The Kilt Behind the Curtain

A Scotsman in Ceausescu’s Romania

By: Ronald Mackay

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Sent deep behind the Iron Curtain to Bucharest by the British Government in 1967, Ronald Mackay serves as the “sharp end” of a trade initiative. How will he fare in communist-run Romania where suspicion abounds and Ceausescu’s Secret Police are everywhere?
With irony-tinged humour, Ronald tells of seductive informants; an ex-political-prisoner-turned-spy; fearful minorities; a hunting trip with the Communist elite; travels in Dracula’s Transylvania; of running into a company of armed tanks; and of threatening Charles de Gaulle’s attempt to be the first Western premier to court this bright but baffling tyrant-run country.

Distracting at time due to the writer's POV

As Romanian, I enjoyed the glimpses of Bucureşti in the late 1960s, and even more so the vivid depictions of village life, the mountains, and Braşov—one of my favorite places on Earth.
However, the persistent focus on women’s appearances and the gender stereotypes peppered throughout were distracting and, at times, frustrating.

What a life Ronald Mackay has lived!

I loved listening to this intriguing audiobook about the scary and exciting time Ronald Mackay spent in Romania, vividly imagining the bustling streets full of strangers speaking a language he had yet to learn. The risks were high; he had little money, yet he witnessed a country that remains a distant dream for many. I was on the edge of my seat listening to his perilous adventures, but the humorous incidents had me laughing a lot. Overall, this book is a five-star audiobook.