I decided I should read this as most of my family have. It's not as bad as I was expecting. In fact, it's a really good read, and I'll be reading the remaining three. A little stilted at times, but then it isn't meant to be high literature. I think, at the time, it was probably quite innovative from the point of view of carrying on the whole Dracula saga, as well as musing on the conflict between desperately wanting something but not being able to have it because that would destroy our self-respect/discipline. Interesting.