The Historian

By: Elizabeth Kostova

Narrated by: Justine Eyre, Paul Michael

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.

Historical fiction about Vampires

This novel paints a picture of ancient Rome, of Spain, of mysterious Instanbul, prestigious Oxford college, and so many other places including Belfast and Transylvania that is beyond words and beyond imagination. It draws you in with the story of the Professor Rassi, his colleague Paul, and finally his daughter as they travel through time, through the past and memories forgotten. Their dark mysterious journey shows them the history that leads each of them down an unknown path looking and searching for the myth and legend of Vlad Tepes, or the more common name, Dracula. It is a riveting read with great and wonderful narration. Eventually you get so lost in the story, you forget it is just a story.

Absolutely enthralling.

The book and the performance was wonderfully. I enjoyed every word and every moment. Well done!

Amazing book, fantastic characters, rushed ending

I loved this book, and really enjoyed the performance of the narrators. The accents were done well and I could easily distinguish between each character and their story. It was a slow burning book, and I feel inspired to learn several languages and travel for several years after finishing it. I felt as through each culture was thoroughly respected and described with detail without being overwhelming and boring. The daughter’s portion of the story was quite drab and I found myself skipping through most of it. With such a long build towards finding Dracula, I found that the actual encounter and fight was very quick and anti-climactic, which was disappointing but not damaging. The characters are the highlight of this book, including the side characters and those that are met during the investigation. This will be recommended to my friends for years to come.

Good Writing, Very Slow Burn

The Historian is an enjoyable, though sometimes very slow ride. The writing is strong and the premise is good. Kostova is very good at capturing details and has done considerable research. However, these strengths become weaknesses as the story gets bogged down in long discussions and descriptions. The POV and timeline get confusing at times as the novel suddenly becomes epistolary. But the final quarter makes it worth the long, sometimes tedious journey to get there.

Spectacular historical journey with a slightly

Spectacular historical journey with a slightly unclimatic end. I love books that take historical events and add their own twist. Excellent story telling. With how long the book is, I never got board. A fansinating journey. I was slightly disapointed with the last dramatic end scenes but it wrapped up well. Overall worth the endever.