Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula in the Times, 1897

[The solicitor] finds himself shut up in a half ruined castle with a host who is only seen at night and three beautiful females who have the misfortune to be vampires. Their intentions, which can hardly be described as honourable, are to suck his blood, in order to sustain their own vitality...

...the story, of which nobody can complain that it is deficient in dramatic situations.

We would not, however, recommend it to nervous persons for evening reading.

Via Uncertain Times (photo credit for first edition).