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Search - The Historian
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The Historian Author: |
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Book Information
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Book Description:
Breathtakingly suspenseful and beautifully written, The Historian is the story of a young woman plunged into a labyrinth where the secrets of her family's past connect to an inconceivable evil: the dark fifteenth-century reign of Vlad the Impaler and a time-defying pact that may have kept his awful work alive through the ages. The search for the truth becomes an adventure of monumental proportions, taking us from monasteries and dusty libraries to the capitals of Eastern Europe - in a feat of storytelling so rich, so hypnotic, so exciting that it has enthralled readers around the world.
"Never was a ghost story so casually erudite, nor a historical travelogue such gripping entertainment." ---New York Magazine
"Impossible to resist. . . . Kostova blends fact and fantasy to remind us that the original Dracula legend is rooted in monstrous acts of unblinking evil." ---Miami Herald
"A richly told story about family and the dark side of human nature. . . . This cry of the heart will appeal to readers beyond those who are drawn by a fascaination with the legend of Dracula." ---Chicago Tribune
"Genuinely terrifying." ---Boston Globe
"Nearly impossible to put down once you crack the spine. . . . It won't take you long to get to the end." ---Houston Chronicle
"Never was a ghost story so casually erudite, nor a historical travelogue such gripping entertainment." ---New York Magazine
"Impossible to resist. . . . Kostova blends fact and fantasy to remind us that the original Dracula legend is rooted in monstrous acts of unblinking evil." ---Miami Herald
"A richly told story about family and the dark side of human nature. . . . This cry of the heart will appeal to readers beyond those who are drawn by a fascaination with the legend of Dracula." ---Chicago Tribune
"Genuinely terrifying." ---Boston Globe
"Nearly impossible to put down once you crack the spine. . . . It won't take you long to get to the end." ---Houston Chronicle
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Top Member Book Reviews
8 member(s) found this review helpful.
Kostova has taken Stoker's mythical story of Dracula and refashioned it into a compelling mystery molded with a different cast of characters while weaving into the plot true historical facts relating to the 15th century. The Turkish invasion of Europe and the Christian vs. Muslim fight for dominance along with the cruelties from both sides (Vlad the impaler, Turkish Ottoman) paint a totally different complextion on Dracula. Hands down, one of the best variations of the story of Dracula I have every read!
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
As a history major and lover of anything the slightest bit odd, I LOVED this book! I own two copies. One hardback that my daughter stole and a paperback that I carry in my purse. It is amazing to see the history come alive and the social, political and historical context come shining through.
Not just a great book, but a great lesson in history, as well.
Not just a great book, but a great lesson in history, as well.
Amy B. (
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
To my dear and unfortunate successor...
I found this book endlessly fascinating. My husband gave up on it.
I don't mind books that get a little long winded when it comes to detail, and this book reads like a good Dracula mystery just as much as it does a European travelogue. The action and suspense is spaced between pages of seemingly mundane detail of buildings, landscapes, and other observations. I was not distracted by it in the least. Others, however (husband included) simply could not get past it.
I found this book to be imaginative, creepy, and suspenseful. It was a creative new look at a very common subject and I thought Kostova did a very good job of bringing a sense of legitimate mystery and fear back into a character that is so easily made into a cliche.
Once I started this book, I was unable to put it down and was sad to see it end, yet this book won't be for everyone. I think its writing style will appeal to just as many people as it will turn away. For me, there was something about the story itself, the plight of the characters, the endless researching of ancient bone-colored books, the ever present threat of Dracula himself, that had me hooked from the very beginning.
From my perspective, this is an absolute must-read. But it's impossible to say what types of readers will agree with me.
I found this book endlessly fascinating. My husband gave up on it.
I don't mind books that get a little long winded when it comes to detail, and this book reads like a good Dracula mystery just as much as it does a European travelogue. The action and suspense is spaced between pages of seemingly mundane detail of buildings, landscapes, and other observations. I was not distracted by it in the least. Others, however (husband included) simply could not get past it.
I found this book to be imaginative, creepy, and suspenseful. It was a creative new look at a very common subject and I thought Kostova did a very good job of bringing a sense of legitimate mystery and fear back into a character that is so easily made into a cliche.
Once I started this book, I was unable to put it down and was sad to see it end, yet this book won't be for everyone. I think its writing style will appeal to just as many people as it will turn away. For me, there was something about the story itself, the plight of the characters, the endless researching of ancient bone-colored books, the ever present threat of Dracula himself, that had me hooked from the very beginning.
From my perspective, this is an absolute must-read. But it's impossible to say what types of readers will agree with me.
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
What an incredible story! What beautiful writing. Warning - do NOT read this while alone. This book got to me and a book has NOT done that for a long long time. It drags you in and then scares the pants off you. Amazing story for the Vampire lover. I do not read Vampire books but this takes the old story of Dracula and brings it into the now. Whew....
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
I was thrilled that this book was long. I loved every page! I appreciated the background to the folklore that surrounds dracula and Kostova's spin on it. I read the book in a couple days..it was that captivating
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