'The Shoulder of Shasta' is a touching story interspersed with gothic notes about a middle class English girl named Esse who gradually grows to know and love the swashbuckling American cowboy Dick. A poignant tale set to the backdrop of the picturesque scenery of Mount Shasta in California. Stoker is definitely bringing readers something quite different from his cult classic 'Dracula', starring Bela Lugosi in its film adaptation. Highly recommended for those who enjoy the intensely vivid descriptions of Bram Stoker's other works, as well as those of his contemporaries Edgar Allan Poe, H. G. Wells and H. P. Lovecraft who also specialised in gothic and horror literature.