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The Historian  By  cover art

The Historian

By: Elizabeth Kostova
Narrated by: Justine Eyre, Paul Michael
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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)

Featured Article: The 25 Best Vampire Audiobooks to Suck You In


Vampire stories have fascinated people across cultures for generations. From gothic Transylvania to early-aughts Washington, it seems like vampires have taken every form in every culture and every country around the world. From all of these options, we’ve selected 25 of the best audiobooks from the pack—those with the most captivating characters, creepiest settings, and, perhaps most importantly, the best vocal performances available.

What listeners say about The Historian

Average customer ratings
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    4 out of 5 stars
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The Historian

Would you listen to The Historian again? Why?

No. The plot, story, and narration were good but it was a little too long. The book could have been summed up in a shorter period of time.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I was really disappointed in the ending. It left some loose ends and unanswered questions. It was just abrupt.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the scenes in Turkey and Bulgaria.

Who was the most memorable character of The Historian and why?

I enjoyed the girl narrator. Though we do not know much about her, she has a thirst for the truth about the past.

Any additional comments?

It seemed a little one-sided historical speaking. I wish both sides were discussed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Long, but worth it

I couldn't wait to get in the car each day for my commute to work so that I could listen to this incredible story!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not as good as the book.....

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, in book version.

What other book might you compare The Historian to and why?

Haven't any I can think of.

Would you be willing to try another one of Justine Eyre and Paul Michael ’s performances?

Yes.

Do you think The Historian needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, the story was quite well contained in one book.

Any additional comments?

It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book but when I did it was awesome! The audio version was painful and I found myself drifting away or just wanting to end it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Quite intriguing

Very detailed and well imagined. I found myself jealous, as an author, of the descriptions and corridors of imagination the plot took me through.

I really enjoy these kinds of novels, how they take disputed and unknown history and weave a great tale of fiction that makes you feel the story. My only real complaint is that there were a lot of convenient things that happened to move the story along that felt a bit contrived. Nevertheless, very worth the time.

The narration, especially Paul Michael's, was excellent. The numerous European accents and characters must certainly have been a feat but he proves himself adept at vocal performance.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A long journey that is worth taking.

If you could sum up The Historian in three words, what would they be?

Never underestimate historians.

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

The story is so sprawling and so many little events are covered that it is hard to pick one standout one. I think when Paul is back in his apartment and realizes that he is not alone. Paul doesn't see or hear who is in the room with him, but he knows he is there. Who hasn't had that feeling in the past where you are alone and then you just know there is something else with you? Now imagine that you have just learned that Dracula is not only real but alive and you have reason to believe that he took your mentor and might be coming for you next. That would be terrifying and it is written well enough that I felt terrified for Paul. It is the first glimpse into how the story is going to be laid out--the terror isn't going to be overtly experienced all the time. Sometimes the terror is subtle. And that makes it almost worse, but for the reader, it makes it so much better.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

There are so many characters in the story and only a couple of them are supposed to have American accents so it is great to hear the different accents given to the characters--it helps to pull you into the story as though you were listening to a true Turkish, Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Transylvanian, or Englishman telling you this incredible story.

Who was the most memorable character of The Historian and why?

Professor Bora is my favorite character. The fact that he is a professor of Shakespeare by day and also an authority on vampires is a brilliant mixture. His dialogue is spattered with Shakespearian quips and he is almost without mistakes. The slight mistakes made make the character endearing. His love for his country, his role in life, his family and friends, and his love for history and stories make him an excellent guide for not only Paul and Helen while they are in Istanbul, but for the reader as well.

Any additional comments?

This is a long story. It jumps around between who is telling the story and how they are telling their story. It jumps between decades and locations. It takes its time getting to the conclusion, and while that conclusion is really good, the journery that Elizabeth Kostova takes the reader on to get to that conclusion is way better and makes it a worthwhile listen.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Dracula

What did you like best about The Historian? What did you like least?

Guess I am just not a Dracula fan

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Just a bad choice for me, and then VERY long

Would you listen to another book narrated by the narrators?

Yes

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

One of the better of this genre

I enjoyed the story but I have to say I was a little disappointed. This came to me with a raving review so I took it on with very high expectations. It was very well written and I did enjoy the story quite a bit. I can't really explain it further than I just wanted a little more at the end. I absolutely loved the first half of the book and just liked the second half.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The Neverending Story

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, the story was both exciting, frightening, and a dreadful bore. The author goes on, and on, and on about the architecture of this...the significance of that...even though it had no bearing on the story.

Would you be willing to try another book from Elizabeth Kostova? Why or why not?

Yes, but perhaps an abridged version. I hate abridged versions. It took the author 10 years to write this book, no doubt much of that was spent tracking down innocuous details and arranging them in such a way as to leave the reader/listener just shy of atrocities.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed the youth of voice of our young female character. It brought the notion of her youth and innocence home each time she spoke.

Could you see The Historian being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Oh, please no. There are too many vampire movies already, and with the exotic locales the budget would be astronomical.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome story!

What did you love best about The Historian?

The attention to detail that is given when describing the main characters journeys. Also, the connection that develops between the characters.

What did you like best about this story?

If you like vampire lore, this book gives a terrific history of the evolution of the vampire. The journeys of the main characters is very adventurous!

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I actually have the paper book and I tried getting through it several times and felt like it was just too slow moving. I loved the storyline so when I saw it was available as an audiobook I decided to try it and WOW! It truly makes all the difference.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A vampire book that isn't completely YA

A great listen about vampires that takes a unique twist that isn't a young adult love story. Enjoyable read for adults too.
#vampires #europe #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

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