Abraham "Bram" Stoker (November 8, 1847 - April 20, 1912) was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula. During his lifetime, he was better known as personal assistant of actor Henry Irving and business manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, which Irving owned.
Colm Toibin is a multi-award-winning Irish novelist, short story writer and critic.
He is Leonard Milberg Lecturer in Irish Letters at Princeton University in New Jersey and is to succeed Martin Amis as professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester. He is the author of six novels, including 'The Master' and 'Brooklyn'. He is a contributing editor at the London Review of Books.