"Vlad III, the 15th century ruler of what is now southern Romania, had a terrifying nickname--the Impaler. It originated with the grisly way he dealt with his enemies: He demanded that their not-yet-dead bodies be impaled on stakes. Vlad's reputation for brutality only grew and later became entwined with the legend of the vampire Dracula. This in-depth account presents the true story of Vlad the Impaler and his fight against the Ottoman Empire, a...

Discusses Vlad the Impaler, the historical person behind Count Dracula, describes how Bram Stoker came to write his famous novel about him, and examines how the character has been portrayed on stage and screen.