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The Historian (Abridged) Audiobook
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(3.00) - 120,408 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The record-breaking phenomenon from Elizabeth Kostova is a celebrated masterpiece that "refashioned the vampire myth into a compelling contemporary novel, a late-night page-turner" (San Francisco Chronicle).
Breathtakingly suspenseful and beautifully written, The Historian is the story of a young woman plunged into a labyrinth where the secrets of her family’s past connect to an inconceivable evil: the dark fifteenth-century reign of Vlad the Impaler and a time-defying pact that may have kept his awful work alive through the ages. The search for the truth becomes an adventure of monumental proportions, taking us from monasteries and dusty libraries to the capitals of Eastern Europe—in a feat of storytelling so rich, so hypnotic, so exciting that it has enthralled readers around the world.
“Part thriller, part history, part romance...Kostova has a keen sense of storytelling and she has a marvelous tale to tell.” —Baltimore Sun
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"This book probably deserves the fifth star, but I think I'm going to keep it 4-star. This is brilliantly written with so many interesting characters and amazing settings. I would call it a slow read, but worth the long haul. It was not entirely what I was expecting - the whole book is basically the unfolding of past events. The story is about slowly discovering piece after piece of a puzzle; it is slow going and then something exciting happens and then you are back to slow again. I think the need to know what is going to happen and to know the 'true' history of Dracula is what drives the book. I liked the different places that the book takes you - university libraries, small Romanian villages, monasteries throughout Europe and more. The direct interaction with Dracula and vampires is quite limited, but I guess the book is about the mystery of it all instead of throwing you directly into the supernatural. It skips around a bit with time and chronology, but Kostova did it beautifully and I did not feel confused at any point. If you are looking for a quick read, this is not for you, but if you are willing to take the time, I believe this book is worth it!"
— Grace (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Kostova’s vampire is no campy Lugosi knockoff…Blending history and myth, Kostova has fashioned a version so fresh that when a stake is finally driven through a heart, it inspires the tragic shock of something happening for the very first time.”
— Newsweek -
“Quite extraordinary…Kostova is a natural storyteller…She has refashioned the vampire myth into a compelling contemporary novel, a late-night page-turner.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“Part thriller, part history, part romance…Kostova has a keen sense of storytelling and she has a marvelous tale to tell.”
— Baltimore Sun -
“Readers who think the legend of Dracula has become a trite staple of schlock fiction will find this atmospheric page-turner by first-time author Kostova a bloodthirsty delight.”
— Booklist -
In this smart retelling of the Dracula story, a young girl's discovery of a mysterious book, blank save for a sinister woodcut of a dragon, impels her father to divulge, reluctantly, details of his vampire-hunting days back in grad school. Halfway through his tale, which is told over several sessions in various atmospheric European locations, he vanishes. His daughter's quest to find him is interwoven with letters that reveal the past in full. Kostova's knowledge of occult arcana is impressive, and she packages her erudition in a graceful narrative that only occasionally lapses into melodrama. The structure-a story within a letter within a flashback-is an innovative complication, but it is soon shaken off by the swift-moving plot. Kostova never strays far from the conventions of the genre, and her historical thriller feels somewhat indebted to best-sellers of the recent past; there are Christian heresies, scholarly sleuths, and a malaprop-prone Eastern European guide.
— The New Yorker -
Quite extraordinary...Kostova is a natural storyteller...She has refashioned the vampire myth into a compelling contemporary novel, a late-night page-turner.
— San Francisco Chronicle -
Part thriller, part history, part romance....Kostova has a keen sense of storytelling and she has a marvelous tale to tell.
— Baltimore Sun -
Kostova's vampire is no campy Lugosi knockoff....Blending history and myth, Kostova has fashioned a version so fresh that when a stake is finally driven through a heart, it inspires the tragic shock of something happening for the very first time.
— Newsweek
Awards
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A USA Today bestseller
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A New York Times bestseller
The Historian Listener Reviews
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" a bit too rambling for me. took me forever to read and to be honest it probably wasn't worth the time. bit of a let down. "
— Sara, 2/2/2014 -
" Not a very dynamic narrative. Too many voices telling the story - easy to forget who is telling which story. Tiny bit cheesey. LOTS of history, though "
— Kim, 2/1/2014 -
" I really liked this, and I'm shocked at so many negative reviews. Part of the problem, I think, is that readers were expecting Dan Brown instead they got Umberto Eco. "
— Holly, 1/25/2014 -
" Overwritten. Hackneyed. "
— Amy, 1/15/2014 -
" I'd give it a 3.5-great escape reading. "
— Kathleen, 1/12/2014 -
" End was a little disappointing. "
— Jonathan, 1/10/2014 -
" Wow. I thought this was extraordinary. "
— Betsy, 1/6/2014 -
" Loved this book, its an eerie tale combining history and folklore of dracula "
— Kendra, 12/22/2013 -
" Amazing and epic, this book takes the tale of Vlad the Impaler into a real-life search by a nameless narrator, trying to find her father. It's a big meaty read, perfect for when you really want to escape into a fascinating story. Loved it! "
— Elizabeth, 12/21/2013 -
" Fabulous, deeply frightening, intriguing. I recommend this one to all my students and to my intelligent friends who like dark epistolary reads. It's one of the go-tos. "
— Narci, 12/15/2013 -
" I loved this book. An interesting take on the whole Dracula myth and it made me want to visit loads of different place in Europe "
— Anna, 12/9/2013 -
" This was a fantastic book with a unexpected ending! "
— Betsy, 12/9/2013 -
" Loved this book! Love the mix of history and fiction. A very exciting adventure and quick read. "
— Kerry, 11/20/2013 -
" Jam packed with historical detail. I love the Dracula story and this book lead me through it page by page. "
— Jacqui, 8/23/2013 -
" too complicated dracula story "
— Barbara, 9/29/2012 -
" I really, really hated this book. "
— Michelle, 9/28/2012 -
" I thought it was interesting and it made me want to read Dracula one day. I think it would have been harder to get through if I didn't listen to the audio book though- there were a lot of long history sections that were hard to get through. "
— Kristen, 9/19/2012 -
" Very interesting, gets you into the history of the time, keeps you guessing all the way, and you will learn something. "
— Carol, 3/10/2012 -
" Excellent mystery, with innumerable twists and turns. Has an edge of your seat ending that is quite exhilarating. Don't let the vampire theme put you off, this isn't "Twilight". "
— Bill, 1/23/2012 -
" I had a hard time finishing this book. It read more like a dry, reference book rather than a fiction book. "
— Shelly, 9/13/2011 -
" PFFF ! "
— Miguel, 7/20/2011 -
" I waited and waited for the climax of this book. It was only after I turned the last page that I learned it had occurred before I ever opened the front cover. I would have rather spent 3 hours licking corrugated cardboard for quality entertainment! "
— Nichole, 6/2/2011 -
" One of the best takes on the Dracula legend out there. Fiction mixed with history, makes you wonder who or what Vlad really was. "
— Mark, 5/23/2011 -
" Not my cup of tea. I'm not interested in vampires. Only finished about 3/4. "
— Cdenning5, 5/22/2011 -
" So many stories going on, hard to keep them separated. "
— Tracy, 5/21/2011 -
" Elizabeth Kostova may be one of the best new writers of this decade-great storyteller along with very good craft. "
— Rick, 5/20/2011 -
" It was really slow in the beginning and hard to get past about the first 250 pages but well worth it in the end. "
— Heather, 5/19/2011 -
" It took me three tries to get into this book, but I am really glad I did. Such a clever, clever tale that takes you all over the world and comes to an unpredictable ending. "
— Evie, 5/18/2011 -
" Enjoyable book that gave me goosebumps at times. More than a vampire book - it has a rich historical context and made me want to visit Romania, Istanbul, and other places. How I would love for a mysterious book to set me on an adventure like this! "
— Caryn, 5/17/2011 -
" This is one of the best books I have ever read - up there in my top 5, the descriptions were amazing, I could visualise all the settings, places and people in my mind and the story carried me along beautifully. I was really sorry when it ended! "
— Gemma, 5/17/2011 -
" This book has inspired my trip to Istanbul next spring "
— Audrey, 5/17/2011 -
" Loved it! So engaging, you don't want to put it down, but long enough you know you have to. "
— Julie, 5/17/2011
About Elizabeth Kostova
Elizabeth Kostova graduated from Yale and holds an MFA from the University of Michigan, where she won the Hopwood Award for Novel-in-Progress for The Historian.
About the Narrators
Dennis Boutsikaris is a two-time OBIE award winner. He has received five Audie Awards and seven Golden Earphone Awards for his work in over 100 audiobooks and was voted one of the Best Voices of the Year by AudioFile magazine. He has appeared in numerous Broadway, television, and film roles. He played Mozart on Broadway in Amadeus and has appeared on television shows including Shameless, The Good Wife, House M.D., Grey’s Anatomy, ER, and Law & Order.
Martin Jarvis, OBE, has recorded more than 150 Just William stories for the BBC. These have become international audio bestsellers. He won the Theatre World Award for his starring role on Broadway in By Jeeves; his West End appearances include works by Ayckbourn, Frayn, Pinter, and Wilde. Screen successes include everything from Stargate Atlantis, Doctor Who, and Numb3rs to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the Oscar-winning Titanic.
Rosalyn Landor is an English-born television, theater, and multiple-award-winning audiobook narrator. Her television credits include Love in a Cold Climate, Rumpole of the Bailey, Sherlock Holmes, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. She has won numerous Audie awards and AudioFile magazine Earphones awards.
Dennis Boutsikaris is a two-time OBIE award winner. He has received five Audie Awards and seven Golden Earphone Awards for his work in over 100 audiobooks and was voted one of the Best Voices of the Year by AudioFile magazine. He has appeared in numerous Broadway, television, and film roles. He played Mozart on Broadway in Amadeus and has appeared on television shows including Shameless, The Good Wife, House M.D., Grey’s Anatomy, ER, and Law & Order.
Blair Underwood is an author and award-winning actor, director, and producer. He lives in Los Angeles, California.