Today marks the centenary of the death of Bram Stoker, and commemorations of the Irish author's life and career will undoubtedly focus on Dracula, his most famous work.

An entire industry has evolved around Stoker and his deathless novel, with the author often being hailed as the father of the modern vampire novel which abounds today. Yet upon its publication in 1897, the Manchester Guardian was less than enthusiastic about the future of the horror novel - although praising Stoker's powers as an author, the reviewer regretfully concluded that it was 'an artistic mistake to fill a whole volume with horrors.'