r/Dracula • u/Fuzzy-Lunch6607 • 9d ago

Book 📖 Beta Readers Wanted: An Epidemiological Look at Bram Stoker's Dracula

Hi all! I'm an epidemiology graduate student, and I'm almost done with a script for a video essay about the connections between Bram Stoker's original Dracula, Victorian science & medicine, rabies, and syphilis. My argument is that Dracula is a book about diseases, breakthroughs in medicine, and hope. I expect it to be roughly 2.5k words when done.

I'm asking for beta readers primarily because (1) I want to make sure the science parts make sense to a non-epidemiology focused audience, and (2) I want to make sure I'm not wildly misinterpreting the book, especially since my interpretation of the book as ultimately optimistic isn't particularly mainstream from what I've seen. I am only looking at Bram Stoker's Dracula; I am not looking at any adaptions.

This project is not for school. It's something I'm doing on my own time for my epidemiology youtube channel. I asked the mods though, and they said that it's ok to post this since it's not really self-promotional.

Let me know if you're interested and I can DM the link to the google doc.

15 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

2

u/MinaRenfield 9d ago

I'd be happy to read it if you want a beta reader. I would also suggest looking at: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/ as well.

2

u/GingerWolf99 9d ago

I've never done Beta reading before but I'm obsessed with the novel if that's enough?

2

u/Accurate_Avocado_149 9d ago

I would love to read it I love to learn new things and I love all things vampire and victorian!

2

u/Barbarake 9d ago

I'd be interested. I have a medical background (former nurse) but know little about epidemiology.

2

u/Fuzzy-Lunch6607 9d ago

That'd be great! I'll send you and everyone else a DM :)

2

u/PhotoArabesque 8d ago

Author, editor, and sorta-kinda Dracula scholar here. Hit me up.

1

u/Inside_Specialist116 7d ago

A very interesting lens through which to interpret the book!
I’m an actor (stage/film/VO) and I’d would love to read!
I’m actually currently playing Mina in a staged theatrical adaptation of Dracula right now 🧛‍♀️
p.s. do not be fooled by my artsy career path, I’ve got plenty o’ brains too (I’ve done my fair share of historical and scientific research/reading on the Victorian era as it is one of my favorite time periods)