He was educated at Trinity College, where he met Oscar Wilde, before being employed as a civil servant, and later a journalist. After a chance encounter with the actor Henry Irving, Stoker moved to London in 1876 to manage the Lyceum theatre. While in England he took many of his holidays in Whitby, and it was here, beneath the shadow of the ruined Abbey, and influenced by the strange tales of local fisherman, that he penned his masterwork. Completed in 1897, 'Dracula' has become one of the best selling horror novels of all time.

As well as influencing a startling amount of literature, the novel has spawned numerous films, including the Francis Ford Coppola adaptation in1992. Stoker was active both on the literary scene and in his capacity of manager at the Lyceum until his death in 1912. Whitby has always retained a special affection for the story, for not only was the book written in Whitby, but part of the action takes part in the town. Dracula first arrives in England on board a wrecked schooner that crashes onto the beach.

Taking the form of a giant black dog, the vampire leaps to shore and takes refuge in the graveyard at the summit of the 199 steps.