6 h 16 minAudiobook8 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at costPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
What if the quiet fields of England hide something ancient that refuses to die?
Adam Salton arrives from Australia to live with his great-uncle Richard at Lesser Hill in the English Midlands. Here, in the old kingdom of Mercia, country-house manners sit uneasily beside darker stories. With help from Sir Nathaniel de Salis, Adam begins to explore a local legend of a monstrous white worm.
Meanwhile, wealthy Edgar Caswall takes over Castra Regis and turns his dangerous attention toward the Watford family. Mimi Watford wants to protect her gentler cousin Lilla, while cold, watchful Lady Arabella March pursues her own advantage. In Bram Stoker's Gothic novel, ancient folklore and the power of one mind over another bring terror close to home.
What you’ll discover
- Terror beneath quiet fields Enter a countryside where the legend of an ancient creature threatens the present.
- A battle of wills Face Edgar Caswall's chilling desire to bend other people to his will.
- Courage at Mercy Farm Meet Mimi Watford, whose bravery grows from her determination to protect her family.
- History with sharp teeth Explore a Mercia where Roman temples, Saxon kings, and ancient beasts haunt the soil.
- A swift Gothic nightmare Follow short, energetic chapters that move from polite company toward hints of horror.
Is it for you?
This is for readers who enjoy Gothic atmosphere, folklore and monster stories, and who like a fast plot with a strong sense of place. If you want subtle psychology or modern attitudes, you may find it less suited.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- A young Australian comes to Mercia
- Old legends and a lady of Diana's Grove
- A rich stranger takes Castra Regis
- Mesmerism, a kite, and a family in danger
- What the story is really about
- How Stoker tells it
Who’s who
- Adam SaltonA practical young Australian who comes to England as heir to his great-uncle and soon feels drawn into the dark secrets of the district.
- Richard SaltonAdam's elderly great-uncle, who lives at Lesser Hill and wants a trustworthy heir to carry on the family.
- Sir Nathaniel de SalisA learned old neighbour who knows the history and legends of Mercia and helps Adam understand what he finds.
- Mimi WatfordA brave and sensible young woman from Mercy Farm who wants to protect her cousin and family.
- Lilla WatfordMimi's gentler cousin, who lives at Mercy Farm and becomes a target of the dangers around her.
- Edgar CaswallA proud, wealthy man who takes over Castra Regis and seeks to impose his will on others.
- Lady Arabella MarchA beautiful, cold widow of Diana's Grove who watches newcomers closely and seeks wealth and advantage.
- OolangaCaswall's servant, shown as cunning and greedy, who follows his own dark interests in the district.
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- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 8 minutes, to read or to hear.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Hardcover
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- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print hardcover
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The Lair of the White Worm
by Bram Stoker· 1911
A young Australian encounters an ancient menace in rural England.
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Language: English
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1 of 6
A young Australian comes to Mercia
The novel opens with Adam Salton, a young man from Australia, arriving in England. His great-uncle, Richard Salton, has invited him to live at Lesser Hill, a house in the English Midlands. Richard is an old bachelor and wants an heir he can trust. Adam is brisk, practical and curious, and he takes to the countryside at once.
On the way he meets Sir Nathaniel de Salis, an elderly scholar and a friend of the family. Sir Nathaniel knows the history of the region better than anyone. He tells Adam about the Romans who came here, the Saxons who followed, and the old kingdom of Mercia that gave the district its character. For Adam, the land is not just scenery. It is layered with ages, and each layer has left stories behind.
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The author
Bram Stoker
1847–1912 · Irish Gothic novelist
Bram Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, born in Dublin in 1847. He moved to London in 1878 and worked as manager of the Lyceum Theatre. He wrote Dracula (1897), The Jewel of Seven Stars (1903), and The Lair of the White Worm (1911). He died in London in 1912.
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What is The Lair of the White Worm about?
It is a horror novel about Adam Salton, a young Australian who joins his great-uncle in the English Midlands and finds that local legends of an ancient creature may be linked to some of his powerful neighbours.
Is The Lair of the White Worm based on a true story?
No, it is fiction, published in 1911. Stoker drew on English folklore of dragon-like worms, local history and ideas about mesmerism, but the characters and events are his own invention.
Who is Lady Arabella March?
She is a tall, elegant widow who lives at Diana's Grove in Mercia. She is charming and watchful, takes an interest in rich newcomers, and is tied to the darker legends of the district.
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