BOOK REVIEW: The Historian

With all of the interest in vampires today, it might be time to go back five years and have another look at THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova. This is not a book written for young, romantic readers, but rather a well researched novel exploring the history of Vlad the Impaler. Mixing fact and legend, the story covers 30 years during Cold War Europe and the search for Prince Vad’s burial place.

Late one night in 1972. A sixteen-year-old girl discovers a box of letters and a mysterious book in her father’s library. These letters lead her to the story of her father’s search for a missing friend and the story of the mother that she never knew.

The quest takes us on a search 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 Prince Vlad.

The combination of fascinating historical facts and a moving suspense story hold us captive. We learn much about the Ottomans and the Christians and their war for Istanbul. We travel from dusty Ivy League libraries to Istanbul, Budapest, and the depths of Cold War Eastern Europe.

There is good proof that Vlad the Impaler did exist during Medieval times. The ironic fact seems to be that this man who has come down through history as the ultimate evil, was a fierce warrior for Christianity. Now the question addressed in this book is whether he still lives and how hard will his followers go to protect him.

It is probably no surprise to those who know me, but the temptation offered in this story would have made me think at least twice. Vlad has had centuries to build his personal library. If I had been the one offered the job as his librarian, well that would have been a tough decision. It gave me more sympathy for Doctor Faustus and his deal with Mephistopheles.

Be prepared to make a time commitment for this book. It is long. Bram Stoker may be responsible for starting our fascination with vampires, but Elizabeth Kostova has helped keep the legend alive.