The Shoulder of Shasta

The Shoulder of Shasta

First edition
Author	Bram Stoker
Language	English
Publisher	Constable
Publication date	1895
Media type	Print (Hardcover)
Pages	235

The Shoulder of Shasta is a romance novel by Bram Stoker written in 1895. It was published two years before the release of Stoker's Dracula . ^[1] The book is set in the American West. It was written after one of the American tours he did with Henry Irving. ^[2]

Main characters

• Esse Elstree: The protagonist and daughter of Mrs. Elstree, who moved Esse from San Francisco to Shasta due to her poor health. While on Shasta, she meets Grizzly Dick with whom she becomes infatuated after a grizzly bear encounter nearly kills him. At the end of the story, Esse becomes engaged to Reginald Hampton.
• Grizzly Dick: Esse's primary romantic interest. He is an American man who has made his home and living as a guide and hunter in rural wooded regions outside of San Franciso[ sic?]. He grew up in the "Great American Desert," as he called it, and is rough around the edges, laughing at absurd volumes that seem rude to the Elstrees whom he guides up Shasta. Despite this, he is very respectful and kind, especially to Mrs. Elstree and Esse.
• Mrs. Elstree: The widowed, affectionate, and protective mother of Esse. She has golden hair and beautiful blue eyes that exhibit her placidity. She struggles with Esse's entrance into womanhood and disproves of Esse's initial interest in Dick but supports her engagement to Reginald.
• Miss Gimp: Esse's governess before they travelled to Shasta. Now, since Esse is grown, she takes care of all of the domestic animals and is Mrs. Elstree’s companion on their trip to Shasta. During their stay in Shasta, Miss Gimp becomes convinced that Dick is in love with her.

References

1. http://www.bramstoker.org/novels.html Bibliography of Stoker's novels at Bram Stoker Online.
2. Who was Dracula?: Bram Stoker's Trail of Blood. TarcherPerigee. 2013. p. 52. ISBN   014242188X.