Romania during World War I faced a unique situation. Although ruled by a German king, it had strong cultural and historical ties to France and the West. The young nation also had territorial ambitions that it hoped to satisfy. As a result, the country maintained a cautious neutrality in the early years of the war before ultimately deciding to enter the conflict on the side of the Allies in 1916. One of those who witnessed this situation was the American journalist John Reed.Internationally known for his famous account of the Bolshevik Revolution, Ten Days that Shook the World, John Reed’s writings about Romania are, until now, virtually unknown. As a journalist of great talent and a witness to the situation in Romania in 1915, on the eve of its entry into the war, John Reed’s accounts are insightful reading for anyone interested in this period of Romanian history or in the author himself. Edited, with an introduction by Dr. A.K. Brackob, this volume brings together these writings and reveals John Reed’s unique perspective on Romania.

Romania during World War I: Observations of an American Journalist

REED, JOHN

Humor & Entertainment

Center for Romanian Studies

Mircea the Old: Father of Wallachia, Grandfather of Dracula

One of the greatest leaders in Romanian history, Mircea the Old comes to life in this new book. Although his grandson, Vlad the Impaler, has acquired much greater international fame, Mircea the Old was the most significant ruler to sit on the throne of the small principality of Wallachia during the Middle Ages. To understand the historical Dracula, it is essential to comprehend the life and times of Mircea the Old, who, during his long reign from 1386 to 1418, consolidated the political and administrative structure of his principality and maintained its freedom at the time of its most significant peril.\nMircea defeated the mighty Ottoman Empire, the greatest power of his day, at the battle of Rovine in 1394. During the crusade of Nicopolis, in 1396, the Wallachian prince played a key role and many, including Emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg, believed that he should have led the Christian assault. Flawed political considerations, however, countermanded that proposal and resulted in a disastrous defeat for Christendom.\nDespite this setback, Mircea positioned his small country as a major force in international politics at the dawn of the fifteenth century. As the Ottoman Empire collapsed into civil war following the decisive defeat of Sultan Bayezid by the Mongol Emperor Tamerlane at the battle of Ankara in 1402, Mircea the Old emerged in the role of kingmaker. The great powers fighting for control over southeastern Europe all recognized his skill and acumen, leading the Turkish chronicler Leunclavius to describe him as “the bravest and most able of Christian Princes.” His long reign allowed him to establish the dynamic ruling dynasty from which the Dracula legend would ultimately be born.\nDr. A.K. Brackob is a noted specialist in the history of southeastern Europe. His other books include Scanderbeg: A History of George Castriota and the Albanian Resistance to Islamic Expansion in Fifteenth Century Europe.

Biographies & Memoirs

Brackob, A K

Historical

Romania during World War I faced a unique situation. Although ruled by a German king, it had strong cultural and historical ties to France and the West. The young nation also had territorial ambitions that it hoped to satisfy. As a result, the country maintained a cautious neutrality in the early years of the war before ultimately deciding to enter the conflict on the side of the Allies in 1916. One of those who witnessed this situation was the American journalist John Reed.Internationally known for his famous account of the Bolshevik Revolution, Ten Days that Shook the World, John Reed's writings about Romania are, until now, virtually unknown. As a journalist of great talent and a witness to the situation in Romania in 1915, on the eve of its entry into the war, John Reed's accounts are insightful reading for anyone interested in this period of Romanian history or in the author himself. Edited, with an introduction by Dr. A.K. Brackob, this volume brings together these writings and reveals John Reed's unique perspective on Romania.

Athene Palace

As European capitals fell during 1940 and 1941, there swarmed to the Athene Palace, Bucharest’s Grand Hotel, diplomats, generals, Gestapo spies, and demi-mondaines from all over Europe. Arriving at the crowded Athene Palace on the day Paris fell in June, 1940, American female journalist Rosa Goldschmidt Waldeck observed for the next seven months all the events that unfolded and the international figures that made Romania Europe’s last sensational hotbed of intrigue and color. Hitler’s beautiful feminine agents held court in the Athene Palace lobby within eyeshot of British diplomats, while around them moved fifth columnists, German economists and generals, American and English diplomats and newspapermen, all who made the Athene Palace the most glamorous spot on the continent. The dramatic events of this turbulent period are described here chiefly in terms of personalities: Carol and Lupescu, Antonescu and Dr. Clodius, Nazi Gauleiters, British Quislings, Romanian appeasers, and all the types who dominated the scene of World War II Europe... On the surface this is a fast-moving, dramatic book, as readable as a novel, but it is also a most effective dissection of the Nazi New Order. This penetrating insight into the German administration of Europe reveals the reasons underlying the failure of the Nazi regime. Originally published during the Second World War, this new edition is enhanced by a thorough introductory study on the author’s life and work by Ernest H. Latham, Jr., former cultural attaché at the American Embassy in Bucharest. Dr. Latham is a well-known specialist in Romanian history and has done extensive research on American and British journalists in Romania during World War II.

History

Waldeck, R

Europe

Dracula: Essays of the Life and Times of Vlad the Impaler

Dracula – the fifteenth century Romanian prince, also known as Vlad the Impaler [Țepeș], is one of the most fascinating personalities of medieval history. Even during his own lifetime, his true story became obscured behind a veil of myths. As a result, he has been portrayed as both a bloodthirsty tyrant – which degenerated down through the centuries into the fictional vampire of the same name created by the Irish author Bram Stoker at the end of the nineteenth century – and as a national and Christian hero who bravely fought to defend both his native land and all of Europe against the Islamic threat posed by the Ottoman Turks. The printing press had first come into use just prior to the beginning of his principal reign, allowing information to be more widely disseminated throughout the continent. This created a public appetite for sensational stories and one might argue that Vlad was one of the earliest victims of “fake news.” A series of pamphlets circulated throughout Europe, already during his lifetime, intended to tarnish the reputation of the Wallachian prince, who had bravely confronted the Ottoman threat. This served to create a justification as to why funds received by the Hungarian king from the Pope to finance a new Christian crusade against the Turks had been diverted to other purposes. This is just one of the mysteries explored in the many studies contained in this volume. This book includes a wide range of studies on the life and times of Vlad III Dracula by leading historians and scholars from around the world. It presents a diversity of viewpoints, allowing the reader to understand the different historical perspectives with which Vlad is viewed in modern historiography. It also includes a wealth of supplementary materials, essential for anyone interested in learning about the life of Vlad the Impaler: translations of important documents concerning his reign; a genealogy of the family of Vlad the Impaler, translations from Turkish and Byzantine chronicles referring to the controversial Wallachian prince; a chronology, and an extensive bibliography of works on the life and times of Vlad the Impaler. Dracula: Essays on the Life and Times of Vlad the Impaler is an attempt to penetrate behind the myths surrounding the real Dracula and to uncover the true story of this legendary historical figure. *** This collection of studies is edited by Dr. Kurt W. Treptow, author of one of the finest monographs on the subject: Vlad III Dracula: The Life and Times of the Historical Dracula. Included are works by leading American, British, and Romanian scholars on Vlad the Impaler, including Constantin C. Giurescu, Veniamin Ciobanu, Matei Cazacu, Kurt W, Treptow, Radu R. Florescu, Raymond T. McNally, Ștefan Andreescu, Eric D. Tappe, Grigore Nandriș, Alexandru Duțu, David Prodan, Nicolae Stoicescu, Anton Balotă, P.P. Panaitescu, George D. Florescu, and Constantin Rezachevici.

Brackob, A

John Hunyadi: Defender of Christendom

Featuring a fully revised translation The fifteenth century marked a decisive moment in world history as the expansion of the Ottoman Empire into southeastern Europe posed a grave threat to Christianity, highlighted by the fall of Byzantium to the Turks in 1453, drawing the attention of the Papacy and of all the states of Christian Europe. Amidst this turmoil, John Hunyadi rose to lead the struggle against the Islamic invaders. As voivode of Transylvania, and later royal governor and captain-general of Hungary, he became the principal defender of Christian Europe from 1441 until his death in 1456. He led several crusading efforts to halt the Turkish advance into Europe, including a remarkable victory over the Turks at the battle of Niš in 1443 that secured his fame as a warrior for the Christian cause. This biography explores the life and times of John Hunyadi. It traces the history of the threat posed by the Ottoman Turks leading up to the great clashes of the fifteenth century and makes critical use of primary sources to tell the story of the man who directed the effort to defend Christian Europe against the Islamic onslaught. As leader of this struggle, John Hunyadi became a hero not only to Romanians and Hungarians, but to all the peoples of the Balkans as well. He led Christian forces in the great battles of the epoch, including Varna in 1444 and Kosovo in 1448. His last great victory occurred when he conducted the successful defense of Belgrade against the Turks in 1456 for which Pope Calixtus III declared him an “Athlete of Christ.”

Muresanu, Camil

Nicolae Iorga’s A History of Romania: Land, People, Civilization is not a typical historical account of a nation’s past, reciting dates, personalities, and events. Rather, it is an intimate portrait of a land and its people written by its greatest historian. Much like Herodotus in antiquity, Iorga can be considered “the father of history” for his country; the sheer volume and scope of his work make him among the most prolific historians in all of world history. Like a true artist, he paints a portrait of Romania, bringing to life the complex history of this fascinating land. Iorga skillfully weaves together history, art, architecture, language, literature, and culture to give the reader an understanding of the fabric of Romanian society. Originally published in 1925, Iorga’s book was one of the earliest overviews of Romanian history printed in the English language. The author presents the history of the Romanian lands from ancient times until the end of World War I. He reflects on the great personalities and events that shaped the nation, while at the same time examining the various threads that bind it together. This new edition of this classic work includes a list of rulers, a bibliography, an index and numerous illustrations. It is also accompanied by a foreword by David Prodan, another great personality of Romanian historiography, discussing Iorga’s contributions to Romanian scholarship. Nicolae Iorga’s A History of Romania is essential reading for anyone interested in the story of this fascinating land. Nicolae Iorga’s A History of Romania: Land, People, Civilization is not a typical historical account of a nation’s past, reciting dates, personalities, and events. Rather, it is an intimate portrait of a land and its people written by its greatest historian. Much like Herodotus in antiquity, Iorga can be considered “the father of history” for his country; the sheer volume and scope of his work make him among the most prolific historians in all of world history. Like a true artist, he paints a portrait of Romania, bringing to life the complex history of this fascinating land. Iorga skillfully weaves together history, art, architecture, language, literature, and culture to give the reader an understanding of the fabric of Romanian society. Originally published in 1925, Iorga’s book was one of the earliest overviews of Romanian history printed in the English language. The author presents the history of the Romanian lands from ancient times until the end of World War I. He reflects on the great personalities and events that shaped the nation, while at the same time examining the various threads that bind it together. This new edition of this classic work includes a list of rulers, a bibliography, an index and numerous illustrations. It is also accompanied by a foreword by David Prodan, another great personality of Romanian historiography, discussing Iorga’s contributions to Romanian scholarship. Nicolae Iorga’s A History of Romania is essential reading for anyone interested in the story of this fascinating land.

History of Romania: Land, People, Civilization

Iorga, Nicolae

Romania entered World War I in the summer of 1916 woefully unprepared to sustain a war on its own. The country faced near collapse as its Allies did not follow through on their promises and the Central Powers advanced into the kingdom. An unexpected participant in the events that unfolded as the Central Powers invaded Romania and occupied the capital city of Bucharest was an American doctor, Joseph Breckinridge Bayne. Like many of his generation, such as Ernest Hemingway, Richard Norton, Anne Hathaway Vanderbilt, and many others, driven by a spirit of adventure and a desire to help humanity in this moment of crisis, Bayne set out for Europe to throw in his lot with the Allied forces. After arriving in London, an unlikely set of circumstances led him to Romania, an isolated post on the Eastern Front of the war where his medical skills were greatly needed.Bug and Bullets is the memoir of this brave doctor who spent the next two years combating disease and epidemics, and dealing with the horrors of war from behind enemy lines on the Eastern Front. Bayne worked at a military hospital in Bucharest, both before and after the German occupation of the Romanian capital. When the front lines had stabilized further to the East and the influx of wounded soldiers ceased, Bayne took his services to the villages outside the capital that were ravaged by disease and hunger. Once the war had ended, Bayne again volunteered his services and returned to Romania with the Red Cross to help to reign in the typhoid epidemic and to rebuild the country he had grown to love.Bayne's memoir provides a unique account of life in Romania during the First World War. He vividly describes medical conditions faced on the Eastern Front, revealing first-hand the savagery of war. Bugs and Bullets portrays the difficulties faced by the civilian population, overwhelmed by hunger and disease. As a foreign observer, he also provides a unique glimpse into life in Romanian villages during the war and creates an insightful portrait of the land and its people.This edition of Bugs and Bullets, published to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War, is edited and enhanced by a thorough introductory study on the author's life and work by Dr. Ernest H. Latham, Jr., former cultural attaché at the American Embassy in Bucharest. Dr. Latham is a well-known specialist in Romanian history and has written the only biography of Dr. Bayne, entitled What Strange Fate.Bugs and Bullets is essential reading for anyone interested in medical conditions during World War I and life on the Eastern Front during this dramatic period in history. It also provides a valuable look at life in the country on the eve of the creation of modern Romania.

Bugs and Bullets: The True Story of an American Doctor on the Eastern Front during World War I

Bayne, Joseph

Although her death at the tender age of 28 ended her promising literary career prematurely, Magda Isanos (1916-1944) ranks among the greatest poets in the history of Romanian literature. When Angels Sing: Poetry and Prose of Magda Isanos presents, for the first-time, English language versions of her writings, revealing their beauty, sensitivity, and aura of mysticism, along with a premonition of impending doom.Born in Iași, in northeastern Romania, Magda was raised in Chișinău (in what is now Moldova) before she returned to the city of her birth to attend the University of Iași. While a student there, Magda became active in the most important literary circle of the era, centered around the journal Însemnări ieșene. This group included many of the greatest literary voices of Romania's version of the lost generation, among them George Topîrceanu, Mihail Sadoveanu, Eusebiu Camilar (her future husband), and Mihai Codreanu.One of the most remarkable female voices of her generation, the poetry and prose of Magda Isanos reflect the troubled era in which she lived. The themes expounded in her literary works are universal. From a sense of impending doom, decrying the horrors of war, to a longing for peace, and a boundless hope for a brighter future for all of humanity, a wide spectrum of emotions are reflected in her literary creations. The reader will find the tragedy of Magda Isanos's life mirrored in her poems and prose.When Angels Sing is the first English language edition of poems and prose by this remarkable Romanian writer. It includes an introduction on the poet's life and work by Dr. A.K. Brackob, along with a postscript by the poet's late daughter, Elisabeta Isanos, about the life of her mother. Magda Isanos's literary creations are given visual expression in this volume by a series of original illustrations by a talented young Romanian artist, Alexandra Chiriță. When Angels Sing is a book that belongs in any representative collection of world literature.

When Angels Sing: Poems and Prose of Magda Isanos

Literature & Fiction

History & Criticism

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Books by Center for Romanian Studies

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Center for Romanian Studies publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Romania during World War I: Observations of an American Journalist

Mircea the Old: Father of Wallachia, Grandfather of Dracula

Romania during World War I: Observations of an American Journalist

Athene Palace

Dracula: Essays of the Life and Times of Vlad the Impaler

Dracula: Essays of the Life and Times of Vlad the Impaler

John Hunyadi: Defender of Christendom

History of Romania: Land, People, Civilization

Bugs and Bullets: The True Story of an American Doctor on the Eastern Front during World War I

When Angels Sing: Poems and Prose of Magda Isanos