Whether he is referred to as Vlad the Impaler, Vlad Tepes or Dracula, the legend behind one of literature and history's greatest characters is always an engrossing tale for the reader. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova follows the tradition of vampire novels and surpasses them with ease.
The Role of Family in The Historian
The role of one's family, more specifically one's lineage, is an essential theme in The Historian. While the surface story centers on a father and daughter and their relationship, there is an underlying story that further propels the plot. A cursed bloodline that traces Dracula's ancestry to modern times, a dragon symbol branded on one member of each generation and secret societies are all legacies that are successively passed from the older generation to the newer.
The Historian as Travelogue
One could approach The Historian as a travelogue. After all, it takes readers on a journey all over the world, from Romania, Hungary, Turkey, France, Amsterdam and Transylvania, on a quest to discover the truth behind Dracula's secrets. When read from the point of view of a travelogue, readers get a broad picture of the lands traveled through by the characters. From the clothing of the country's inhabitants, the transportation systems, the lay of the land and the rich culinary descriptions, Kostova draws a clear picture of what each of the areas depicted in The Historian are actually like.
The Historian as Horror Novel
The Historian takes its infrequent bouts of horror straight from the archives of history. The most terrifying aspects of the novel are those that mention the cruel and heinous acts of Vlad the Impaler. Perhaps what makes them so alluring and equally chilling to the reader is that they have a factual background. Several times throughout the novel Kostova refers to other historical figures (Stalin, Hitler) and historical occurrences (the atomic bomb, Nazi concentration camps) that are meant to imply that reality is often more horrific than anything a novelist could attempt to create.
The Historian as The Da Vinci Code of Dracula Novels
It would be difficult for any reader not to immediately tune into the similarities between Kostova's The Historian and Dan Brown's bestseller The Da Vinci Code. While a clear parallel can be drawn between the two, mainly that they both rely on historical elements to lend an air of accuracy and authenticity to their respective novels, The Historian stands on its own as a more literary read.
An epistolary novel of epic proportions, The Historian manages to mesh the historical character of Vlad Tepes and the literary folklore of Dracula seamlessly, making for a enjoyable read for fans of both historical and horror novels alike.
Book Stats:
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
ISBN# 0316011770
Little, Brown & Company, 2005
Soft cover, 656 pages
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