One Sentence Summary
An intricately woven tale of history, mystery and the supernatural as a young woman sets out to uncover the truth about her father’s obsession with Dracula.
Book Genre
Historical fiction, mystery, supernatural, gothic fiction.
Main Topic of the Book
The story follows a young woman as she delves into the history of Dracula and her father’s obsession with finding the truth behind the famous legend. As she uncovers clues and follows the trail, she discovers dark secrets and a dangerous organization that will stop at nothing to keep them hidden.
Key Ideas
- The idea that history and legends are intertwined and can have real-life consequences.
- The power of obsession and how it can consume a person.
- The notion that good and evil may not always be clear-cut.
- The importance of family and the lengths one would go to protect them.
Main Parts of the Book and Short Summary
Part One: The Historian’s Letter
We are introduced to a young woman, whose name is never revealed, as she finds a mysterious book and a letter from her father. The letter reveals his obsession with finding the true history of Vlad the Impaler, commonly known as Dracula. The young woman decides to follow in her father’s footsteps and seeks out Professor Rossi, her father’s former mentor, to learn more about his obsession.
Part Two: The Professor and the Historian
The young woman meets with Professor Rossi, who shares his own experiences with her father’s obsession and how it led to dangerous paths. The Professor also shares the story of his own past and his meeting with a strange man who claimed to be a descendant of Vlad the Impaler. He encourages the young woman to continue her search and gives her a valuable lead.
Part Three: The Girl with a Wasp Waist
The story shifts to the past as the young woman’s father, Paul, recounts his own search for the truth behind Dracula. He meets various individuals who have their own theories and encounters the mysterious Helen Rossi, Professor Rossi’s daughter, who becomes his love interest. As he gets closer to the truth, he uncovers dark secrets and becomes entangled in a dangerous web of organizations vying for power.
Part Four: The Dark Madonna
The story picks up in the present day as the young woman, along with her friend Nicholas, continue their journey following the clues left behind by her father. They travel to various locations, meet new people with their own connections to the legend, and uncover more secrets. However, they also realize that they are being followed and must be cautious in their hunt for the truth.
Part Five: Journey to Istanbul
The final leg of their journey takes them to Istanbul, where they believe the answers to all their questions lie. As they follow a series of clues, they are confronted by a dangerous organization, the Order of the Dragon, who will stop at nothing to keep the secrets of the past hidden. The young woman and Nicholas must use all their skills and knowledge to unravel the truth and outsmart the Order.
Key Takeaways
- The power of history and how it can impact the present.
- The danger of obsession and how it can consume and destroy a person’s life.
- The blurred lines between good and evil and how it is up to individuals to choose their actions.
- The strength of family and how it can drive individuals to protect their loved ones.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Elizabeth Kostova is an American author, born in 1964. She holds a BA from Yale University and an MFA from the University of Michigan. She has also studied at the University of Oxford and has taught English at universities in the US and Europe. Kostova’s writing is heavily influenced by her love for travel, history, and art.
Target Audience
The target audience for ‘The Historian’ is primarily adults interested in historical fiction, mystery, and the supernatural. It may also appeal to readers interested in Dracula and gothic fiction.
Publisher and First Publication Date
‘The Historian’ was published in 2005 by Little, Brown and Company.