Abraham Stoker was an Irish writer, barrister, literary critic, and theatre manager who lived from 1847 to 1912. He is best remembered as the author of Dracula, published in 1897, a Gothic horror novel that introduced the world to the fictional character Count Dracula. Dracula stands as a milestone in both Gothic and vampire literature. The novel and its central antagonist have had an enduring influence on popular culture and the horror genre, establishing many of the conventions associated with vampire fiction that persist to this day.