Lee’s work is part of a total package in this book. The cover resembles the worn leather binding of a book printed in the mid-nineteenth century, and Lee’s smart Nosferatuesque cover adds to the gothic feel. The deep red eyes of Dracula stand in stark contrast to the muted pinkish-greys and blacks of the rest of the figure. It is subtle but chillingly effective. Lee’s choice of subject and scene to illustrate are less about telling a story than about creating a mood or atmosphere to accompany the text. Lee’s illustrations act as a visual soundtrack to this horror tale, adding a deeper experience to the reading.

Stoker’s Dracula has never been anything like the charming Hollywood vampire. Lee’s illustrations in this volume amplify Stoker’s intent. It is a horror story that is not glib nor is it rub-your-face-in-it gory. It is chilling in its sexual overtones, its stalking hunger, and its isolating evil. Lee’s drawings are as restrained as the Victorian era in which this story was written, adding another measure of horror as wicked acts are suggested and brooding immorality seeps from the page. Though some of the drawings are downright disturbing, they aren’t gross.

The Illustrated Dracula is a must read for any horror or comic fan. It also is an exquisite addition to any collection of classic literature.