A long forgotten story by Bram Stoker has been uncovered at the National Library of Ireland (NLI).
Gibbet Hill, a short story published in 1890 was found by amateur Bram Stoker researcher Brian Clear last October. Scholars of the Dracula author and Trinity Alumni were unaware of the story prior to Cleary’s discovery.
Cleary first came across the title in an 1890 Christmas supplement to the Dublin edition of the Daily Express while looking through the NLI archives late last year.
The story will be revealed to the public for the first time at Dublin City Council’s annual Bram Stoker festival this weekend.
A long time Stoker enthusiast, Cleary began researching the author at the NLI after suffering from hearing loss and undergoing cochlear implant surgery.
Following the discovery, Cleary called NLI Director Dr. Audrey Whitty saying, “I’ve found something extraordinary in your newspaper archives—you won’t believe it,” a moment Whitty referred to as a “special memory”.
“The National Library of Ireland’s unique collections, safeguarding over 12 million items, are at the heart of everything we do”, Whitty said.
“There are truly world-important discoveries waiting to be found through accessing our vast collections, and Brian’s astonishing amateur detective work is a perfect example.”
To mark the discovery, Dublin City Council is partnering with the Rotunda Foundation to publish the story alongside artwork by Paul McKinley. The book will also feature writing from Bram Stoker biographer Paul Murray, chronicling the story of Cleary’s discovery.
The book will be released this Saturday coinciding with the Bram Stoker Festival.
All proceeds will go towards the Rotunda Foundations Charlotte Stoker Fund for research on the prevention of acquired deafness in newborns. The newly established fund is named after Bram Stoker’s mother who was an early advocate for the education of deaf children.
As part of the festival, Miriam O’Callaghan will interview Cleary, Mckinley, and Murray at a free public event held in the Pillar Room at the Rotunda this Saturday.
Among college’s most well known Alumni, Bram Stoker studied at Trinity from 1864 to 1870. He is best known for his gothic horror Dracula which was published in 1897.
Gibbet Hill is available to pre-order on the Rotunda Foundation website,
