The Historian

By: Elizabeth Kostova

Narrated by: Justine Eyre, Paul Michael

Length: 26 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2005 Elizabeth Kostova. All Rights Reserved. (P)2005 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

• 2006 Book Sense Book of the Year, Adult Fiction

"A bloodthirsty delight....Both literary and scary, this one is guaranteed to keep one reading into the wee hours." (Booklist)
"Along with all the fascinating historical information, there's also a mounting casualty count, and the big showdown amps up the drama by pulling at the heartstrings at the same time it revels in the gruesome. Exotic locales, tantalizing history, a family legacy and a love of the bloodthirsty: it's hard to imagine that readers won't be bitten, too." (Publishers Weekly)
"The Historian is artfully constructed and atmospheric." (Washington Post Book World)

great

excellently written tale, with some very cool twists. not for the impatient though, does tend to drag in parts

this version is really great

The Historian is one of my favorite books, and this audiobook is fantastic. I can easily distinguish between the characters and the pacing is perfect. The sound quality is great and I don't feel like I have to turn my speakers way up to understand the narrators. Highly recommended!

Interesting twist to a classic tale but….

While the author has managed to create a unique variation on the Dracula story, her efforts to provide detail and colour to the story often overwhelm what would otherwise be a good story. Captivating plot development is frequently interrupted by irritatingly excessive descriptions of surroundings and character’s appearance. Her treatment of romance, especially since it is told from a male perspective, borders on downright silly. Try the abridged version

Fantastic!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Historian, yes it is long, but I relished every minute of the story. I had this book in my wish list for a long time before I downloaded it, primarily because of the negative reviews. I am so happy that I finally decided to listen to it! Also the production is very well done and the narration is well done too.

Good, but very, very long

I enjoyed this book. It is compelling, but it did get a bit long. I was ready for the story to wrap up a bit before it did. But the characters are fleshed out well and the scenes are very vivid. The naration was very good.

Riviting

Is it a best seller because of true merit or because everyone jumps on the bandwagon ?

Of course it is merit that makes greatness with a liberal sprinkling of bandwagon activity. Well, I am so so glad I jumped on this one. This is a wonderful story. Richly developed characters made real and dear to the reader listener by the truly excellent narration.
Beautifully written, I am bereft now that I have finished it.

"Audible" is a gorgeous way to read a book.

Really good except for the ending!

I loved this book but found the ending to be really really disappointing. For as detailed she was through out the rest of the book the ending left much to be desired. Not the book for you if you are wanting something fast paced.

Too long

This book was good but could have been abridged. It became repititous after a while. It was a very smart book that just went on a bit too long.

Enthralling for the Curious

What made the experience of listening to The Historian the most enjoyable?

The little tid-bits of history that made it seem real.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Historian?

Oh, so many...

What does Justine Eyre and Paul Michael bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Their voices helped to distinguish the switch of views, and not only that but were superb.

Any additional comments?

An awesome book. I have read it, and now listened to it. Both times I was thoroughly impressed, and happy I took the time to find a decent audio version. Thank you, Audible.

Delightful

Amazing story full of rich history and suspense. Dracula history at its finest, it exceeded my expectations. It was very enjoyable.