The Mystery of the Sea

"The Mystery of the Sea" by Bram Stoker is a supernatural novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around a protagonist who has arrived at Cruden Bay for an annual visit, where he encounters mysterious events tied to the concept of "Second Sight" and foreboding prophecies associated with a local seer, Gormala. The narrative blends elements of mysticism, tragedy, and the eerie relationship between life and death, setting a tone of foreboding mystery. The opening of the novel introduces the protagonist as he arrives in Cruden Bay, where his attention is drawn to a gaunt old woman who seems to possess a supernatural insight. After witnessing a procession tied to the tragedy of a drowned child, he is intrigued by the woman’s cryptic warnings about death and the "Doom." As the protagonist grapples with his newfound ability to perceive omens, he becomes ensnared in a web of mystical visions regarding fate and the sea. The narrative builds a captivating tension, suggesting that the characters are caught in a larger scheme governed by unseen forces, and lays the groundwork for the unfolding mystery surrounding the sea and its secrets. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish author who is best known for writing the 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula. During his lifetime, he was better known as the personal assistant of actor Sir Henry Irving and business manager of the West End's Lyceum Theatre, which Irving owned.