To you, perceptive reader, I bequeath my history….Late one night, exploring her father’s library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters. The letters are all addressed to “My dear and unfortunate successor,” and they plunge her into a world she never dreamed of-a labyrinth where the secrets of her father’s past and her mother’s mysterious fate connect to an … inconceivable evil hidden in the depths of history.The letters provide links to one of the darkest powers that humanity has ever known-and to a centuries-long quest to find the source of that darkness and wipe it out. It is a quest for the truth about Vlad the Impaler, the medieval ruler whose barbarous reign formed the basis of the legend of Dracula. Generations of historians have risked their reputations, their sanity, and even their lives to learn the truth about Vlad the Impaler and Dracula. Now one young woman must decide whether to take up this quest herself-to follow her father in a hunt that nearly brought him to ruin years ago, when he was a vibrant young scholar and her mother was still alive. What does the legend of Vlad the Impaler have to do with the modern world? Is it possible that the Dracula of myth truly existed-and that he has lived on, century after century, pursuing his own unknowable ends? The answers to these questions cross time and borders, as first the father and then the daughter search for clues, from dusty Ivy League libraries to Istanbul, Budapest, and the depths of Eastern Europe. In city after city, in monasteries and archives, in letters and in secret conversations, the horrible truth emerges about Vlad the Impaler’s dark reign-and about a time-defying pact that may have kept his awful work alive down through the ages.Parsing obscure signs and hidden texts, reading codes worked into the fabric of medieval monastic traditions-and evading the unknown adversaries who will go to any lengths to conceal and protect Vlad’s ancient powers-one woman comes ever closer to the secret of her own past and a confrontation with the very definition of evil. Elizabeth Kostova’s debut novel is an adventure of monumental proportions, a relentless tale that blends fact and fantasy, history and the present, with an assurance that is almost unbearably suspenseful-and utterly unforgettable.
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Wonderful writing with an interesting story surrounding one of the most interesting men in history.
From the first page, The Historian instantly grips you and pulls you into the story, providing the ultimate escape. The prose is so beautiful, the setting and atmosphere of the novel gothic and gripping, the plot twisting and unpredictable. I simply devoured this book and felt truly immersed in the story the entire time I was reading. If you love …
This is one of my favorite books! That being said the first thing you have to know is that it is a vampire story, and not just any vampire-Dracula! The tale switches back and forth between a girl trying to discover her father’s past and her father’s search for Dracula. It is not a light read and get slow in places but so worth it. Elizabeth …
The Historian is a standalone historical fiction novel written by Elizabeth Kostova. Yes, it has vampires in it and no, it’s not classified as paranormal. Why? Because of Ms. Kostova’s attention to historical accuracy, specifically regarding the historical figure of Vlad the Impaler rather than the mythical (and paranormal) Dracula the Vampire. In …
One of the best books I have read.
This book will have second-guess the vampire legend, taking you into a world where Vlad the Impaler materializes into the myth we all know and love, and for others…fear beyond comprehension.
Loved this book although it is not something I would normally read. It’s not for everyone but I was well into the book before I realized it’s true content.
Elizabeth Kostova is not only a master storyteller but an EXCEPTIONAL writer of prose. Reading this book was like being a kid eating a huge chilly bowl of the most decadent gelato. I didn’t want to stop – no apologies. It was DELICIOUS! I can’t wait to read more of Kostova’s works!
An interesting take on the Dracula/Vlad the Impaler history, this book manages to weave three generations worth of story telling into a seamless novel. I have read this book so many times through the edges of the cover are showing wear and tear. This is the only stand alone novel I have ever recommended to people who ask what to read next. Each …
An interesting take on Dracula. It’s very long with several narrators. The daughter begins’ as the narrator, but is soon lost in the story. It’s interesting how important librarians are for Dracula to achieve his goal.
I have mixed feelings about this book which, at 704 pages, is a long read. On the one hand it held my attention and I learned a lot about Eastern Europe.
Kostova paints beaurtiful pictures of the setting throughout, I never thought I’d want to go to the area, but I do now especially with her as my guide.
Wrapped in the setting sits the story of …
I don’t often re-read books, although I’ve made an exception for Elizabeth Kostova’s “The Historian,” which I read every year. It’s that riveting! How she braids various character’s points-of-view over time to build tension and increase this book’s page-turn-ability is remarkable. Yes, this is a story based on the life of Vlad the Impaler, who was …
Sometimes you just find a book that has everything and for me, this was it. I loved it because I used to live in Eastern Europe and she absolutely captures that within the pages of this wonderfully written work. I would read it again actually. Bravo Elizabeth Kostova.
My favorite book of all time!
This is such a spectacular read! Even though some of the historical parts were greatly detailed, I was riveted. The author sets the perfect scene. I was transported. The tension is just so perfectly balanced with history and mystery and romance, and the unfolding legend was the right mix of historical mystery and modern thriller. I read this every …
For history and travel lovers – a detailed, atmospheric mystery.
I first read this book six years ago and was blown away by how completely the author pulled me into the story and kept me there. I am a writer and felt completely overawed by this woman’s tale that combines the familiar and suspension of disbelief so seamlessly.
Not one to write a spoiler review, I will only say that you will not be able to put …
A brilliant vampire novel, this adventure through time and Eastern Europe revitalizes the vampire myth. This is a book to read and re-read.
This book was a exciting thriller. Very well written and the suspense was amazing. I have reread this books so many times. So good!!!!
Thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in this book! So original – loved it!