The Historian
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)
Author
Contributors
Published
Books on Tape , 2006.
Appears on these lists
Status
Checked Out
Available Platforms
Libby/OverDrive
Titles may be read via Libby/OverDrive. Libby/OverDrive is a free app that allows users to borrow and read digital media from their local library, including ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines. Users can access Libby/OverDrive through the Libby/OverDrive app or online. The app is available for Android and iOS devices.
Description
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 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.Parsing obscure signs and hidden texts, reading codes worked into the fabric of medieval monastic traditions-and evading the unknown adversaries who will go to any lengths to conceal and protect Vlad's ancient powers-one woman comes ever closer to the secret of her own past and a confrontation with the very definition of evil. Elizabeth Kostova's debut novel is an adventure of monumental proportions, a relentless tale that blends fact and fantasy, history and the present, with an assurance that is almost unbearably suspenseful-and utterly unforgettable.
More Details
Format
eAudiobook
Edition
Unabridged
Street Date
10/17/2006
Language
English
ISBN
9780739353356
Subjects
Excerpt
Loading Excerpt...
Similar Titles From NoveList
NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
A love like blood - Sedgwick, Marcus
Those who want a good scare will enjoy these fast-paced, creepy, and suspenseful investigations into bloody murders. Spanning years and multiple European locations, both have a Gothic horror feel, though A Love Like Blood is more gruesome. -- Anthea Goffe
Fans of vampire stories that delve into historical lore will appreciate these richly detailed, compelling novels tracing vampires to ancient Egypt (Queen of the Damned) and medieval Europe (The Historian). Queen is part of a series; The Historian stands alone. -- Malia Jackson
Bolstered by the discovery of sinister artifacts and the disappearance of loved ones, protagonists in these creepy nonlinear novels seek the truth behind the myths of Dracula (Historian) and Melmoth the Witness. Melmoth is more leisurely paced than the page-turning Historian. -- Kaitlin Conner
Though the protagonists of these literary horror novels have different reasons for seeking lost and missing persons, both atmospheric, intricately plotted books combine academic research with spine-tingling chills for a sophisticated take on the horror genre. -- Shauna Griffin
Reinvigorating the ghost (Children's Home) and the vampire (Historian) stories, these literary horror novels are atmospheric and abundantly creepy. Though Children's Home is spare and Historian is stylistically complex, each tale features complicated protagonists and steadily building terror. -- Mike Nilsson
Each presenting a backstory to the Dracula myth, these gothic horror tales are fast-paced and intricately plotted. Though The Historian is set in the 20th century and Dracul takes place in the 19th century, both include the authors as prominent characters. -- Mike Nilsson
Both suspenseful novels are rich in details of a world that has magical elements. Though The Historian incorporates a more traditional kind of vampire, it may appeal to readers who like Night Watch's strong sense of place and dark plot. -- Lauren Havens
In these atmospheric, creepy gothic horror novels, historicans initially believe that legends of a hidden evil are overblown. To their peril, they uncover terrifying truths. Film fans of The Blair Witch Project and/or The Witch may enjoy these adventures too. -- CJ Connor
These fast-paced, compelling novels build on the legend of Vlad the Impaler. In Vlad, the vampire shows up right away, while The Historian depicts a thrilling search for him. Vlad offers implicit social commentary that is absent from The Historian. -- Katherine Johnson
Although the protagonists differ in age and gender, both novels feature determined characters traveling through Europe in pursuit of a lost secret from the past. Unlikely friendships play a key role in these character-driven stories. -- Michael Jenkins
Readers who appreciate the dark self-reflection in The Historian may appreciate The Gargoyle. Both novels refer to the present and to times past as characters solve issues close to them. The richly detailed novels are suspenseful and thoughtful. -- Lauren Havens
Though Umberto Eco's prose is more complex than Elizabeth Kostova's, both The Name of the Rose and The Historian will appeal to those seeking doorstopper literary thrillers centered on a mystery with a decidedly academic bent. -- Bethany Latham
Similar Authors From NoveList
NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Elizabeth Kostova's doorstopper novels have been described as possessing a "majestic grandeur" that allows them to share the "literary weight" of some of Umberto Eco's works, and both have featured thrilling literary historical mysteries as major plotlines, though Eco's use of language is more complex. -- Bethany Latham
Elizabeth Kostova and Diane Setterfield write Gothic fiction that combines elements such as family secrets and hidden tragedies filled with complex characters in unusual settings. Both authors use narratives linking past and present to create suspenseful plots that keep readers guessing. -- Keeley Murray
Both authors use traditional literary elements in the backbone of their fantasy novels' magical worlds. Their storytelling ability allows them to add rich layers of detail and development that make the dark and sometimes violent worlds seem fresh. Both are adept at maintaining suspense and a strong sense of place. -- Lauren Havens
Combining horror, mystery, and psychological fiction, Joan Lindsay and Elizabeth Kostova's atmospheric work hovers between dream and historical fact. Whether set in early 20th-century rural Australia or contemporary Bulgaria, their compelling tales feature complex characters and rich detail framed by intricate plotting and lyrical prose. -- Mike Nilsson
American authors Anne Rice and Elizabeth Kostova weave mesmerizing tales of horror and gothic fiction with intricate plotst and lush descriptions that transport readers to exotic, richly detailed locales. Their stories feature captivating characters seeking truths within the mysteries of life itself. Both deliver creepy, eerie vibes for adult readers. -- Andrienne Cruz
These authors' works have the appeal factors creepy, stylistically complex, and first person narratives, and they have the genres "horror" and "gothic fiction"; the subjects "fathers and daughters," "inheritance and succession," and "siblings"; and characters that are "complex characters."
These authors' works have the appeal factors creepy, stylistically complex, and nonlinear, and they have the genres "literary fiction" and "psychological fiction"; the subject "family secrets"; and characters that are "complex characters."
These authors' works have the appeal factors creepy, stylistically complex, and nonlinear, and they have the genres "literary fiction" and "horror"; the subjects "missing persons" and "kidnapping"; and characters that are "complex characters."
These authors' works have the appeal factors stylistically complex and unnamed narrator, and they have the genres "literary fiction" and "psychological fiction"; and the subjects "fathers and daughters," "family secrets," and "siblings."
These authors' works have the appeal factors atmospheric, stylistically complex, and first person narratives, and they have the genres "literary fiction" and "psychological fiction"; and the subject "teenage girls."
These authors' works have the appeal factors haunting, stylistically complex, and intricately plotted, and they have the subjects "missing persons," "kidnapping," and "missing children"; and characters that are "complex characters."
These authors' works have the appeal factors angst-filled and intricately plotted, and they have the subject "memories."
Reviews from GoodReads
Loading GoodReads Reviews.
Citations
APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)
Kostova, E., Eyre, J., & Michael, P. (2006). The Historian (Unabridged). Books on Tape.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Kostova, Elizabeth, Justine Eyre and Paul Michael. 2006. The Historian. Books on Tape.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Kostova, Elizabeth, Justine Eyre and Paul Michael. The Historian Books on Tape, 2006.
Harvard Citation (style guide)Kostova, E., Eyre, J. and Michael, P. (2006). The historian. Unabridged Books on Tape.
MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)Kostova, Elizabeth, Justine Eyre, and Paul Michael. The Historian Unabridged, Books on Tape, 2006.
Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.
Copy Details
| Collection | Owned | Available | Number of Holds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Libby | 2 | 0 | 6 |
Staff View
Loading Staff View.