In THESE LIVES, daily Cold War existence under the despotic dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu, is vividly documented. Drawn against a chaotic background of hardships, horrors, and hilarity, story after story depicts every imaginable aspect of that era: from cold, brutal murders and betrayal, to the abiding love between a husband and wife. These stories flow from the memories of Romanian expatriate Eliade Moldovan, who grew up in that country in painful, troublesome times. Recounted from both his own experiences and those of family and friends, the tales within all have one thing in common: the indomitable spirit of humankind to do right in the face of great evil and adversity. Particularly relevant today, THESE LIVES offers a chance to understand how tyrannical regimes come to power and what sparks a revolution. It also pays homage to the men and women of Romania who struggled for centuries and yet still survived to tell their stories. |
Dedicated to my ancestors, grandparents, and parents, who suffered enormously
when the communists took over the country. My grandparents lost their properties. My father never fully recovered, and he died down the road as a result of the hardships he had to endure. And my mother lived in fear all her young years. Reviews “IR Verdict: Full of philosophical musings, gritty survival tales and unforgettable characters, Eliade Moldovan's THESE LIVES is a fascinating look at the little-understood world of postwar Romania.”
Indie Reader
“A gripping portrait of oppression in Romania.”
Kirkus
In his memoir These Lives: History, Hilarity, Horror - Growing Up in Cold War Romania, Eliade Moldovan sheds light on the exotic (for many people) Romania as a mystical place where ancient traditions, laughter, and wit are inseparably connected.
Reedsy Discovery |
