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THE HISTORIAN
by Elizabeth Kostova
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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.
Audio and Video
Breathtakingly suspenseful and beautifully written, The Historian is the story of a young woman plunged into a labyrinth where the secrets of her family's past connect to an inconceivable evil: the dark fifteenth-century reign of Vlad the Impaler and a time-defying pact that may have kept his awful work alive through the ages. The search for the truth becomes an adventure of monumental proportions, taking us from monasteries and dusty libraries to the capitals of Eastern Europe - in a feat of storytelling so rich, so hypnotic, so exciting that it has enthralled readers around the world.
"Never was a ghost story so casually erudite, nor a historical travelogue such gripping entertainment." ---New York Magazine
"Impossible to resist. . . . Kostova blends fact and fantasy to remind us that the original Dracula legend is rooted in monstrous acts of unblinking evil." ---Miami Herald
"A richly told story about family and the dark side of human nature. . . . This cry of the heart will appeal to readers beyond those who are drawn by a fascination with the legend of Dracula." ---Chicago Tribune
"Genuinely terrifying." ---Boston Globe
"Nearly impossible to put down once you crack the spine. . . . It won't take you long to get to the end." ---Houston Chronicle
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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Elizabeth Kostova graduated from Yale and holds an MFA from the University of Michigan, where she won the Hopwood Award for the Novel-in-Progress. Her second novel, The Swan Thieves, will be published in October 2009.
READING GROUP GUIDE:
1. In the “Note to the Reader,” the narrator tells us, “There is a final resource to which I’ve resorted when necessary — the imagination.” How does she use this resource in telling her story? Is it a resource to which the other historians in the book resort as well?
2. The theme of mentors and disciples is an important one in The Historian. Who are the story’s mentors, and in what sense is each a mentor? Who are the book’s disciples?
3. Near the end of chapter 4, Rossi says, “Human history is full of evil deeds, and maybe we ought to think of them with tears, not fascination.” Does he follow his own advice? How does his attitude toward history evolve in the course of his own story?
4. In chapter 5, Paul’s friend Massimo asserts that in history there are no small questions. What does he mean by this and how does this idea inform the book? Do you agree with his statement?
5. Helen and Paul come from very different worlds, although they share a passion for history. How have their upbringings differed? What factors have shaped each of them?
6. Throughout the book, anyone who finds an antique book with a dragon in the middle is exposed to some kind of danger. What does this danger consist of ? Is it an external power or do the characters bring it upon themselves?
7. Each of the characters is aware of some of the history being made in his or her own time. What are some of these real historical events, and why are they important to the story?
8. At the beginning of chapter 1, Paul’s daughter notes, “I had been raised in a world so sheltered that it makes my adult life in academia look positively adventurous.”How does she change as a person in the course of her quest?
9. Helen’s history is deeply intertwined with that of Dracula. In what ways are the two characters connected? Does she triumph over his legacy, or not?
10. In chapter 73, Dracula states his credo: “History has taught us that the nature of man is evil, sublimely so.” Do the characters and events of the novel prove or disprove this belief ?THANKS TO VALERIE AND THE
HACHETTE BOOK GROUP, I HAVE
5 COPIES OF THIS AMAZING BOOK
TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT YOU
NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!
RULES:
--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
--PUT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENT
---ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!
HOW TO ENTER:
+1 MORE ENTRY: Comment on if you follow and where/how, or follow by joining through the Google Friend Connect in the left column of this blog.
+1 MORE ENTRY: Enter one other of my UPCOMING giveaways and then come back here and tell me the contest is that you entered.
6 PM, EST, NOVEMBER 12
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GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
69 comments:
Vlad the Impaler has always been a huge interest of mine. I'd love to win this!
I follow your blog.
I would love to win this book, the
review is excellent.
I am a google reader follower.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
I would love to read this book as I love historical drama!
Thank you for the entries.
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
I also entered your contest for The Heretic's Daughter.
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
Please count me in. I have been hearing so much about this book and would love to win it. I just love that she finds out she was related to Vlad the impaler.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
This combines history and intrigue in one book. I think it would hold my interest.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
google reader follower
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I was intrigued to see how the family line of Vlad the Impaler would be percieved. Thanks for this opportunity! Indigo
ravensquietscreams@gmail.com
I'm also a follower through Google Friend connect. Thanks! Indigo
ravensquietscreams@gmail.com
Someone described this book to me as a sweeping Twilight meets DaVinci Code saga across Europe. I haven't read Twilight but with all the hoopla I figure this one certainly sounds fantastic!
melacan at hotmail dot com
I'm a follower by google friend connect/google reader.
melacan at hotmial dot ocm
I like the idea of academia/history/dracula, it sounds very interesting.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow with google friend connect!
Thanks.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I'd love to win this book,a few friends have read it and say its great and something I'd like.Plus there's a lot of reviews out there saying the same thing,that its great book.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
I'm a google friend connect follower
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
I have wanted to read this book for nearly a year now. A friend of mine read it and LOVED it.
I'd love a chance to win!
jennifermorrill(at)att(dot)net
I follow with google friend connect.
jennifermorrill(at)att(dot)net
I am also entered in your Lovely Bones Giveaway and the Heretic's daughter giveaway.
p.s. the link on your giveaway page for the Lovely Bones giveaway isn;t working correctly. I don't know how many times I've dont that myself!!
Thanks for the entries!
jennifermorrill(at)att(dot)net
i love this book because my son who loves history and my daughter who loves vampires may like the same book
shopannies@yahoo.com
I would like to read about how she was related the Vlad...thanks for the chance. bekki1820cb@gmail.com
I am a follower
bekki1820cb@gmail.com
I think Vlad the Impaler is something I'd like to know more about as I have heard about him but know little
anjamie4 (at) gmail (dot) com
I am a follower on you Google Friend Connect
anjamie4 (at) gmail (dot) com
I entered for the Sari Shop Widow giveaway
anjamie4 (at) gmail (dot) com
I keep hearing great things about this book,its intrigued me enough to want to read it.
rkgcc(at)aim(dot)com
I'm now a google friend connect follower
rkgcc(at)aim(dot)com
The premise of the book sounds fascinating...exploring your family history through old letters. I would love to read this one!
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
For an extra entry...
I entered your contest for the Anne Frank book.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
“Human history is full of evil deeds, and maybe we ought to think of them with tears, not fascination.”
This is an intriguing quote- definitely makes me want to read the rest of the book! Thanks for the chance to win a good read!!
khzarrugh (at) gmail (dot) com
Hi. I love ghost stories and I love dragons and the idea of a book and a dragon has me totally intrigued. Please count me in on the giveaway.
polo-puppy-fluffy AT hotmail *dot* com
I'm always interested in historical fiction - I'm looking forward to how this one ties Vlad the Impaler into it!
I would love to win this book!
alannakurt at gmail dot com
Thanks!
I follow through Google Connect
Please count me in!
alannakurt at gmail dot com
Thanks again!
I'm intrigued by this book. It's such a strange combination; history and vampires. Well, I'm interested, and that's why I'd like to win it.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Well, I don't follow you with Google, but Karen, I do follow you. I check out your blog at least 2x a week, and I do love it. Thanks for doing such a great job!
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
I entered your Life After Genius giveaway.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
always been interested in my own family history and others. We all have skeletons hidden somewhere.
copperllama at yahoo dot com
entered Mindhunters
copperllama at yahoo dot com
This sounds like a wonderful book! I love history and the concept of traveling around looks for clues in monasteries and dusty libraries, sounds fascinating!
mattandjen[at]gmail.com
The intrigue of getting me into the story with a tease of finding out a family secret and then taking the story into another compelling direction.
Mytyme2 at gmail dot com
I usually enjoy reading historical fiction, but this sounds like it has a bit of a twist to add more interest to the story.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow your blog via Google.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com
A teacher in high school told me about Vlad the Impaler and I've been interested ever since. Thanks for the chance. utgal2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
I became a follower on google friend connect! utgal2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
I'd love to win.I love that she finds out she was related to Vlad the impaler.
djeanq(at)gmail(dot)com
Please enter me! Why do I want to win the book? It’s about Vlad the Impaler. Who doesn’t want to win this book? Vlad is fascinating in a horrible creepy sort of way.
Thanks
rebecca.bradeen(at)verizon(dot)net
I follow on Goggle friends connect.
rebecca.bradeen(at)verizon(dot)net
It's been a while since I've read a good historical drama. I've heard great things about this one and am dying to read it.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
I'm a Google follower.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
I love books with a bit of spookiness to them. Thanks for the chance!
Please enter me. I have wanted to read this one since it came out. I bought it for a gift for someone in hopes to borrow it but they moved away. :) tonigomez@surewest.net Thank you.. and yes. I follow..
The fact that this book is set in a ruthless time period is of interest to me. walkerd@primus.ca
I also entered the Life After Genius contest. walkerd@primus.ca
Dracula is an interesting aspect of this book. walkermisc@primus.ca
I have entered the Life after Genius. walkermisc@primus.ca
I'll read anything that has to do with Vlad the Impaler. Thanks for the great giveaway!
gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com
Google Friend Connect Follower
gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com
The reviews looked great and I love, love, love historical fiction. "Genuinely terrifying" as a quote from the Boston Globe had me hooked, though.
Thanks for the giveaway!
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
I entered the A Friend of the Family giveaway. Thanks again!
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
I find it interesting that it is based on the history of Vlad the Impaler. I'd love to win the book because it appears to be a really good suspense novel intertwining the past & present.
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
I entered the contest for "The Paper Bag Christmas"
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
I want to find out what the secrects are, please enter me for a chance to read this.
reneetaylor at sympatico dot ca
I am a follower
reneetaylor at sympatico dot ca
Vlad the impaler!! how fun,,Iam in..
thehighflyer3(at)hotmail(dot)com
Your review on this book is quite telling. I would love to win this book because the secrets of her father's past and her mother's mysterious fate intrigue me. I need to know the details.
Please enter me. Thanks
cherdon@sympatico.ca
I follow you via google friend connect
cherdon@sympatico.ca
also
I am an email subscriber to your blog
I entered To Desire A Devil giveaway
cherdon@sympatico.ca
I really enjoy books of historical fiction and from what I've read here it sounds like my kind of book with a lot of mystery added in. Please enter me in the giveaway!
ryanw@mts.net
For an extra entry
I follow by email subscription
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
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