the clock times the text gives; where it gives none, an entry sits on its day.

Layers: one per narrator

  • 1 — Jonathan Harker’s journal, kept in shorthand.

  • 2 — Mina’s journal and letters, as Murray and then as Harker.

  • 3 — Lucy Westenra’s diary, letters and memorandum.

  • 4 — Dr. Seward’s phonograph diary, with his letters and telegrams.

  • 5 — Van Helsing’s letters, memoranda and phonograph message.

  • 6 — The captain’s log of the Demeter.

  • 7 — Cuttings: the Dailygraph, the Pall Mall Gazette, the Westminster Gazette.

  • 8 — Other letters and telegrams: Arthur, Quincey, solicitors, Sister Agatha.

What to try

Open the map view: entries sit at real places (Bistrița, the Tihuța Pass that stands in for the Borgo Pass, Whitby, Purfleet, Piccadilly, Varna, Galatz). The castle’s place is an approximate area, since the novel names no site, and Hillingham and Kingstead are invented names set on a wide area of north London. Filter by layer to follow one narrator, or by tag to follow Renfield, Lucy or the ships. Periods group the novel’s movements, and item relations link entries that tell one event from two sides, such as the Whitby storm, or that disagree. The entities and relations (the Crew of Light, the Count’s victims, engagements and a marriage) are listed under Entities. The Note that closes the book, set seven years later, is outside 1893 and is not an item:

in all the mass of material of which the record is composed, there is hardly one authentic document; nothing but a mass of typewriting

Items

  1. Harker in Transylvania

    ≈ 1 month, 28 days · Bistrița to the castle by the Borgo Pass (approximate)

  2. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 3 May. Bistritz

    Bistrița (the novel’s Bistritz)

  3. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 4 May

    Bistrița (the novel’s Bistritz)

  4. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 5 May. The Castle

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  5. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 7 May

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  6. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 8 May

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  7. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, Midnight [8 May]

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  8. Letter from Miss Mina Murray to Miss Lucy Westenra, 9 May

  9. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 12 May

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  10. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, Later [12 May]

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  11. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 15 May

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  12. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, Later: the Morning of 16 May

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  13. Letter, Lucy Westenra to Mina Murray, Wednesday

  14. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 18 May

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  15. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 19 May

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  16. Letter, Lucy Westenra to Mina Murray, 24 May

  17. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 25 May

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  18. Letter, Quincey P. Morris to Hon. Arthur Holmwood, 25 May

  19. Telegram from Arthur Holmwood to Quincey P. Morris, 26 May

  20. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 28 May

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  21. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 31 May

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  22. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 5 June

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  23. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 17 June

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  24. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 18 June

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  25. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 24 June, before morning

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  26. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 25 June, morning, and Same day, later

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  27. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 29 June

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  28. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 30 June, morning

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  29. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 1 July

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  30. The Demeter’s voyage

    1 month, 3 days · The Demeter’s course, Varna to Whitby (approximate)

  31. Log of the “Demeter”, 6 July

  32. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 8 July

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  33. Log of the “Demeter”, 11 July, and 12 July

  34. Log of the “Demeter”, 13 July, and 14 July

  35. Log of the “Demeter”, 16 July

  36. Log of the “Demeter”, 17 July

  37. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 19 July, and 10 p. m.

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  38. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 20 July, and 11 a. m., and 11 p. m.

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  39. Log of the “Demeter”, 22 July

  40. Mina and Lucy at Whitby

    27 days · Whitby

  41. Mina Murray’s Journal, 24 July. Whitby

    St Mary’s churchyard, East Cliff, Whitby

  42. Log of the “Demeter”, 24 July

  43. Mina Murray’s Journal, 26 July

    The Crescent, West Cliff, Whitby (the novel gives no house)

  44. Mina Murray’s Journal, 27 July

    The Crescent, West Cliff, Whitby (the novel gives no house)

  45. Log of the “Demeter”, 28 July

  46. Log of the “Demeter”, 29 July

  47. Log of the “Demeter”, 30 July

  48. Mina Murray’s Journal, 1 August

    St Mary’s churchyard, East Cliff, Whitby

  49. Log of the “Demeter”, 1 August

  50. Log of the “Demeter”, 2 August, midnight

  51. Mina Murray’s Journal, 3 August

    The Crescent, West Cliff, Whitby (the novel gives no house)

  52. Log of the “Demeter”, 3 August

  53. Log of the “Demeter”, 4 August

  54. Mina Murray’s Journal, 6 August

    The Crescent, West Cliff, Whitby (the novel gives no house)

  55. Cutting from “The Dailygraph,” 8 August

    Tate Hill Pier, Whitby

  56. Mina Murray’s Journal, 8 August

    Whitby

  57. Cutting from “The Dailygraph,” 9 August, and Later

    Tate Hill Pier, Whitby

  58. Mina Murray’s Journal, 10 August, and Same day, 11 o’clock p. m.

    St Mary’s churchyard, East Cliff, Whitby

  59. Mina Murray’s Journal, 11 August, 3 a. m.

    St Mary’s churchyard, East Cliff, Whitby

  60. Mina Murray’s Journal, Same day, noon, and Same day, night

    Whitby

  61. Mina Murray’s Journal, 12 August

    The Crescent, West Cliff, Whitby (the novel gives no house)

  62. Letter, Sister Agatha, Buda-Pesth, to Miss Wilhelmina Murray, 12 August

    Buda-Pesth (Budapest)

  63. Mina Murray’s Journal, 13 August

    The Crescent, West Cliff, Whitby (the novel gives no house)

  64. Mina Murray’s Journal, 14 August

    St Mary’s churchyard, East Cliff, Whitby

  65. Mina Murray’s Journal, 15 August

    The Crescent, West Cliff, Whitby (the novel gives no house)

  66. Mina Murray’s Journal, 17 August

    The Crescent, West Cliff, Whitby (the novel gives no house)

  67. Letter, Billington & Son, Whitby, to Carter, Paterson & Co., London, 17 August

    The Crescent, West Cliff, Whitby (the novel gives no house)

  68. Mina Murray’s Journal, 18 August

    St Mary’s churchyard, East Cliff, Whitby

  69. Mina Murray’s Journal, 19 August

    The Crescent, West Cliff, Whitby (the novel gives no house)

  70. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 19 August, and Later

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  71. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 20 August

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  72. Letter, Messrs. Carter, Paterson & Co., London, to Messrs. Billington & Son, Whitby, 21 August

  73. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 23 August, and Later

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  74. Lucy’s illness and death

    1 month · Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  75. Letter, Mina Harker to Lucy Westenra, 24 August

    Buda-Pesth (Budapest)

  76. Lucy Westenra’s Diary, Hillingham, 24 August

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  77. Lucy Westenra’s Diary, 25 August

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  78. Letter, Lucy Westenra to Mina Harker, Whitby, 30 August

  79. Letter, Arthur Holmwood to Dr. Seward, Albemarle Hotel, 31 August

  80. Telegram, Arthur Holmwood to Seward, 1 September

  81. Letter from Dr. Seward to Arthur Holmwood, 2 September

  82. Letter, Abraham Van Helsing, M. D., D. Ph., D. Lit., etc., etc., to Dr. Seward, 2 September

  83. Letter, Dr. Seward to Hon. Arthur Holmwood, 3 September

  84. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 4 September, and Later, and Midnight

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  85. Telegram, Seward, London, to Van Helsing, Amsterdam, 4 September

  86. Telegram, Seward, London, to Van Helsing, Amsterdam, 5 September

  87. Telegram, Seward, London, to Van Helsing, Amsterdam, 6 September

  88. Letter, Dr. Seward to Hon. Arthur Holmwood, 6 September

  89. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 7 September

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  90. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 8 September

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  91. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 9 September

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  92. Lucy Westenra’s Diary, 9 September

  93. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 10 September

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  94. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 11 September

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  95. Lucy Westenra’s Diary, 12 September

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  96. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 13 September

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  97. Lucy Westenra’s Diary, 17 September

  98. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 17 September

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  99. Telegram, Van Helsing, Antwerp, to Seward, Carfax, 17 September

  100. Memorandum left by Lucy Westenra, 17 September. Night

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  101. Letter, Mina Harker to Lucy Westenra, 17 September

    Exeter

  102. “The Pall Mall Gazette,” 18 September

    London Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park

  103. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 18 September

  104. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 18 September

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  105. Letter, Mina Harker to Lucy Westenra, 18 September

    Exeter

  106. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 19 September

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  107. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 20 September

    Hillingham, Lucy’s house (no address in the novel)

  108. Mina Harker’s Journal, 22 September, and Later

    Piccadilly, London

  109. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 22 September

    Kingstead churchyard, Lucy’s tomb (Stoker’s name; near Hampstead Heath)

  110. London: the party forms and the hunt

    ≈ 11 days, 11 hours · Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  111. Mina Harker’s Journal, 23 September

  112. Mina Harker’s Journal, 24 September

  113. Letter, Van Helsing to Mrs. Harker, 24 September

  114. “The Westminster Gazette,” 25 September

    Hampstead Heath area (the novel’s children and Lucy’s tomb)

  115. Telegram, Mrs. Harker to Van Helsing, 25 September

  116. Mina Harker’s Journal, 25 September, and Later

    Exeter

  117. Letter (by hand), Van Helsing to Mrs. Harker, 25 September, 6 o’clock

  118. Letter, Mrs. Harker to Van Helsing, 25 September, 6:30 p. m.

    Exeter

  119. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 26 September

    Exeter

  120. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 26 September

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  121. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 27 September

    Kingstead churchyard, Lucy’s tomb (Stoker’s name; near Hampstead Heath)

  122. Note left by Van Helsing in his portmanteau, directed to John Seward, 27 September

  123. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 28 September

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  124. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 29 September, morning

    Kingstead churchyard, Lucy’s tomb (Stoker’s name; near Hampstead Heath)

  125. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 29 September, night

    Kingstead churchyard, Lucy’s tomb (Stoker’s name; near Hampstead Heath)

  126. Mina Harker’s Journal, 29 September

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  127. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 29 September

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  128. Mina Harker’s Journal, 29 September

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  129. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 29 September, in train to London

    Whitby

  130. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 30 September, and Later

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  131. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 30 September, and Later

    King’s Cross station, London

  132. Mina Harker’s Journal, 30 September, and Later

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  133. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 30 September

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  134. Mina Harker’s Journal, 30 September

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  135. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 1 October, 4 a. m.

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  136. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 1 October, 5 a. m.

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  137. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 1 October, later

  138. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 1 October

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  139. Mina Harker’s Journal, 1 October

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  140. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 1 October, evening

    Bethnal Green, London

  141. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 1 October, and Later

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  142. Letter, Mitchell, Sons and Candy to Lord Godalming, 1 October

  143. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 2 October, evening

    Poplar, London (Bloxam’s work, Cross Angel Street)

  144. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 2 October, and Later

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  145. Mina Harker’s Journal, 2 October 10 p. m.

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  146. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 3 October

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  147. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 3 October

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  148. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 3 October

    Piccadilly, London

  149. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, Piccadilly, 12:30 o’clock

    Piccadilly, London

  150. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 3-4 October, close to midnight

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  151. The pursuit to the castle

    ≈ 1 month, 3 days · Varna to the castle by Galatz and Veresti (approximate)

  152. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, Later [3-4 October]

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  153. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 4 October, morning

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  154. Dr. Seward’s Phonograph Diary, spoken by Van Helsing, [4 October]

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  155. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 4 October

  156. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 5 October, and Later, and Later

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  157. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 5 October, afternoon, and Later, and Later, midnight

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  158. Mina Harker’s Journal, 5 October, 5 p. m.

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  159. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 6 October, morning, and Later

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  160. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 11 October, Evening

    Purfleet (Dr. Seward’s asylum and Carfax; the novel gives the village, not the site)

  161. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 15 October, Varna

    Varna

  162. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 16 October

    Varna

  163. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 17 October

    Varna

  164. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 24 October

    Varna

  165. Telegram, October 24th, Rufus Smith, Lloyd’s, London, to Lord Godalming, Varna

    Varna

  166. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 25 October, and 25 October, Noon, and Later

    Varna

  167. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 26 October

    Varna

  168. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 27 October, Noon

    Varna

  169. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 28 October

    Varna

  170. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 29 October, and Later

  171. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 30 October, 7 a. m.

    Galatz (Galați)

  172. Mina Harker’s Journal, 30 October, and Later

    Galatz (Galați)

  173. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 30 October

    Galatz (Galați)

  174. Mina Harker’s Memorandum

    Galatz (Galați)

  175. Mina Harker’s Journal, 30 October, evening, and continued, and Later, and Later

    Galatz (Galați)

  176. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, October 30. Night

    Galatz (Galați)

  177. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 31 October

  178. Mina Harker’s Journal, 31 October, and Later

    Verești (probably the novel’s Veresti)

  179. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 1 November, evening

  180. Mina Harker’s Journal, 1 November

  181. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 2 November, morning

  182. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 2 November

  183. Mina Harker’s Journal, 2 November, morning

  184. Mina Harker’s Journal, 2 November, night

    Tihuța Pass (the novel’s Borgo Pass)

  185. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 3 November

  186. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 4 November

  187. Memorandum by Abraham Van Helsing, 4 November

  188. Jonathan Harker’s Journal, 4 November, evening

  189. Memorandum by Abraham Van Helsing, 5 November, morning

    Tihuța Pass (the novel’s Borgo Pass)

  190. Dr. Seward’s Diary, 5 November

  191. Dr. Van Helsing’s Memorandum, 5 November, afternoon

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)

  192. Mina Harker’s Journal, 6 November

    Castle Dracula (approximate area; the novel names no site)