The Jewel of Seven Stars

A mysterious attack on Margaret Trelawney's father brings young lawyer Malcolm Ross into the Egyptologist's bizarre home, and the couple soon find they are battling ancient forces greater than they previously could have imagined. The Egyptian queen Tera has been awoken, and is coming to take what she believes to be hers - whatever the cost to the Trelawney family.

Set in London and Cornwall, and written at a time when a fascination with the East pervaded Victorian England, The Jewel of Seven Stars reflected the perceived contrast between the Orient's savagery and moral degradation, and its exotic beauty and opulence.

Edited with an introduction and notes by Kate Hebblethwaite

About the Author

Abraham 'Bram' Stoker (1847 - 1912), was always unwell when he was an infant - he couldn't stand up until he was seven years old - yet he became a champion athlete when at university at Trinity College, Dublin. Like so many children whose health is poor Bram had lots of time to read and developed a passion for literature.

After university, Bram followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Irish Civil Service in Dublin. He was soon bored and so built on his love of theatre to become the unpaid drama critic for the Dublin Mail. He met Sir Henry Irving, the most famous actor of the time - the two became friends and from 1878 until Irving's death in 1905, Bram Stoker's main job was as the actor's manager and secretary. At the same time he was working as a writer. He wrote a dozen books but is remembered today for just one - Dracula, published in 1897. It is still regarded as a masterpiece of the macabre with its evil monsters and gripping story-line. Dracula was an immediate success and has remained popular ever since. There have been many film versions of the story but none has captured the atmosphere and mounting terror of the original book.