The Historian

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova




It took a long time to finish this book. Life kept getting in the way. Yet, my seamless comprehension, despite large gaps of time in reading, is a true testament to the skill of Elizabeth Kostova's crafting of this complex and difficult tale. The slow and soothing pace in the beginning, soon gives way to a flurry of activity and an eager reader. The pages do not turn fast enough.
Beautifully written, Kostova's characters are like old friends, good neighbors, beloved relatives. Kostova's characters stay with you. Even the antagonist, more horrible than our worst nightmare, invokes our admiration and curiosity, though not without the pang of guilt. Kostova gives Dracula greater dimension, a character who crosses the line of good and evil in the name of honor and vengeance, a love of history, respect for the past. It is hard to completely hate one, in whom we see ourselves, yet, such horror and cruelty....
If you love history, find anything and everything about ancient empires compelling, and crave stories that dive deep and reach wide, this is a must read. I know I will return to Kostova's, The Historian, in thoughts to come, words to write, and with relish, a tale worthy of rereading.



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