How Dracula saved Bram Stoker’s poor widow

Bram Stoker’s penniless widow was rescued from poverty by the Dracula writer – from past the grave.

Long-lost paperwork reveal he was one of many first writers in historical past to copyright his work.

He took the groundbreaking step as a result of the growth in Victorian theatre-going had led to the rise of “Dramatic Pirates”.

Unscrupulous bosses tailored best-sellers for the stage – with out paying the writer a penny.

When Dracula was printed on May 16, 1897, a “copyright performance” was staged simply two days later at London’s Lyceum Theatre the place Bram was the supervisor.

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This concerned studying passages to an viewers to safe the stage rights. Bram then accomplished the copyright registration the following day.

He died in 1912, and by 1922, his widow Florence – though the holder of all rights to Dracula – was removed from being a rich lady.

Then German movie director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau produced his silent movie “Nosferatu”, starring Max Schreck. The credit, acknowledged the movie was primarily based on Dracula.

Florence took authorized motion and received after a seven-year battle.

National Archives researcher Sarah Castagnetti, who discovered the paperwork about Bram’s copyright at Kew, mentioned: “Stoker’s efforts to protect his rights went on to make cinematic history.”

Although no data of the settlement survive, Florence obtained an enormous payday when Tod Browning made the primary Dracula movie in 1931.

Florence was paid $40,000 for the movie rights – the equal of $800,000 as we speak, or £638,000.