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)

CAN'T PUT DOWN

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this to a friend. It is a gripping tale that keeps you turning the page.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Helen, because of the history with her family and how they discovered her bloodline was Dracula's.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The narrator was ok

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

(Drakulya,The Order of the Dragon, Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, Vlad Tepes) because of the history and research they found on him. It makes me want to read Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Any additional comments?

JUMP INTO THIS ADVENTURE YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!

Great story and concept

I love vampire stories and academic novels, so overall, I loved this book. Great take on the vampire lore and story. It got 4 instead of 5 stars simply because there are long sections in the middle that could have been cut, in my opinion (not unlike some of Anne Rice's works). But those are easily skimmed, if one wanted to do so. I highly recommend this book.

awesome book, exciting, seat gripping.

I have both read and listened to this book numerous times, I love it! it is a fantastic mix of historical information and a horror mystery. On par with Bram's book!!!!

The Crypt calls

Worthy of a credit. Interesting plots that can at times be confusing. Overall a good listen but you have to pay attention as it's easy to miss a turn in the story. I purchased this book as I like long books and a good story as well as a good story teller. I've found it's best to sample the narrator before purchasing even if only given five minutes. I would classify this book as a 6 out of ten

Good Historical Fiction

I really liked this book. Yes it spends alot of time with details and side stories but isn't that the point of historical fiction? To mix the story of the past with the story of the author?
I thought it was well written and did a great job of creating the feeling of being in eastern Europe. It sitrred a renewed interest for me in Vlad the Impaler and has led me to seek out other sources of info on this "colorful" historical figure.

Wonderfully done.

I read this book when it was released, it is one of my favorites. Kostova really did her research and wrote beautifully and classically; though I wish she hadn't ended so abruptly. This book was the first audiobook I downloaded and I was amazed the narrators chosen were exactly how I had imagined the characters to sound (from reading long ago). Justine Eyre and Paul Michael have such eloquent voices and Paul's accents are spot on. will be looking for others they narrate. So many amazing passages to quote: The very worst impulses of humankind can survive generations, centuries, even millennia. And the best of our individual efforts can die with us at the end of a single lifetime.

Great, but

This was a great book, straight from the beginning. It is a fascinating premise and has many memorable scenes. It drags a bit in sections and could have been a good deal shorter, but it was a spooky read. I like to listen to a book before going to sleep, but couldn't with this one.

My only complaint is the ending is a bit anti-climatic.

The Historian

One of my favorite books to read I really enjoyed the audiobook. My only criticism is there were times when the voice actors would change especially towards the end of the book. Overall fantastic

An Old Favorite

I read this book years ago and loved it. The Audible version is incredibly well done and actually does the book justice.

Phenomenallly detailed...

I LOVED this book. It is chock full of historical detail, which, I believe, took the author years to research. The multi narrator format took a little getting used to. I wasn't crazy about Joanne Whaley's voice; it grates on me. It's worth persevering, though.
A few pointers:

*If you're looking for a "vampire" book, beware. The book is more focused on the history and activity of Dracula than on a bloodsucking rampage.

*If you are bored by detailed descriptions of places and history, you probably want to read the abridged or skip the book altogether.

*If you have difficulty understanding foreign accents, beware. There are many nationalities depicted in the book.

*If you're expecting an action-packed plot twister, this isn't your book.

*This book was made to be savored, not gulped down.