The Lair of the White Worm

What It's About

Adam Salton, a young Englishman raised in Australia, comes to Derbyshire to live with his great-uncle Richard Salton at Lesser Hill. He soon learns of a local legend of a monstrous white serpent said to have lived in the region long ago. His neighbours include the wealthy, domineering Edgar Caswall of Castle Stonecroft and the seductive widow Lady Arabella March of Diana's Grove. Adam, his uncle and the learned Sir Nathaniel de Salis suspect that something ancient and malevolent is at work. Other characters include the Watford sisters, Lilla and Mimi, and Caswall's servant Oolanga. The story builds on atmosphere, suspicion and a growing sense of dread.

Key Concepts

The novel draws on English folklore about dragons and giant worms, blending it with Gothic horror and the Victorian and Edwardian fascination with mesmerism. It sets rational, scientific men against forces rooted in myth and pagan survival, and it uses the Derbyshire landscape, with its caves and old sites, as a source of menace. The book has long divided readers. It was written when Stoker was in poor health, and critics often point to its melodrama and uneven plotting. The portrayal of Oolanga is also widely criticised for its racial stereotyping. Even so, the novel is admired for its eccentric imagination and has gained a cult following.

About the Author

Bram Stoker (1847–1912) was an Irish novelist and writer who also worked for many years as a theatre manager in London. He was born in Dublin and educated at Trinity College.