The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova can best be described as a modern hunt for Dracula through Istanbul, Bulgaria, and Romania while the Cold War was still taking place. This is not a beach read; this is a literary historical novel that takes thought and is thought provoking. The paperback version that I read is a little over nine hundred pages, but worth the struggle. I learned more about this region of the world and its history from this one book than I have learned at any other time. I also learned a good deal about the real Dracula, Vlad the Impaler. For bibliophiles, the book also offers discourse on ancient texts, ancient libraries and monasteries.
The current hunt for Dracula takes place starting right after World War II through the seventies. The vampire hunters are seeking Vlad the Impaler’s, Dracula’s, gravesite. They are using ancient texts and historical documents in their quest. Like the original Dracula story, The Historian uses diaries, journal entries, and letters to tell some of the story. The story is not told in chronological order but jumps around the centuries focusing on a particular region of the Byzantine Empire. Also like Bram’s Dracula, the story contains a good deal of romance across three generations of vampire hunters.
To reiterate, The Historian requires time to read and comprehend. I found the story thought provoking, and at the same time I wanted to keep reading to discover what happens next. The amount of historical, cultural, and regional content was astounding. I highly recommend The Historian, but it will take some time to fully read the novel and appreciate its many fine qualities.
The movie is scheduled for release in 2010, and her next book The Swan Thieves will be released in January 2010.
Bruce G. Smith 11/27/2009