30+ [Must Read] Popular Books On Romania

From the New York Times bestselling author Robert D. Kaplan, named one of the world’s Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine, comes a riveting journey through one of Europe’s frontier countries—and a potent examination of the forces that will determine Europe’s fate in the postmodern age. Robert Kaplan first visited Romania in the 1970s, when he was a young jo From the New York Times bestselling author Robert D. Kaplan, named one of the world’s Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine, comes a riveting journey through one of Europe’s frontier countries—and a potent examination of the forces that will determine Europe’s fate in the postmodern age. Robert Kaplan first visited Romania in the 1970s, when he was a young journalist and the country was a bleak Communist backwater. It was one of the darkest corners of Europe, but few Westerners ... [Read More]

«Ceea ce constituie în Pădurea spânzuraţilor un „act de dezertare", ar fi apreciat, după 50 de ani, ca un „fapt de mutilare", iar documentul de acuzare ar învinui statul, adică aici monarhia bicefală austro-ungară, de opresiune morală şi psihologică asupra propriilor cetăţeni. Bineînţeles că situaţia explicită ficţional din Pădurea Spânzuraţilor poate avea în realitate dif «Ceea ce constituie în Pădurea spânzuraţilor un „act de dezertare", ar fi apreciat, după 50 de ani, ca un „fapt de mutilare", iar documentul de acuzare ar învinui statul, adică aici monarhia bicefală austro-ungară, de opresiune morală şi psihologică asupra propriilor cetăţeni. Bineînţeles că situaţia explicită ficţional din Pădurea Spânzuraţilor poate avea în realitate diferite distribuţii şi orice om, fie el rus, maghiar, austriac ori german, cetăţean al ... [Read More]

When William Blacker first crossed the snow-bound passes of northern Romania, he stumbled upon an almost medieval world. There, for many years he lived side by side with the country people, a life ruled by the slow cycle of the seasons, far away from the frantic rush of the modern world. In spring as the pear trees blossomed he ploughed with horses, in summer he scythed th When William Blacker first crossed the snow-bound passes of northern Romania, he stumbled upon an almost medieval world. There, for many years he lived side by side with the country people, a life ruled by the slow cycle of the seasons, far away from the frantic rush of the modern world. In spring as the pear trees blossomed he ploughed with horses, in summer he scythed the hay meadows and in the freezing winters gathered wood by sleigh from the forest. From sheepfolds harried by wolves, to courting expeditions in t ... [Read More]

High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass thro High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm. But the ... [Read More]

'Absolutely, definitively alone', a young Jewish student in Romania tries to make sense of a world that has decided he doesn't belong. Spending his days walking the streets and his nights drinking and gambling, meeting revolutionaries, zealots, lovers and libertines, he adjusts his eyes to the darkness that falls over Europe, and threatens to destroy him. Mihail Sebastian's 'Absolutely, definitively alone', a young Jewish student in Romania tries to make sense of a world that has decided he doesn't belong. Spending his days walking the streets and his nights drinking and gambling, meeting revolutionaries, zealots, lovers and libertines, he adjusts his eyes to the darkness that falls over Europe, and threatens to destroy him. Mihail Sebastian's 1934 masterpiece, now translated into English for the first time, was written amid the anti-Semitism which would, by the end of the decad ... [Read More]

Set in 1930s Calcutta, this is a roman á clef of remarkable intimacy. Originally published in Romanian in 1933, this semiautobiographical novel by the world renowned scholar Mircea Eliade details the passionate awakenings of Alain, an ambitious young French engineer flush with colonial pride and prejudice and full of a European fascination with the mysterious subcontinent. Set in 1930s Calcutta, this is a roman á clef of remarkable intimacy. Originally published in Romanian in 1933, this semiautobiographical novel by the world renowned scholar Mircea Eliade details the passionate awakenings of Alain, an ambitious young French engineer flush with colonial pride and prejudice and full of a European fascination with the mysterious subcontinent. Offered the hospitality of a senior Indian colleague, Alain grasps at the chance to discover the authentic India firsthand. He soon finds h ... [Read More]

Born of a terrible insomnia—"a dizzying lucidity which would turn even paradise into hell"—this book presents the youthful Cioran, a self-described "Nietzsche still complete with his Zarathustra, his poses, his mystical clown's tricks, a whole circus of the heights." On the Heights of Despair shows Cioran's first grappling with themes he would return to in his mature works: Born of a terrible insomnia—"a dizzying lucidity which would turn even paradise into hell"—this book presents the youthful Cioran, a self-described "Nietzsche still complete with his Zarathustra, his poses, his mystical clown's tricks, a whole circus of the heights." On the Heights of Despair shows Cioran's first grappling with themes he would return to in his mature works: despair and decay, absurdity and alienation, futility and the irrationality of existence. It also presents Cioran as a connoiss ... [Read More]

An early masterpiece from the winner of the Nobel Prize hailed as the laureate of life under totalitarianism Romania—the last months of the Ceausescu regime. Adina is a young schoolteacher. Paul is a musician. Clara works in a wire factory. Pavel is Clara’s lover. But one of them works for the secret police and is reporting on all of the group. One day Adina returns home to An early masterpiece from the winner of the Nobel Prize hailed as the laureate of life under totalitarianism Romania—the last months of the Ceausescu regime. Adina is a young schoolteacher. Paul is a musician. Clara works in a wire factory. Pavel is Clara’s lover. But one of them works for the secret police and is reporting on all of the group. One day Adina returns home to discover that her fox fur rug has had its tail cut off. On another occasion it’s the hindleg. Then a foreleg. The mutilat ... [Read More]

From the winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature “[The Passport] has the same clipped prose cadences as Nadirs, this time applied to evoke the trapped mentality of a man so desperate for freedom that he views everything through a temporal lens, like a prisoner staring at a calendar in his cell.”—Wall Street Journal “A swift, stinging narrative, fable-like in its stoic c From the winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature “[The Passport] has the same clipped prose cadences as Nadirs, this time applied to evoke the trapped mentality of a man so desperate for freedom that he views everything through a temporal lens, like a prisoner staring at a calendar in his cell.”—Wall Street Journal “A swift, stinging narrative, fable-like in its stoic concision and painterly detail.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer The Passport is a beautiful, haunting novel whose ... [Read More]

It was an icy morning in January 1945 when the patrol came for seventeen-year-old Leo Auberg to deport him to a camp in the Soviet Union. Leo would spend the next five years in a coke processing plant, shoveling coal, lugging bricks, mixing mortar, and battling the relentless calculus of hunger that governed the labor colony: one shovel load of coal is worth one gram of br It was an icy morning in January 1945 when the patrol came for seventeen-year-old Leo Auberg to deport him to a camp in the Soviet Union. Leo would spend the next five years in a coke processing plant, shoveling coal, lugging bricks, mixing mortar, and battling the relentless calculus of hunger that governed the labor colony: one shovel load of coal is worth one gram of bread. In her new novel, Nobel laureate Herta Müller calls upon her unique combination of poetic intensity and dispassionate precision to conjur ... [Read More]

To you, perceptive reader, I bequeath my history....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 f To you, perceptive reader, I bequeath my history....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 ... [Read More]

Born in the town of Sighet, Transylvania, Elie Wiesel was a teenager when he and his family were taken from their home in 1944 to Auschwitz concentration camp, and then to Buchenwald. Night is the terrifying record of Elie Wiesel's memories of the death of his family, the death of his own innocence, and his despair as a deeply observant Jew confronting the absolute evil of Born in the town of Sighet, Transylvania, Elie Wiesel was a teenager when he and his family were taken from their home in 1944 to Auschwitz concentration camp, and then to Buchenwald. Night is the terrifying record of Elie Wiesel's memories of the death of his family, the death of his own innocence, and his despair as a deeply observant Jew confronting the absolute evil of man. This new translation by his wife and most frequent translator, Marion Wiesel, corrects important details and presents the most accurate rend ... [Read More]

From the winner of the IMPAC Award and the Nobel Prize, a fierce novel about a young Romanian woman's discovery of betrayal in the most intimate reaches of her life "I've been summoned. Thursday, ten sharp." Thus begins one day in the life of a young clothing-factory worker during Ceaucescu's totalitarian regime. She has been questioned before; this time, she believes, will From the winner of the IMPAC Award and the Nobel Prize, a fierce novel about a young Romanian woman's discovery of betrayal in the most intimate reaches of her life "I've been summoned. Thursday, ten sharp." Thus begins one day in the life of a young clothing-factory worker during Ceaucescu's totalitarian regime. She has been questioned before; this time, she believes, will be worse. Her crime? Sewing notes into the linings of men's suits bound for Italy. "Marry me," the notes say, with her name and address. ... [Read More]

Set in Romania at the height of Ceausescu's reign of terror, this haunting novel tells the story of a group of young students, each of whom has left the impoverished provinces in search of better prospects in the city. It is a profound and powerful look at a totalitarian state which comes to inhabit every aspect of life; to the extent that everyone, even the strongest, mus Set in Romania at the height of Ceausescu's reign of terror, this haunting novel tells the story of a group of young students, each of whom has left the impoverished provinces in search of better prospects in the city. It is a profound and powerful look at a totalitarian state which comes to inhabit every aspect of life; to the extent that everyone, even the strongest, must either bend to the oppressors, or resist them and perish. ...more ... [Read More]

You can find an alternative cover edition for this ISBN here and here. A rich selection of background and source materials is provided in three areas: Contexts includes probable inspirations for Dracula in the earlier works of James Malcolm Rymer and Emily Gerard. Also included are a discussion of Stoker's working notes for the novel and "Dracula's Guest," the original open You can find an alternative cover edition for this ISBN here and here. A rich selection of background and source materials is provided in three areas: Contexts includes probable inspirations for Dracula in the earlier works of James Malcolm Rymer and Emily Gerard. Also included are a discussion of Stoker's working notes for the novel and "Dracula's Guest," the original opening chapter to Dracula. Reviews and Reactions reprints five early reviews of the novel. "Dramatic and Film Variations" focuses on theater ... [Read More]

Cu Despărţirea de Bucureşti, cunoscutul istoric de artă Victor Ieronim Stoichiţă îşi face debutul strălucit în proza literară, evocând, într-o „povestire“ scrisă la persoana întâi, viaţa din România deceniilor şase şi şapte ale secolului trecut, lumea în care generaţia naratorului anonim şi-a petrecut copilăria şi tinereţea. Este o lume alcătuită din amintirile celor mari Cu Despărţirea de Bucureşti, cunoscutul istoric de artă Victor Ieronim Stoichiţă îşi face debutul strălucit în proza literară, evocând, într-o „povestire“ scrisă la persoana întâi, viaţa din România deceniilor şase şi şapte ale secolului trecut, lumea în care generaţia naratorului anonim şi-a petrecut copilăria şi tinereţea. Este o lume alcătuită din amintirile celor mari şi din descoperirile celor mici, o lume bântuită de spaime şi vorbind în şo ... [Read More]

Spanning a period of 2000 years from the Roman conquest of Dacia to the present day, A Concise History of Romania traces the development of a unique nation situated on the border between East and West. In this illuminating new history, Keith Hitchins explores Romania's struggle to find its place amidst two diverse societies: one governed by Eastern orthodox tradition, spir Spanning a period of 2000 years from the Roman conquest of Dacia to the present day, A Concise History of Romania traces the development of a unique nation situated on the border between East and West. In this illuminating new history, Keith Hitchins explores Romania's struggle to find its place amidst two diverse societies: one governed by Eastern orthodox tradition, spirituality and agriculture and the other by Western rationalism, experimentation and capitalism. The book charts Romania's advancement through five ... [Read More]

Parce qu’elle est fascinée par le destin de la miraculeuse petite gymnaste roumaine de quatorze ans apparue aux jo de Montréal en 1976 pour mettre à mal guerres froides, ordinateurs et records au point d’accéder au statut de mythe planétaire, la narratrice de ce roman entreprend de raconter ce qu’elle imagine de l’expérience que vécut cette prodigieuse fillette, symbole d’ Parce qu’elle est fascinée par le destin de la miraculeuse petite gymnaste roumaine de quatorze ans apparue aux jo de Montréal en 1976 pour mettre à mal guerres froides, ordinateurs et records au point d’accéder au statut de mythe planétaire, la narratrice de ce roman entreprend de raconter ce qu’elle imagine de l’expérience que vécut cette prodigieuse fillette, symbole d’une Europe révolue, venue, par la seule pureté de ses gestes, incarner aux yeux désabusés du monde le rêve ... [Read More]

Marele Premiu al concursului de creaţie literară Trofeul Arthur 2013. Cartea Pricoliciului este cel dintâi volum al trilogiei fantastice O istorie secretă a Ţării Vampirilor, o serie ce îşi propune să salveze mituri şi personaje sortite să dispară, dacă nu sunt povestite. Uitaţi de toată lumea, Greuceanu, Pipăruş-Petru, Sfânta Miercuri, Ileana Cosânzeana sau Zmeul Tase au o Marele Premiu al concursului de creaţie literară Trofeul Arthur 2013. Cartea Pricoliciului este cel dintâi volum al trilogiei fantastice O istorie secretă a Ţării Vampirilor, o serie ce îşi propune să salveze mituri şi personaje sortite să dispară, dacă nu sunt povestite. Uitaţi de toată lumea, Greuceanu, Pipăruş-Petru, Sfânta Miercuri, Ileana Cosânzeana sau Zmeul Tase au o viaţă banală care numai de basm nu este. În Ţara Vampirilor, vampirii sunt scoşi în af ... [Read More]

„Ajunsă la cea de-a treia carte de proză, Lavinia Braniște a reușit ceva ce alții nu obțin nici pînă la finalul carierei: să aibă un personaj personal, un tip recognoscibil care navighează dintr-o carte în alta, cam ca Henry Chinaski al lui Bukowski, toutes proportions gardees... Iarăși, Lavinia dă senzația că scrie foarte ușor, că pur şi simplu notează ce i s-a întîmplat „Ajunsă la cea de-a treia carte de proză, Lavinia Braniște a reușit ceva ce alții nu obțin nici pînă la finalul carierei: să aibă un personaj personal, un tip recognoscibil care navighează dintr-o carte în alta, cam ca Henry Chinaski al lui Bukowski, toutes proportions gardees... Iarăși, Lavinia dă senzația că scrie foarte ușor, că pur şi simplu notează ce i s-a întîmplat peste zi, or, asta este proza cea mai «muncită» de fapt. Acest comportamentism lejer, marca La ... [Read More]

„Gata, Teo, plec! Râdem prea puțin, înțelegi?“ Personajele lui Bogdan Munteanu evoluează în scene de viață ce mențin mereu balansul fin între plâns și râs. Vieți care nu se mai întorc, iubiri care nu se mai trăiesc, povești care nu se mai spun până la capăt, trăiri care nu se mai dezvăluie deplin, într-o carte în care fiecare cititor poate descoperi câte ceva despre ceilalț „Gata, Teo, plec! Râdem prea puțin, înțelegi?“ Personajele lui Bogdan Munteanu evoluează în scene de viață ce mențin mereu balansul fin între plâns și râs. Vieți care nu se mai întorc, iubiri care nu se mai trăiesc, povești care nu se mai spun până la capăt, trăiri care nu se mai dezvăluie deplin, într-o carte în care fiecare cititor poate descoperi câte ceva despre ceilalți și mai ales despre sine. „În povestirile lui Bogdan Munteanu, punctel ... [Read More]

Edi, Pisică, Tobă, frații Mânzu și Tomi trăiesc la periferia Craiovei și se ocupă cu braconajul mai multor specii de păsări pe care le vând apoi, pe filieră interlopă, în Italia. Repovestite de vocea lui Pisică, cel mai fragil și sensibil dintre copii, întâmplările capătă dimensiuni dramatice, care dezvăluie și temele profunde ale cărții: sentimentul de vinovăție, dublat d Edi, Pisică, Tobă, frații Mânzu și Tomi trăiesc la periferia Craiovei și se ocupă cu braconajul mai multor specii de păsări pe care le vând apoi, pe filieră interlopă, în Italia. Repovestite de vocea lui Pisică, cel mai fragil și sensibil dintre copii, întâmplările capătă dimensiuni dramatice, care dezvăluie și temele profunde ale cărții: sentimentul de vinovăție, dublat de obsesia evadării într-o Italie idealizată, tărâm al visurilor împlinite, credința, ... [Read More]

„Îşi bat joc de tine. Te fură, te învârt pe degete, te mint. Îţi castrează legile şi-ţi râd în nas. Te fac să-ţi fie ruşine să scoţi buletinul în aeroporturile lumii. Te tratează cu dispreţ şi, când li se pare c-ar fi nevoie, cu gaze. Te duc cu preşul promisiunilor. Te cred naiv, manipulabil, neinformat. De doi ani. Săptămână de săptămână, zi de zi, ceas de ceas. Trăieşti î „Îşi bat joc de tine. Te fură, te învârt pe degete, te mint. Îţi castrează legile şi-ţi râd în nas. Te fac să-ţi fie ruşine să scoţi buletinul în aeroporturile lumii. Te tratează cu dispreţ şi, când li se pare c-ar fi nevoie, cu gaze. Te duc cu preşul promisiunilor. Te cred naiv, manipulabil, neinformat. De doi ani. Săptămână de săptămână, zi de zi, ceas de ceas. Trăieşti într-o ţară aflată în pragul cleptocraţiei, într-o democratură c ... [Read More]

„Povestiri de pe Calea Moșilor este prima mea carte de proză scurtă pentru adulți, deși cred că și pentru copiii de la 12 ani în sus ar putea fi o lectură simpatică și pe undeva utilă. În fond, este vorba despre copilărie, copilăria mea și implicit a generației mele care s-a întâmplat undeva la granița dintre două regimuri, cel comunist și cel capitalist «de tranziție» al „Povestiri de pe Calea Moșilor este prima mea carte de proză scurtă pentru adulți, deși cred că și pentru copiii de la 12 ani în sus ar putea fi o lectură simpatică și pe undeva utilă. În fond, este vorba despre copilărie, copilăria mea și implicit a generației mele care s-a întâmplat undeva la granița dintre două regimuri, cel comunist și cel capitalist «de tranziție» al anilor ‘90. Mi se pare un noroc faptul că «am prins» ultimii ani de dictatură, că am f ... [Read More]

Society girls from New York City circa 1890, Dacia and Lou never desired to know more about their lineage, instead preferring to gossip about the mysterious Romanian family that they barely knew. But upon turning seventeen, the girls must return to their homeland to meet their relatives, find proper husbands, and—most terrifyingly—learn the deep family secrets of The Claw, Society girls from New York City circa 1890, Dacia and Lou never desired to know more about their lineage, instead preferring to gossip about the mysterious Romanian family that they barely knew. But upon turning seventeen, the girls must return to their homeland to meet their relatives, find proper husbands, and—most terrifyingly—learn the deep family secrets of The Claw, The Wing, and The Smoke. The Florescus, after all, are shape-shifters, and it is time for Dacia and Lou to fulfill the prophecy that dema ... [Read More]

Named a must-read by the  Chicago Tribune , O Magazine,  BuzzFeed ,  The Huffington Post ,  Minneapolis Star-Tribune , and The L Magazine Named one of the best short story collections of 2015 by Bookpage and Kansas City Star Rebecca Makkai’s first two novels, The Borrower and The Hundred-Year House, have established her as one of the freshest and most imaginative voices Named a must-read by the  Chicago Tribune , O Magazine,  BuzzFeed ,  The Huffington Post ,  Minneapolis Star-Tribune , and The L Magazine Named one of the best short story collections of 2015 by Bookpage and Kansas City Star Rebecca Makkai’s first two novels, The Borrower and The Hundred-Year House, have established her as one of the freshest and most imaginative voices in fiction. Now, the award-winning writer, whose stories have appeared in four consecutive edit ... [Read More]

Photographs and stories of 500 women from around the world, based on the author's hugely popular website. Since 2013 Mihaela Noroc has travelled the world with her backpack and camera taking photos of everyday women to showcase the diversity and beauty all around us. The Atlas of Beauty is a collection of her photographs that celebrates women from fifty countries across the Photographs and stories of 500 women from around the world, based on the author's hugely popular website. Since 2013 Mihaela Noroc has travelled the world with her backpack and camera taking photos of everyday women to showcase the diversity and beauty all around us. The Atlas of Beauty is a collection of her photographs that celebrates women from fifty countries across the globe and shows that beauty is everywhere, regardless of money, race or social status, and comes in many different sizes and colours. Mih ... [Read More]

One Man's Truth Is Another Man's Lie. When big-shot literary agent Peter Katz receives an unfinished manuscript entitled The Book of Mirrors, he is intrigued. The author, Richard Flynn is writing a memoir about his time at Princeton in the late 80s, documenting his relationship with the famous Professor Joseph Wieder. One night in 1987, Wieder was brutally murdered in his ho One Man's Truth Is Another Man's Lie. When big-shot literary agent Peter Katz receives an unfinished manuscript entitled The Book of Mirrors, he is intrigued. The author, Richard Flynn is writing a memoir about his time at Princeton in the late 80s, documenting his relationship with the famous Professor Joseph Wieder. One night in 1987, Wieder was brutally murdered in his home and the case was never solved. Peter Katz is hell-bent on getting to the bottom of what happened that night twenty-five year ... [Read More]

When Alina’s brother-in-law defects to the West, she and her husband become persons of interest to the secret services, causing both of their careers to come grinding to a halt. As the strain takes its toll on their marriage, Alina turns to her aunt for help – the wife of a communist leader and a secret practitioner of the old folk ways. Set in 1970s communist Romania, this When Alina’s brother-in-law defects to the West, she and her husband become persons of interest to the secret services, causing both of their careers to come grinding to a halt. As the strain takes its toll on their marriage, Alina turns to her aunt for help – the wife of a communist leader and a secret practitioner of the old folk ways. Set in 1970s communist Romania, this novella-in-flash draws upon magic realism to weave a tale of everyday troubles, that can’t be put down. ...more ... [Read More]

A sweeping family saga and love story that offers a vivid and unique portrayal of life in war-torn 1941 Bucharest and life behind the Iron Curtain during the Soviet Union occupation—perfect for fans of Lilac Girls and Sarah’s Key. On a freezing night in January 1941, a little Jewish girl is found on the steps of an apartment building in Bucharest. With Romania recently alli A sweeping family saga and love story that offers a vivid and unique portrayal of life in war-torn 1941 Bucharest and life behind the Iron Curtain during the Soviet Union occupation—perfect for fans of Lilac Girls and Sarah’s Key. On a freezing night in January 1941, a little Jewish girl is found on the steps of an apartment building in Bucharest. With Romania recently allied with the Nazis, the Jewish population is in grave danger, undergoing increasingly violent persecution. The girl is placed in an ... [Read More]