Dublin City Council Bram Stoker Festival & Dr. Jason McElligot

Criminal Insanity: Bram Stoker and the Inmates of Millbank Prison

Bram Stoker Festival

A fascinating journey into prisons, asylums, and other places of confinement haunted by Bram Stoker
Years before the publication of Dracula, Stoker was granted unrestricted entry to the infamous Millbank Prison, on the banks of the Thames in London. Inside these walls, he crossed paths with renowned criminals, fraudsters and killers. One particular encounter with an Irish prisoner, entangled in a web of violence spanning Ireland and Britain, left an indelible mark on Stoker's imagination.

These haunting real-life experiences may have served as the foundation for some of the novel’s most memorable characters: Renfield, the asylum patient, and Dr. John Seward, the keeper of the asylum.

Join Dr. Jason McElligott, Director of Marsh’s Library, for this captivating lecture; a deep-dive into the murky, real-life people and places which informed Stoker’s masterpiece.

Contains discussion of 19th century crimes including murder and aggravated burglary.

Age Suitability: 14+ (Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult)

Accessibility: Venue is wheelchair accessible via platform lift at the entrance of the building. There is also a universal access bathroom on the ground floor.

Duration 1hr