Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Audio Books
While browsing through Ebay listings, I came across this listing for the audiobook set of THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova. This take on the Dracula legend was so popular in 2005 that ABC news did a 20/20 special about Dracula and the book. Whenever I went to the library at that time, the book was always out. So, the price on Ebay was right! This is a 10 CD set, and you will be involved in over 11 hours of listening. The actors are very professional and engaging and do hold your interest except for one character whose Romanian accent would make you think that Bucharest was just a little north of Glasgow! As for the storyline itself, it deals with 3 main characters; a professor Rossi searching for Dracula revealed in letters (shades of Jonathon Harker's journal!); a second professor and student of Rossi, and finally, this professor's daughter in on the search. This makes the plotline convoluted at times, almost to the point of wanting to make notes. I give the author great credit for her research with detailed descriptions of people and places in Eastern Europe (she had never visited there at the time the book was written). Dracula himself does not appear until late in the novel and appears to follow the real historic Vlad Tepes, rather than the Bram Stoker character. Plot holes: There are some vampiric characters out in daylight (thanks perhaps to medieval sunblock!). Without spoiling the ending, for such a powerful and immortal character, Dracula's demise (would you expect anything else!) was rather like an afterthought. Overall entertaining, and worth the time invested, but not a classic. Only Bram Stoker is immortal!Read full review
I would call this RIVETING! I opted for the audio book version and was disappointed when I reached my destination before the story did!!! The quickest 550 miles I ever drove! The style of the story telling is unique and could have been very difficult to follow but this author did a surpurb job! I could actully visualize the characters as if I was there with them! Certainly worth a listen!!!!
I listened to part of the audio book and decided I wanted my own copy. I also bought the book.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Very well researched novel about the life of Dracula and Vlad the impaler. Very similiar to a Dale Brown novel, great story but wooden predictable characters. The father of heroine was not believiable. He was always panicked but at the same moment extremely observant. This did not really ring true for me. I did enjoy the historical aspects of the novel however.
I found The Historian to be an intriguing new spin on the legend of Dracula. I enjoyed the combination of historical fiction and elements of suspense. Although there were plot holes or sometimes characters find other characters a little too coincidental, it was still worth the time.