The Historian

'The Historian' is a clever take on the modern vampire mythology, entwining the tale of the Romanian Prince, Vlad Tepes, and his vicious, vampiric personality…Count Dracula. Blurring the line between reality and superstition, Kostova's chilling novel follows the exploits of an unnamed narrator, studying the history and myth of Count Dracula. One of the most entertaining components of this book is the way that Kostova structures the plot. Using multiple timeliness and storytelling devices, it would be easy for Kostova's story to become diluted and bloated. However, 'The Historian' is tightly paced and the narrative organically unfolds across the book's three separate sections. Dracula himself remains a shadowy figure and by the book's end, the reader will remain unsure if the legendary vampire is dead, alive or simply a myth. While some readers will be dissatisfied by the ethereal presence of Count Dracula, 'The Historian' is not a retelling of Bram Stoker's magnum opus and keeps the focus on the infamous vampire's legacy. It is this legacy of blood and terror that makes for such good storytelling and Kostova expertly uses the narrator's old letters as a framing device to ratchet up suspense and blend history with legend.