Wilde wonders and Irish blood suckers!

Ever wondered where Bram Stoker got his inspiration for his classic book, 'Dracula'? Look at the roll call of Irish Gothic writers in the nineteenth century and you won't be far wrong. 'Twas in the year 1871, that the gothic giant Sheridan Le Fanu - whose generic nickname was 'The Invisible Prince' - published a novella called 'Carmilla' - a Lesbian Vampire tale! Le Fanu and Stoker would have known each other quite well and they also would have mingled with Charles Maturin (a grand uncle of Oscar Wilde and here begins the Wildean connection!) - whose first published work had the bone shaker of a title, 'The Ghost and the Bone setter'. Perhaps the inspiration for all of them, was actually No 1 Merrion Square - now known as 'Wilde House'. Yes, the home of the Wilde family, for it was whilst here during Lady Wilde's Saturday Afternoon Salons, that they would have heard stories about the mythical Irish blood sucker called the 'Dearg Due'. Perhaps these literary get togethers - which had the cream of Dublin's philosophical fraternity - were the source for both Le Fanu and ultimately, Stoker! You can never beat the Irish!!