The Mystery of the Sea Bram Stoker 9781514197264 Books
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I had just arrived at Cruden Bay on my annual visit, and after a late breakfast was sitting on the low wall which was a continuation of the escarpment of the bridge over the Water of Cruden. Opposite to me, across the road and standing under the only little clump of trees in the place was a tall, gaunt old woman, who kept looking at me intently. As I sat, a little group, consisting of a man and two women, went by. I found my eyes follow them, for it seemed to me after they had passed me that the two women walked together and the man alone in front carrying on his shoulder a little black box—a coffin. I shuddered as I thought, but a moment later I saw all three abreast just as they had been. The old woman was now looking at me with eyes that blazed. She came across the road and said to me without preface
The Mystery of the Sea Bram Stoker 9781514197264 Books
Written and published in 1902, five years after "Dracula," Bram Stoker's "The Mystery of the Sea" would intrigue most academics studying his works, but I don't think readers in general would be attracted to this obscure book's adventures as they are to the dark castle of the Count.The basic plot looks like a John Buchan tale. "The Mystery" centers around one Archibald Hunter, who saves the life of one American girl Marjory. They are destined for some perilous adventures before falling love with each other. Despite the insipid personality of the hero/narrator Archibald, there are some interesting traits about the bicycle-riding American heroine, who is obviously treated favorably by the author. She is fiercely independent and patriotic, but this is nothing surprising if you remember one character in "Dracula" and the biographical fact that Stoker admired Walt Whitman.
Though the book contains many episodes describing their adventures (in dark caverns or in the stormy sea, for example) and some of them have interesting ideas (like codes and ciphers), Stoker fails to paint an exciting pictures of them, not knowing how to arrange them in the right order. Almost all the detective/spy story elements in "The Mystery of the Sea" is no mystery, too abstract and generic.
The book also has supernatural aspects, something like "second sight," fleeting visions that predict the future, which the hero sees. The device does not work as it should, however, because of Stoker's whimsical use of this device (reminding us of Mina's telepathy in "Dracula," which is more effective). Actually the book has much less supernatural factors than in his "The Jewel of Seven Stars" which is I think a better work.
The book opens with some intriguing concepts, and then the story flounders, not knowing where to go in the middle part. The book finally gets thrilling in the concluding chapters, but as a whole "The Mystery of the Sea" is a reminder that Stoker is, and will be remembered as the writer of one book named "Dracula."
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Tags : The Mystery of the Sea [Bram Stoker] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. I had just arrived at Cruden Bay on my annual visit, and after a late breakfast was sitting on the low wall which was a continuation of the escarpment of the bridge over the Water of Cruden. Opposite to me,Bram Stoker,The Mystery of the Sea,CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform,151419726X,Classic fiction (pre c 1945),Classics,Fiction,Fiction Classics,History - General History,Literature: Classics
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The Mystery of the Sea Bram Stoker 9781514197264 Books Reviews
Archibald Hunter was spending his annual vacation in Cruden Bay, Scotland when he sees two women and a man walking abreast. Suddenly, he has a vision of the man carrying a coffin and the two women walking behind. Just as suddenly, he sees the three walking normal again. Very odd.
As this was happening, Archie was being watched by an old woman, Gormala. She had seen Archie's shocked look at what he had just seen and tells him that he has the gift (if you can call it that) of "Second Sight". This means he can see the future, and that the next day he will find out what his vision meant.
Sure enough, the next day Archie finds out that the child of two of the adults he saw walking had drowned. A series of "Second Sight" visions follow including the death of an accomplished seaman by drowning in the often rough Cruden Bay near the rock formations known as the Skares and the vision of a procession of ghosts spanning hundreds of years of seaman who have drowned in the Skares. At the end of this procession is the latest victim who Archie is presently carrying to Whinnyfold after failing to save him. His death was predetermined, and no one could have saved him. As Gormala states "Am I to wark against the Fates when They have spoken! The Dead are dead indeed when the Voice has whispered in their ears".
Archie loves the area around Cruden Bay and is building a house on the cliff overlooking the Skares. One day, he spots two women in trouble and he rushes in to save them. One woman, the younger of the two, ends up being Archie's love, Marjory Drake. Marjory is an American on the run from a Spanish group (the story takes place during the Spanish American War and Marjory, a rich heiress who greatly helped the U.S. fight the war against Spain).
To help furnish his new house, Archie purchases an old oak chest from an auctioneer. In this chest are very old, yellowed, papers written in an odd cipher code. Being curious, Archie--and later Marjory--undertake the task of deciphering the code. Once they do, they find that it leads to a treasure buried in the area over 300 years ago by the Spanish Armada.
Archie and Marjory embark on an effort to find this treasure and along the way experience the adventure of a lifetime, and find that true love conquers all.
"The Mystery of the Sea" is a terrific book written by a true master. It may not reach the heights of "Dracula" (which I give 5 WaterTowers), but, it is a wonderful adventure mystery mixing information about ciphers and codes, romance, and the supernatural.
Stoker is a devoted Victorian. His story is sound, his telling is competent, but his saccharine development of his partner and love interest will not fly with modern audiences.
Written and published in 1902, five years after "Dracula," Bram Stoker's "The Mystery of the Sea" would intrigue most academics studying his works, but I don't think readers in general would be attracted to this obscure book's adventures as they are to the dark castle of the Count.
The basic plot looks like a John Buchan tale. "The Mystery" centers around one Archibald Hunter, who saves the life of one American girl Marjory. They are destined for some perilous adventures before falling love with each other. Despite the insipid personality of the hero/narrator Archibald, there are some interesting traits about the bicycle-riding American heroine, who is obviously treated favorably by the author. She is fiercely independent and patriotic, but this is nothing surprising if you remember one character in "Dracula" and the biographical fact that Stoker admired Walt Whitman.
Though the book contains many episodes describing their adventures (in dark caverns or in the stormy sea, for example) and some of them have interesting ideas (like codes and ciphers), Stoker fails to paint an exciting pictures of them, not knowing how to arrange them in the right order. Almost all the detective/spy story elements in "The Mystery of the Sea" is no mystery, too abstract and generic.
The book also has supernatural aspects, something like "second sight," fleeting visions that predict the future, which the hero sees. The device does not work as it should, however, because of Stoker's whimsical use of this device (reminding us of Mina's telepathy in "Dracula," which is more effective). Actually the book has much less supernatural factors than in his "The Jewel of Seven Stars" which is I think a better work.
The book opens with some intriguing concepts, and then the story flounders, not knowing where to go in the middle part. The book finally gets thrilling in the concluding chapters, but as a whole "The Mystery of the Sea" is a reminder that Stoker is, and will be remembered as the writer of one book named "Dracula."
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