You know when you are reading a really good book when you start feeling panic once you realise that you are reaching the end. I am about 100 pages off the end of an extraordinary book "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova, enjoying it immensely and wishing I had several thousand more pages to go.
The book, is similar in style to Bram Stokers "Dracula" in that it is composed of people letters and accounts rather than "real time" narrative. Kostova's prose is very tight however and dispite being 700 pages long captured by interest and kept it throughout. There are three interlocking storylines all of which concern the hunt for Dracula the vampiric alter ego of Vlad Tepes aka Vlad the Impaler.
The main story begins with the main protagonist - Paul finding a book placed among his academic papers. The book is very old and empty except for a woodcut of a dragon in its center. He takes this book to show his history Professor - Professor Rossi who reveals that he recieved a similar book some 20 years before and this piqued his curisosity enough to travel around Europe seeking answers to its mysterious origins. Later that evening Rossi then disappears.
The bulk of the Historian details the travels of the main characters Paul and Helen in the 1950s as they travel through Istambul and Eastern Europe seeking clues as to the disappearance of Rossi; along the way finding more scholars how have also recieved similar books and ever lurking in the background is Dracula clues to the location of his grave always one step in front of them and Paul and Helen race to uncover the mystery. Woven throughout all this is Professor Rossi's account set some 20 years earlier detailing his travels in search of the mysteries behind his book. Finally we have Pauls daughter and her travels in search of the mystery behind her mother and missing father. Together these three tales make up a fascinating and very well written; almost Borgesian; multi-layered tale.
I was initially a bit concerned that the book would be rubbish, Dracula has been done to death mostly by Hollywood. Also Stokers novel is excellent and does not need improving. The Historian does not retread Stokers novel however. Rather it starts with the premise that Vlad the Impaler really did become Dracula and speculates on how this would affect history. If we have a 500 year vampire wandering around who would be very concerned with secrecy he would be very interested in tracking down and dealing with any historical refereces regarding him. Also anyone tracking him down would rely on historical references to find any leads to follow. I havent got to the end yet so have no idea what happens but am rapidly running out of fingernails.
It might not be obvious to many people but the idea of scholars tracing down obscure references can be tremendously exciting and we often forget that a good proportion of psychic questing is library research as well as poking around ruins at night. The feel of wading through mustly tomes looking for lost references is fabulous and in this way the book is very reminiscent of "The Ninth Gate" by Polanski (film) and the book its based on "The Dumas Club" by Perez Reverte.
I might just pull out by questing shoes and go see if I chase down Vlad and see is there really are any connections between him and Dracul as suggested.
Cheers Paolo
[...]
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Amazon Price | New from | Used from |
|
Kindle Edition
"Please retry" | — | — |
|
Audible Audiobooks, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
£0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
| Hardcover, 30 Jun. 2005 | £3.27 | — | £1.27 |
|
Audio CD, Abridged, Audiobook, CD
"Please retry" | £8.90 | £3.84 |
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
