According to Stoker novel, Dracula was a cultured man. In reality he was a Romanian warlord of the 15th century. He gained his name, Vlad the Impaler, because his favoured execution method was to run a spear through his victim’s lower body, then stand them upright so the spear pierced the vital organs. This full history details his bloodthirsty military campaigns against the Turks and Bulgars. He pursued vicious guerrilla tactics, a scorched earth retreat and tortured his captives. He was finally assassinated by his former Turkish allies. AUTHOR: James Waterson graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and received his master’s degree from the University of Dundee. He is the author of a trilogy of works on the Middle East: The Ismaili Assassins, The Knights of Islam and Sacred Swords. Also, he has written a one volume history of the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties of China: Defending Heaven. 30 b/w illustrations