Chapter 26: Dr. Seward's Diary

Jonathan Harker

A solicitor who has aged prematurely due to the trauma of Dracula's attack on his wife. His hair has turned white. He is driven by a 'living flame' of energy to destroy the Count. In this chapter, he investigates the shipping agents in Galatz and joins Lord Godalming on a steam launch to pursue the Count by water.

Count Dracula

The vampire antagonist. He is currently attempting to escape to his castle. In this chapter, he is revealed to have used fogs to reach Galatz, where he transferred his box to a riverboat to travel upstream toward the Borgo Pass.

Arthur Holmwood

A nobleman and member of the group. He uses his title and wealth to facilitate the group's movements. In this chapter, he uses his influence with the Vice-Consul and his expertise with steam launches to lead the river pursuit.

Lucy Westenra

A deceased friend of Mina's who became a vampire. She is mentioned in this chapter as a precedent for the 'mercy' of being killed to save one's soul.

Dr. John Seward

A doctor and head of an asylum. He is a close friend of Arthur Holmwood and Quincey Morris. He is deeply involved in the hunt for Dracula and meticulously records the group's progress in his diary. In this chapter, he travels by train to Galatz and then sets off on horseback with Quincey Morris to patrol the riverbank in pursuit of the Count.

Quincey P. Morris

A brave American friend of the group. He is a natural leader in tactical situations. In this chapter, he provides Winchesters for the group and sets off on horseback with Dr. Seward to intercept the Count on the riverbank.

R. M. Renfield

A patient at the asylum who was brutally murdered by Dracula. His body was found with a crushed face and broken neck.

Mrs. Westenra

Lucy's mother, who had a fatal heart condition. She died of fright and heart failure during a supernatural attack on their home. In this chapter, her body is found in Lucy's bed.

The Attendant

An asylum staff member who was on duty during Renfield's death. He admitted to dozing off but heard Renfield shouting 'God!' before he died.

Mina Harker

Jonathan Harker's wife. She is brave, unselfish, and maintains a cheerful front despite her 'unclean' status. She has a red scar on her forehead from a Sacred Wafer. She possesses a psychic connection to Dracula that allows her to be hypnotized to reveal his location. In this chapter, she uses her 'man-brain' to deduce Dracula's river route and travels with Van Helsing toward the Borgo Pass.

Abraham Van Helsing

A professor and leader of the group. He is a man of great learning and specialized knowledge in the supernatural. He uses hypnosis on Mina to track Dracula's movements and is the primary strategist in the fight against the vampire. In this chapter, he continues to hypnotize Mina and takes charge of her safety as they travel toward the Borgo Pass.

The Landlady

A cheery-looking elderly woman in peasant dress who runs the Golden Krone Hotel in Bistritz. She is deeply superstitious and fearful of the "evil things" that come out on St. George's Eve.

The Landlord

The elderly owner of the Golden Krone Hotel in Bistritz. He is reticent and pretends not to understand Jonathan's German when questioned about Count Dracula.

The Driver

A tall man with a long brown beard and bright eyes. He has prodigious strength and command over wolves.

The Three Vampire Women

Three predatory vampire women with brilliant white teeth and voluptuous ruby lips. They lack shadows and can materialize from moonbeams. They are subordinate to the Count and crave human blood.

The Szgany

A band of gypsies encamped in the courtyard of Castle Dracula. They are fearless, superstitious, and loyal to the Count, speaking their own Romany tongue.

The Slovaks

River laborers who trade on the Danube and its tributaries. They are described as strong, rough, and superstitious.

The Distressed Woman

A woman from the local village whose child was taken by the Count.

Mina Murray

Jonathan Harker's fiancée. She is an assistant schoolmistress, diligent, and observant. She keeps a detailed journal in shorthand. In this chapter, she heroically rescues Lucy from the East Cliff during a sleepwalking episode and later receives news that Jonathan is safe in a hospital in Buda-Pesth.

Mr. Swales

An elderly resident of Whitby, nearly a hundred years old. He is a former sailor in the Greenland fishing fleet. He is skeptical, blunt, and speaks in a heavy local dialect. In this chapter, he is found dead on his favorite seat with a look of horror on his face.

The Coastguard

An official in Whitby who observes the sea and passing ships.

The Sea-Captain

The captain of the Russian schooner Demeter. He was a brave and dedicated seaman who stayed at his post until the end, lashng his hands to the wheel with a crucifix to remain true to his trust despite a 'fiend' or 'monster' aboard his ship.

The Mate

The first mate of the Demeter, a Roumanian man of a stronger but more volatile nature. He became convinced a 'tall, thin, ghastly pale' man was hiding in the hold and eventually jumped overboard in a fit of madness or despair.

Petrofsky

A crew member of the Demeter who first goes missing.

Abramoff

A crew member of the Demeter.

Olgaren

A crew member of the Demeter who claims to have seen a tall, thin stranger on board.

The Great Dog

A large, fierce dog that leaps from the Demeter as it crashes and disappears into the Whitby cliffs.

Sister Agatha

A nurse at the Hospital of St. Joseph and Ste. Mary in Buda-Pesth. She is described as a 'good creature' and a 'born nurse' who respects the secrets of her patients' ravings.

The Curate

A young clergyman in Whitby.

The Chaplain

The official who performs the marriage ceremony for Mina and Jonathan.

The Maids

Domestic staff at the Westenra household. They were drugged with laudanum during the attack on the house.

Thomas Bilder

A keeper at the Zoological Gardens who looks after the wolves, jackals, and hyenas. He is a talkative, philosophical man who enjoys a joke and a 'half-quid' tip.

Mrs. Bilder

The wife of Thomas Bilder, described as hospitable and cheery.

The Interviewer

A journalist for the Pall Mall Gazette.

Thomas Snelling

A carrier for Harris & Sons. In this chapter, he is found in a drunken stupor and is unable to provide information.

Mr. Marquand

A solicitor from the firm of Wholeman, Sons, Marquand & Lidderdale who handles Mrs. Westenra's estate. He is described as genial and appreciative, though somewhat limited in his sympathetic understanding of the tragedy.

The woman who performed the last offices

A woman employed by the undertaker to prepare Lucy's body for the funeral. She views her work with professional pride.

The Undertaker

The professional in charge of the funeral arrangements for Lucy and her mother. He is described as urbane and obsequious.

The Maid

A domestic worker at Dr. Seward's asylum.

Mary

A servant in the Harker household in Exeter.

Dr. Vincent

A medical professional at the North Hospital and a former classmate of John Seward in Amsterdam.

The Child

A fair-haired little boy found in the clutches of the 'Un-Dead' Lucy. He is unharmed but frightened, giving a sharp cry when Lucy flings him to the ground.

The Patrol of Horse Police

A member of the horse police on a suburban round.

The Policeman

An officer on duty in Piccadilly who watches the locksmith work without suspicion.

The Sexton

The official in charge of the churchyard. He is mentioned as locking the gates, believing everyone has left.

Billington junior

The son of Samuel Billington.

The Carriers

Laborers who moved the heavy boxes of earth to Carfax. They complained of the dust and extreme thirst.

The Terriers

Three small dogs belonging to Arthur Holmwood. They are effective at hunting rats and are not susceptible to Dracula's spiritual influence.

Mrs. Snelling

The wife of Thomas Snelling, described as a decent, poor soul.

Joseph Smollet

A reliable and intelligent workman, a carrier who moved boxes from Carfax. He keeps a detailed notebook of his jobs.

Sam Bloxam

A rough-spoken laborer who moved nine boxes from Carfax to a house in Piccadilly. He was impressed by the 'old party's' (Dracula's) strength.

The Deputy

The 'deputy' or manager of Corcoran's lodging-house in Walworth.

The House Agent

A suave but uncommunicative house agent at Mitchell, Sons & Candy.

Simmons

An attendant at the asylum.

The Locksmith

A thick-set working man hired by Lord Godalming to pick the locks of the Piccadilly house. He is professional and efficient.

Captain Donelson

The captain of the Czarina Catherine. He is a superstitious but practical Scotsman who believes the Devil helped his ship make a record-breaking run through the fogs to Galatz.

Immanuel Hildesheim

A Hebrew businessman in Galatz with a fez and a sheep-like nose. He acted as an agent for 'Mr. de Ville' (Dracula).

Borgo Pass

The mountain pass leading to Dracula's castle.

• Jonathan is transferred from the public coach to Dracula's calèche amidst a scene of great fear from the other passengers.
• Mina and Van Helsing travel toward this location to intercept the Count.
• Van Helsing and Mina arrive here at sunrise.
• The final battle between the protagonists and the Szgany takes place near here.

Castle Dracula

The ancient, fortress-like residence of Count Dracula in the Carpathian Mountains, filled with locked doors and secret passages.

• Jonathan arrives here at the end of the chapter after a harrowing night journey.
• Jonathan arrives at the courtyard and is welcomed by the Count.
• Jonathan and the Count discuss the purchase of the Carfax estate in the library.
• Jonathan discovers the Count has no reflection while shaving.
• Jonathan realizes all exits are locked and he is a prisoner.
• Jonathan realizes he is a prisoner and explores the locked halls.
• The Count is seen crawling down the outer walls like a lizard.
• Jonathan falls asleep in a forbidden room and is attacked by three vampire women.
• Jonathan discovers he is locked in his room.
• The Szgany encamp in the courtyard.
• The Slovaks deliver fifty wooden boxes.
• A woman is killed by wolves at the castle gate.
• Van Helsing enters the castle to destroy the three vampire women.
• Van Helsing seals the castle so the Count can never return.

Carfax

One of Dracula's lairs in London.

• Jonathan describes the property to the Count using his notes and photos.
• Fifty boxes of earth are delivered here by Carter, Paterson & Co.
• Renfield escapes to the chapel door of this estate to worship his 'Master'.
• Carriers deliver large wooden boxes to this estate, sparking Renfield's violent outburst.
• The carriers describe the thick dust and the eerie atmosphere of the chapel where they delivered the boxes.
• The men leave to investigate the house at the end of the chapter.
• The men break into the house using skeleton keys.
• They discover that 21 of the 50 earth-boxes are missing.
• Thousands of rats swarm the chapel and are driven off by Arthur's dogs.
• The men enter the chapel and sterilize several boxes of earth using Sacred Wafers.
• Mina reports seeing Dracula leave this location hurriedly at 12:45.

Exeter

The city in England where the Harkers live and where Jonathan works at the late Peter Hawkins' firm.

• Mentioned as the home of Peter Hawkins and Jonathan's future place of work.
• Mina writes letters from here describing Mr. Hawkins' death and their inheritance.
• Mina reads Jonathan's journal in her room.
• Van Helsing visits Mina at her home for lunch.
• Jonathan meets Van Helsing at his hotel and sees him off at the railway station.

Whitby

The coastal town where the Demeter landed and where Jonathan goes to track the boxes.

• Jonathan notices it is marked with a ring on the Count's map of England.
• Mina arrives to stay with Lucy.
• Mina and Lucy talk with Mr. Swales in the churchyard.
• A great storm begins to gather over the coast.
• A massive, sudden storm hits the town.
• The schooner Demeter crashes into the pier.
• The sea-captain is buried in the churchyard.
• Mr. Swales is found dead.
• Lucy sleepwalks to the churchyard on the East Cliff.
• Mina finds Lucy on their favorite seat being hovered over by a dark figure.
• Jonathan visits Mr. Billington and the port officials to trace the shipment.

The Count's Room

A room within the castle containing a great heap of ancient gold and a hidden door to a stone passage.

• Jonathan enters through the window and searches for keys.
• Jonathan finds a hoard of ancient coins and jewelry.

The Old Chapel

A ruined, roofless structure within the castle grounds used as a graveyard, containing vaults and a deathly smell of old earth.

• Jonathan finds the fifty boxes filled with earth.
• Jonathan discovers the Count in a trance-like state inside a box.
• Jonathan attempts to kill the Count with a shovel.

17, Chatham Street

A street in London where Lucy Westenra resides.

• Lucy writes letters to Mina from this address.
• Dr. Seward, Quincey Morris, and Arthur Holmwood visit Lucy here to propose.

The Lunatic Asylum

The institution managed by Dr. Seward where Renfield is kept.

• Dr. Seward records his diary here and interviews his patient, Renfield.
• Dr. Seward observes Renfield's behavior with flies, spiders, and birds.
• Renfield begs for a cat and eventually eats his pet sparrows.
• Renfield exhibits religious mania and escapes from his room.

The East Cliff Churchyard

A graveyard on the East Cliff of Whitby, overlooking the sea.

• Mina and Lucy sit here and listen to Mr. Swales' stories.
• Mr. Swales points out the 'lies' on the tombstones.
• People gather here to watch the storm.
• The sea-captain is buried here.
• Mr. Swales is found dead on a seat here.

The Demeter

A Russian schooner from Varna that arrives in Whitby as a derelict ship with a dead captain.

• The ship survives a storm and leaps into the harbor with no living crew.
• The captain's log reveals a series of disappearances and a mysterious passenger.

Hospital of St. Joseph and Ste. Mary, Buda-Pesth

A hospital in Hungary where Jonathan Harker is recovering from brain fever.

• Jonathan is treated here for six weeks by Sister Agatha and the doctors.
• Mina arrives to nurse Jonathan.
• Mina and Jonathan are married in the hospital.
• Jonathan gives Mina his journal.

Hillingham

The Westenra family estate where Lucy and her mother reside. It is currently a scene of desolation and death.

• Lucy's health begins to fail again.
• Dr. Seward and Professor Van Helsing examine Lucy.
• Arthur provides a blood transfusion to Lucy. Dr. Seward provides a second blood transfusion. Van Helsing decks the room with garlic.
• Mrs. Westenra removes the garlic flowers from Lucy's room.
• Van Helsing and Seward perform a blood transfusion on Lucy.
• A wolf breaks the window of Lucy's bedroom.
• Mrs. Westenra dies of a heart attack.
• The maids are drugged with laudanum.
• Seward and Van Helsing break in through a kitchen window.
• The maids are found drugged in the dining room.
• Mrs. Westenra is found dead and Lucy is found near death.
• Quincey Morris provides a blood transfusion for Lucy.
• Lucy Westenra dies at Hillingham.

Dr. Seward's Asylum

Dr. Seward's residence and place of work. The group uses it as their base of operations.

• Renfield experiences violent outbursts at noon and sunset.
• Renfield escapes the asylum twice.
• Renfield attacks Dr. Seward in his study and licks his blood.
• The group receives Mina's telegram here.
• Mina is hypnotized in her bedroom at dawn.
• The group has a perfunctory supper and discusses their next steps.

Liverpool Street Station

A major railway station in London.

• Van Helsing and Dr. Seward meet here to discuss Lucy's case before traveling to her home.
• Van Helsing departs from here.

Zoölogical Gardens

The location of the wolf department where Bersicker is kept.

• A mysterious tall man with red eyes visits the wolf cage.
• The wolf Bersicker escapes from his cage.

The Asylum

Dr. Seward's residence and place of work where the group meets to plan.

• Renfield escapes his room and attacks carriers on the road outside the grounds.
• Mina and the men study the journals.
• Mina visits Renfield in his room.
• The group holds a meeting to plan their attack on Dracula.
• Renfield begs the group for his release.
• The group discusses Renfield's sanity in the study.
• Van Helsing attempts to interview Renfield.
• Mina experiences a terrifying dream in her room.
• Mina visits Renfield and receives his blessing.
• The group discusses Renfield's death and their plan of action.
• Van Helsing attempts to bless Mina with a Sacred Wafer, which burns her forehead.
• The group holds a council to discuss Dracula's flight and their pursuit.
• Mina and Jonathan make a pact of secrecy.

The Westenra Residence

The home where Lucy and her mother lived and died.

• Van Helsing and Seward examine papers and guard Lucy's body.
• Arthur Holmwood arrives and says his final goodbyes to Lucy.
• The funeral preparations are finalized.

Green Park

A public park in London where Jonathan, Seward, and Van Helsing wait while the house is being opened.

• Jonathan falls asleep on Mina's shoulder after his shock.
• The three men wait on a bench and smoke cigars to avoid suspicion.

Hampstead Heath

A large public park in London where the child is left to be found by a policeman.

• Several children are lured away by the 'bloofer lady' and found with throat wounds.
• Van Helsing and Seward leave the rescued child here.

Purfleet

The location of Dr. Seward's lunatic asylum and the setting for his conversation with Van Helsing.

• Van Helsing returns from Exeter and shows Dr. Seward the newspaper report.
• Van Helsing and Seward discuss the possibility of the supernatural.

Kingstead Churchyard

The location of the Westenra family vault where Lucy is buried.

• Van Helsing and Seward find Lucy's coffin empty at night and full during the day.
• Van Helsing finds a child in the churchyard.

The Westenra Tomb

The burial site of the Westenra family, described as a vault with a heavy door and leaden coffins. It is surrounded by funereal trees like yew and juniper.

• Van Helsing opens the coffin twice, once finding it empty and once finding Lucy inside looking 'Un-Dead.'
• The men find Lucy's coffin empty.
• Van Helsing seals the tomb with the Host to trap Lucy outside.
• The men witness Lucy returning with a child.
• Arthur stakes Lucy in her coffin to release her soul.
• Van Helsing and Seward perform the final decapitation and garlic ritual.

Berkeley Hotel

A hotel in London where Van Helsing stays.

• Van Helsing, Seward, Arthur, and Quincey meet to discuss the plan to deal with Lucy.
• Van Helsing receives Mina's telegram here and gives the diaries to Seward.

Hampstead Churchyard

The location of the churchyard where Lucy is buried. It is described as having a low wall and being quiet enough for the men to hide from the police.

• The men leave the rescued child in a place where the police will find him.
• The men wait for the sexton to lock the gates before beginning their final task.

Renfield's Room

The room where the patient Renfield is kept and where he eventually dies.

• Renfield is found in a pool of blood.
• Van Helsing performs a trephine operation on Renfield's skull.
• Renfield confesses his dealings with Dracula before dying.

The Harkers' Bedroom

The room where the Harkers are staying within the asylum.

• The group bursts through the locked door.
• Dracula is discovered forcing Mina to drink his blood while Jonathan is in a stupor.
• Dracula escapes as a faint vapor.
• Mina recounts the details of the attack.

Piccadilly House

The house at 347 Piccadilly where the group ambushes Dracula.

• The group hires a locksmith to break in.
• They sterilize eight boxes of earth.
• They find deeds and keys to other houses.
• The group waits for Dracula and ambushes him.
• Jonathan Harker attempts to kill Dracula with a knife.
• Dracula escapes through a window and then through the stable.

Varna

A port city in Bulgaria on the Black Sea where the group waits for Dracula's ship.

• The group identifies this as the place where they must intercept Dracula.
• The group arrives via the Orient Express and stays at the Odessus Hotel.
• Van Helsing hypnotizes Mina at sunrise and sunset to track the ship.
• The group receives news that the ship has bypassed them.

Czarina Catherine

The ship that transported Dracula from London to Galatz.

• Dracula boards the ship with his earth-box under the cover of a supernatural fog.
• The group boards the ship to interview Captain Donelson.

Galatz

A port city on the Danube where the Czarina Catherine arrives.

• The ship Czarina Catherine is reported to have entered this port, bypassing Varna.
• The group arrives by train and investigates the ship and the shipping agents.
• The body of Petrof Skinsky is found here.

Bistritz

A post town in Transylvania, described as an interesting old place with marks of a stormy history, including fires and sieges.

Golden Krone Hotel

An old-fashioned hotel in Bistritz where Jonathan Harker stays.

Whitby Abbey

A noble ruin of immense size overlooking the town of Whitby, associated with legends of a White Lady.

Tate Hill Pier

The specific spot in Whitby harbor where the Demeter ran aground.

Robin Hood’s Bay

A village near Whitby where Mina and Lucy have tea.

The Deserted House (Carfax)

A property adjacent to the asylum where Renfield is found during his escapes.

Albemarle Hotel

A hotel in London where Arthur Holmwood stays.

Great Eastern Hotel

The hotel in London where Van Helsing stays.

Amsterdam

The city in the Netherlands where Van Helsing lives and returns to briefly to gather books and supplies.

Haarlem

A city in the Netherlands known for its greenhouses.

Piccadilly

A busy street in London where Jonathan and Mina walk.

The Churchyard and Vault

The location of the Westenra family vault where Lucy and her mother are buried.

Hampstead

An area in London where children have been reported missing and returning with throat wounds.

North Hospital

A medical facility where the children bitten by the 'bloofer lady' are treated.

Jack Straw's Castle

An inn where Van Helsing and Seward dine before going to the churchyard.

Paddington Station

A major railway station in London.

Dr. Seward's House/Asylum

The lunatic asylum managed by Dr. Seward, where the group begins to centralize their research.

King's Cross Station

A major railway station in London where the boxes of earth arrived.

The Station

The railway station where Dr. Seward meets Professor Van Helsing upon his arrival from the continent.

Thomas Snelling's House

A house in Bethnal Green where Jonathan finds Thomas Snelling.

Joseph Smollet's House

The home of Joseph Smollet in Walworth.

197, Chicksand Street

A location in Mile End New Town where six boxes were delivered.

Jamaica Lane

A location in Bermondsey where six boxes were delivered.

Corcoran's Lodging-house

A lodging-house in Potter's Court, Walworth.

Cross Angel Street (Cold Storage Building)

A construction site in Poplar where Jonathan finds Sam Bloxam.

347, Piccadilly

A large, dusty, and seemingly untenanted 'mansion' with a stone front and bow window, located near a new white church. It is Dracula's newest lair.

Mitchell, Sons & Candy's Office (Sackville Street)

The office of the house agents Mitchell, Sons & Candy.

British Museum

The location where Van Helsing researches ancient medicine and demon cures.

Dr. Seward's Asylum (Purfleet)

The asylum where the group is based and where Renfield is held.

The Study

Dr. Seward's workspace where the group's records were kept.

Walworth, Bermondsey, and Mile End

Locations in London where Dracula has additional lairs.

Bermondsey

A district in London where Arthur and Quincey find and destroy six of Dracula's earth-boxes.

Mile End

A district in London where Arthur and Quincey find and destroy another six of Dracula's earth-boxes.

Lloyd's

A shipping registry in London where the group finds records of all departing vessels.

Doolittle's Wharf

The specific wharf in London from which the Czarina Catherine departed.

The Odessus Hotel

The hotel in Varna where the group stays.

The Orient Express

The train the group takes from Paris to Varna.

Charing Cross Station

The major railway station in London from which the group departs.

Sereth River

A major river that the group believes the Count is using to travel inland.

Bistritza River

A tributary of the Sereth that leads toward the Borgo Pass.

Veresti

A town where Van Helsing and Mina arrive by train to begin their land journey.

Fundu

The location where the Bistritza joins the Sereth.