A newly discovered ghost story by Bram Stoker, the author of the iconic novel Dracula, has been unearthed after more than 130 years of obscurity. The story, titled “Gibbet Hill,” was originally published in 1890 in the Dublin Daily Express but had since been forgotten until Brian Cleary, a clinical pharmacist and Stoker fan, stumbled upon it at the National Library of Ireland.
Cleary’s discovery of the story in an 1891 advertisement led him to the full version of “Gibbet Hill,” which had never been referenced by literary scholars and was missing from Stoker’s archives. The story, set in Surrey, England, revolves around an unnamed narrator who encounters three eerie children near a murdered sailor’s grave, showcasing Stoker’s classic themes of good versus evil.
According to Paul Murray, author of “From the Shadow of Dracula: A Life of Bram Stoker,” “Gibbet Hill” exemplifies Stoker’s evolution as a writer and foreshadows the dark and mysterious elements found in Dracula. Stoker began working on Dracula the same year “Gibbet Hill” was published, ultimately solidifying his reputation as the master of Gothic vampire fiction.
The newly uncovered story is set to be republished with illustrations by Irish artist Paul McKinley, with proceeds going to the Charlotte Stoker Fund, a charity supporting research on deafness in newborn babies named after Bram Stoker’s mother. Cleary’s personal connection to hearing loss, as he had recently received a cochlear implant, adds an extra layer of significance to the discovery of “Gibbet Hill.”
The story will be publicly read for the first time at the Dublin City Council Bram Stoker Festival, fittingly held at the Casino Marino, near Stoker’s birthplace. McKinley’s illustrations for the story draw inspiration from its eerie themes, bringing new life to a tale that had long been buried in literary history.
The resurfacing of “Gibbet Hill” sheds new light on Stoker’s early works and offers fans of the author a rare glimpse into his development as a writer. The story’s rediscovery is a testament to the enduring legacy of Bram Stoker and his contribution to the world of Gothic literature.
