The Lady of the Shroud

The Lady of the Shroud (1909) is a novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. Written just before the outbreak of the Balkan Wars, The Lady of the Shroud is a prophetic and politically informed work of fiction that helped to establish the Irish master of Gothic horror's reputation as a leading writer of the early-twentieth century. When Rupert Saint Leger is unexpectedly named heir to his uncle's fortune, he is even more surprised to learn the details of the inheritance: before receiving control of the estate, worth over one million pounds, he must live for one year in a secluded castle on the Dalmatian coast. Undaunted, Rupert travels to the Land of the Blue Mountains, where he befriends the local peasantry by purchasing them a stockpile of weapons with which to defend themselves from an impending Turkish invasion. One night, however, in the middle of a violent storm, he discovers a strange woman who seems to have wandered into the castle seeking warmth. She continues to visit, and, despite suspecting her to be a vampire, Saint Leger falls in love with the mysterious woman. When a group of soldiers kidnaps her, however, he finds himself caught between romance and a quickly escalating conflict involving a local warlord and an invading Turkish army. The Lady of the Shroud is a work of adventure and Gothic horror that explores the rich history and ancient mythology of the Balkan peninsula. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Bram Stoker's The Lady of the Shroud is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.