Bram Stoker's Early Life and Influences

Bram Stoker, born in 1847 in Dublin, faced significant health challenges in his early childhood, which confined him to his bed for the first seven years of his life. This period of isolation allowed him to cultivate a rich imagination, fed by his mother's stories of historical epidemics and his father's tales of military exploits. Despite his early health issues, he later recovered and excelled in athletics during his time at Trinity College, where he also began an influential friendship with Oscar Wilde. Stoker's formative years, including his family's medical background, played a critical role in shaping his later literary exploration of themes related to illness and death.