Histria Perspectives – serie

The fifteenth-century Romanian Prince Vlad III Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler, is among the most intriguing personalities in medieval history. Already during his lifetime, his true story became obscured by a veil of myths. As a result, he has been portrayed both as a bloody tyrant — who degenerated down throughout the centuries into the fictional vampire of the same name created by Bram Stoker at the end of the nineteenth century — and as a national and Christian hero who fought bravely to defend his native land and all of Europe against the invading Turkish infidels. Even in recent times, communist and nationalist historiography has continued to obscure the real history of Dracula. This book, widely regarded as the authoritative biography of the historical Dracula, presents the life and times of this remarkable personality of medieval Europe. The author uses all extant Romanian, Turkish, Russian, and German sources in reconstructing the history of this famous prince. Despite his short reign, Vlad created a name for himself both in the history of his own country and in world history. A portrait of the historical Dracula emerges, providing the reader with a better understanding of this enigmatic figure of medieval history and the times in which he lived. The author also discusses the development of the Dracula myth. Translations of key documents in the appendixes and a series of original illustrations by Romanian artist Octavian Ion Penda enhance this biography of the historical Dracula. The author, Kurt W. Treptow, is a noted specialist in East European history. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois. His other books include A Historical Dictionary of Romania, From Zalmoxis to Jan Palach: Studies in East European History, and A History of Romania.

For the first time the true story of the man who founded the Dracula dynasty is revealed. Stories of Dracula have fascinated people around the world for generations. Both the fictional vampire created by the Irish author Bram Stoker at the end of the nineteenth century and the fifteenth century Prince called Vlad the Impaler, the man regarded as the historical Dracula, have become part of universal culture. Yet few realize that the Wallachian ruler dubbed \u201cthe Impaler,\u201d is not the original Dracula. Instead, that distinction belongs to his father, a little-known prince called Vlad Dracul. But who was the one who started it all? The elder Vlad, who gained the sobriquet Dracul or Dracula when Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg initiated him into the Order of the Dragon in February 1431, was among the most important political personalities of his day. He far surpassed his more famous namesake in those qualities that define a great ruler. Several books have been devoted to the study of his famous son, Vlad the Impaler, but any search for the historical Dracula must begin with the story of the father. Now, for the first time, based on extensive documentary research, the true story of the man who founded the Dracula dynasty is revealed.

Sexton does an incredible, informative, earnest job of walking the reader through the nuanced, intricate world of open adoption...that leaves you feeling grateful to know there is steadfast promise to open adoption. -  Liz Pryor, life advice expert, ABC's Good Morning America A compelling reading for anyone in the adoption world, and an important one for therapists, professional and academics."-  Adam Pertman, President, National Center on Adoption and PermanencyGold medal recipient in prestigious  Royal Palm Literary Awards, Florida Writers Association and second runner-up for book of the year. A powerful and honest account based on three decades of true-life experience. Award-winning The Branches We Cherish weaves together thought-provoking, joyous, and poignant reflections of four birth parents, birth grandmothers, adoptive parents, and two adopted children.  In 1992, Linda and David long to have a child. They decide to adopt a baby and learn they can only do so under an open arrangement where the biological parents and the adoptive family know each other's identities, and choose to remain in contact after the adoption is finalized ... possibly for life! There are no ready answers to their many questions: What happens in the first year? Twenty years later? What does visitation between birth and adoptive families look like? Will it be awkward to raise a child with the birth parents in the picture? How do adopted children feel about this open arrangement?  In the early 90's there is little guidance for long-term relationships between adoptive and birth families, so Linda and David have to learn as they go. Diving in with open hearts and open minds, they build relationships based on mutual trust, respect, deep gratitude for one another, and most importantly, unconditional love for a child.  They learn just how important having the children's birth parents and families in their lives is for everyone's emotional health—including their own. Discover the challenges of open adoption and the extraordinary gratification available to all members of the adoption constellation when they are willing and able to cultivate and maintain these lifetime relationships.

In 2020, seasoned US broadcast and print investigative journalist Christine Dolan, who has worked for US networks, even as CNN's Political Director in the 1980s, was covering the US presidential campaign. It morphed into the brutal COVID-19 presidential campaign. Our world was turned upside down globally. Few among Dolan's colleagues professionally knew her family background, and with an intense skill for cross-referencing, Dolan used her rolodex to get to the bottom of the COVID-19 origin and the ramifications on why COVID-19 vaccinations were the only answer and how dangerous they were. By August 2020, Dolan concluded what she was observing was medical trafficking as a global human trafficking investigative journalist for nearly a quarter of a century. In a riveting tell-all Dolan brings the readers into how real investigations are conducting to bring forth the truth no matter how painful it is and how high the hurdles are. Dolan went on a rampage to learn as much as she could about historical vaccination injuries and began interviewing COVID-19 vaccination injuried. If you have doubts about these so-called COVID-19 vaccinations being "safe and effective," and denying taking the shots are not a Russian Roulette game, the interviews Dolan has done and the stories behind the headlines and interviews that Dolan writes about should rock your world and raise questions for the future if you are considering taking the shots.

Lucrezia Borgia is among the most fascinating and controversial personalities of the Renaissance. The daughter of Pope Alexander VI, she was intensely involved in the political life of Italy during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. While her marriage alliances helped advance the political objectives of the papacy, she also held the office of Governor of Spoleto, a role normally reserved for Cardinals, making her one of the most powerful and dynamic female figures of the Renaissance. Among the first books to employ historical method to move beyond myth and romance that had obscured the fascinating story of Lucrezia Borgia was this biography written by the noted German historian Ferdinand Gregorovius.Ferdinand Gregorovius (1821-1891) was one of the preeminent scholars of the Italian Renaissance. His biography of Lucrezia Borgia reveals the atmosphere of the Renaissance, painting a portrait of Lucrezia and her relationships with her father Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI, her brother Cesare, her mother Vanozza, her father’s mistress, Giulia Farnese, her husband Duke Alfonso D’Este of Ferrara, and many others, including important artists and writers of the time. All are vividly portrayed against the colorful background of Renaissance Italy. Gregorovius separates myth from documented fact and his book remains a key reference work on the life and times of the Borgia princess.This new edition of Gregorovius’s classic work Lucrezia Borgia is enhanced with an introduction by Samantha Morris, a noted expert on the history of the Borgias. Samantha studied archaeology at the University of Winchester where her interest in the history of the Italian Renaissance began. She is the author of Cesare Borgia: In a Nutshell and Girolamo Savonarola: The Renaissance Preacher. She also runs the website theborgiabull.com.

Prelude to the Past is the remarkable story of a young Jewish girl growing up in Germany during the years leading up to the First World War. She experienced adulthood during the tumultuous years between the two World Wars, becoming one of the most important journalistic figures of the period.Born to a prominent German-Jewish family, Rosie Gräefenberg enjoyed an adventurous life as she pursued her career in journalism. Her travels led her to spend several years in inter-war France, where she experienced first-hand the attempts at Franco-German rapprochement in the aftermath of the treaty of Versailles. She ventured to French Morocco, Soviet Russia, and into the French colonies in Africa, leaving vivid portrayals of her encounters with these diverse societies and with many of the major political and social figures of the day.Her life of romance and adventure ultimately led her to marry Franz Ullstein, head of the most-powerful publishing dynasty and key representative of the democratic press establishment in pre-World War II Germany. But an unconventional marriage provoked family intrigues and political struggles that soon thrust Rosie into the greatest scandal the German Republic would endure during its death throes before the establishment of the Third Reich – the Ullstein Affair. Rosie Gräefenberg now found herself at the center of European media attention, as accusations of her being a spy brought down the most powerful media mogul in Europe and led to a drawn-out legal battle that exposed the weaknesses of the democratic press in Germany for all to see, helping lay the groundwork for the coming Nazi takeover.In Prelude to the Past, Rosie Gräefenberg provides a masterful, impassioned account of these events, in a fast-paced narrative, revealing many of the surprising motives behind them. Now, for the first time in more than 80 years this tumultuous era comes to life through the eyes of a powerful, passionate, strong, yet vulnerable Jewish woman who not only recorded the events of the era but also helped to shape them.This is a uniquely feminine perspective on a highly male-dominated era. With an introduction by Dr. Ernest H. Latham, Jr., the foremost scholar on the life and work of Rosie Gräefenberg, who later took the name R.G. Waldeck, Prelude to the Past is a must-read for anyone interested in European society in the years preceding Hitler’s domination of Europe.

The Downfall of China or the Emergence of CCP v3.0? is a book for everyone that aspires to understand the enigmatic Middle Kingdom which has become so mighty that its domestic affairs are bound to play out also globally. The author describes why we now have arrived at a critical junction where the path chosen by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will decide whether it will face an impending downfall, or yet again can manage to radically transform itself and weather the storm.Niklas Hageback has an extensive background in psychology, working with behavioral finance, modeling irrational collective behavior at tier-one financial institutions and consulting firms, such as Deutsche Bank, KPMG, and Goldman Sachs. His previous works include the bestseller, The Death Drive: Why Societies Self-Destruct.

What do Libertarians believe that sets them apart from other political parties? How do Libertarian values, approaches and principles result in more successful “pursuits of happiness” than the approaches of other political parties? And how does Judge Jim Gray dare to say that the Libertarians are the only political party in the mainstream of American political thought today? All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray will answer all of these questions and more – to your complete satisfaction!Judge Gray reveals how liberty is intertwined in our country’s genes, taking us all the way back to when the Pilgrims first landed on Plymouth Rock. All Rise! unfolds alongside Judge Gray’s life and upbringing and explores the experiences that spurred his path toward independent thought. The voices of those closest to him are materialized in exclusive interviews, revealing a rare and nuanced look at Judge Gray throughout various points in his life. How did Judge Gray, a former Congressional candidate and member of the Finance Committee of the Republican Party of Orange County, California lean into Libertarianism in only 13 seconds? See how he has been an involved and passionate member of the Libertarian Party ever since that whip-quick decision, and travel with him through his subsequent campaigns as a Libertarian for US Senate in 2004, Vice President in 2012 and President in 2020.Join Judge Gray on his mission to mainstream the word Libertarian – not simply the word, but the party’s values, approaches and principles. Direct and frontal attacks on our freedoms and liberties are unacceptable, and Judge Gray’s platform offers an antidote to the continual trespassing of an overzealous government on its citizens. All Rise! also demonstrates how government has failed to run economies throughout history, and how it is failing to perform under today’s duress, which will leave a legacy of debt to our children and grandchildren! Judge Gray, a recipient of the 2019 Judge Franklin G. West Lifetime Achievement Award from the Orange County Bar Association, argues that there is a solution: employ Responsibility, and employ Liberty!All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray provides us all with an inside look at Judge Gray’s ideological transformation, giving a clear overview of Libertarianism, the values it holds for America, and how it stands to unite us, which is precisely what we need in these divisive and frustrating times.The book includes a foreword by Tom Campbell, former Member of Congress from California (1989-1993; 1995-2001). He was also the Dean of the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley and the Dean of the Chapman University School of Law.

A cookbook with a historic recipe anthology does not easily define the wonder of tracking the evolution of the cookbook and the modernization of the kitchen. Pamela Kure Grogan's My Cookbook Passion draws upon a vintage selection from her 3,000 volume cookbook collection showcasing the changing palates of those at-home and at-travel epicureans. In it, she visualizes the impact of various world wars, financial depressions, expanding transcontinental auto usage, and the technological advancement of utensils and ingredients used in the kitchen on the public's taste.My Cookbook Passion is a color panorama of historic cookbooks and recipes with the stories of how such books came into being. Chapters include: "Entertaining is Fun"; "Reach for the Stars" on celebrities; "Inns & Farms"; books on food publishers like Barrows & Co; and a list of famous chefs and their restaurants, most now gone from the scene. There are even hints about becoming a discerning cookbook collector.Pamela Kure Grogan worked for twenty years as Store Manager at Williams Sonoma and at Sur La Table kitchen stores. She also served as Food Editor for an online food company. Today, Pamela is an active 'passionate baker' with her fan-followed social media sites, kitchen a'stir, and now www.cookbookpassion.comMy Cookbook Passion reaches several audiences: chefs, food lovers, and those at home who want to try the heirloom recipes. More than a cookbook, it can serve as a colorful coffee table book or a well-worn cooking resource guide. It is a travel history where nostalgia becomes refreshed and relevant, and one reads into the pages the passion of Pamela Kure Grogan's recipe selections of the timeless.

In the summer of 2014, Firas Jumaah was working diligently to complete his doctorate in chemistry at Lund University in Sweden when he suddenly received news that an ISIS advance in northern Iraq threatened the lives of his wife and children who had returned to their native land for a family wedding. The Islamic State had unexpectedly launched an assault on a nearby village inhabited by members of the Yazidi religious minority, to which Firas belongs, slaughtering or enslaving the entire population. Fearing for his family, Firas immediately returned to Iraq and soon found himself reunited with them behind enemy lines.As the situation worsened by the minute, Firas managed to send a message to his professor, Charlotta Turner, to let her know that he did not expect to return to Sweden to complete his dissertation. Unbeknownst to Firas, Charlotta sprang into action. “What was happening was completely unacceptable,” she later explained. “I got so angry that ISIS was pushing itself into our world, exposing my doctoral student and his family to danger, and disrupting his research.” Charlotta consulted university officials about what could be done to help. Unwilling to accept this tragic situation or to abandon her student and his family to the whims of fate, she quickly organized a commando mission that resulted in the dramatic rescue of Firas, his wife, and his two young children, ages four and six, from war-torn Iraq, bringing them safely back to Sweden.Thanks to the heroic efforts of Charlotta and those who supported her efforts, Firas Jumaah finished his Ph.D. in 2016. He now works as a chemist in the Swedish pharmaceutical industry. In Rescued from ISIS Terror, Firas and Charlotta tell their fascinating story. In this riveting tale of family, friendship, and loyalty in the face of extreme adversity, they brilliantly interweave the story of the dramatic rescue operation with that of the tragic situation faced by the Yazidi people in Iraq.

On December 6, 1998, the Venezuelan people voted in an election that would drastically change the course of the country. After Hugo Chavez Frias won the 1998 election and assumed office in 1999, most Venezuelans felt hopeful of the promise of change and the opening up of new possibilities, and perhaps the return of an era of prosperity such as Venezuela had known in the 1950s. Reality, however, proved much different.The Venezuelan people slowly came to realize that they had voted for something that could no longer simply vote out of office. Over the past two decades, Venezuela experienced a massive political, socio-economic, and ideological transformation. It has gone from one of Latin America’s most stable democracies to a failed, impoverished state. Some believe this marks the end of what once was a bastion of freedom in South America; others, more optimistically, believe the nation can once regain its former glory despite the devastation.How Progressivism Destroyed Venezuela explores the causes of the disaster facing this proud and once prosperous nation. Although the most obvious explanation for Venezuela’s tragic situation is Hugo Chavez, his corrupt government, and his failed policies, the seeds of this disaster were planted in the country long before he ever set foot in the Presidential Palace. This book explores the progressive ideas and events that led up to the election of 1998. It discusses the events, policies, and attitudes that defined the late Hugo Chavez Frias’s government and how his once unexpected leadership in the country managed to become entrenched, despite its colossal failures and popular protests.

The world is changing fast and politics are changing with them. Throughout history, times of change are marked by great leaders changing the world for the better. Our world today is in crisis. There is a need for a new generation of politicians to change the world, and they seem to appear, with a new style to how they think and how they behave, and Emmanuel Macron could very well be a prototype.Macron Unveiled examines Macron’s first four years as France’s president, scrutinizing Macron’s personality, his way of solving problems, his sources of inspiration, his mistakes, his difficulties, as well as the impact he may already have had in his country, in Europe, and the world. New leaders with a modern approach to politics are quickly emerging, and despite having limited political experience, they are facing the challenges of today head on.As the world moves on from the impact of President Trump, there is a growing interest in world affairs what leadership will look like tomorrow. New ideas and new ways of doing things are changing the political landscape. As a former French Diplomat, psychologist, and political coach, Alain Lefebvre is uniquely positioned to explain the French perspective to international audiences. He brings careful analysis and historical context to Macron’s time in office and presents the information in a way that will helps readers gain a better understanding of who Macron is as a man, a leader, and a prototype for the next generation of political leaders.

Why Political Democracy Must Go is an insightful analysis of the origins of the socialist movement in the United States, written by famed journalist John Reed, one of the most distinguished American writers on the subject. Although one of socialism’s fiercest proponents, Reed exposes the myth of ‘democratic socialism’ by providing an overview of the development of socialist thought in America. His devastating critique of political democracy argues that socialism cannot be achieved through democratic means.Originally published in 1919 in serial form, Why Political Democracy Must Go provides critical historical insight on the evolution of socialist thought in the United States. Today, when there is renewed interest in socialism on the American political scene, this notable series of essays reveals the underpinnings of socialist thought. Reed’s analysis will be of interest to those on all sides of the political spectrum.Born in Portland, Oregon, on October 22, 1887, Harvard educated John Reed was considered one of the most remarkable journalists of his generation. He became famous for his first-hand accounts of the Mexican Revolution, where he rode alongside Pancho Villa, and for his acclaimed account of the Russian Revolution, Ten Days that Shook the World. Reed was also a political activist and a founding member of the Communist Labor Party of America. He died in Russia on October 17, 1920, and is one of only three Americans buried in the Kremlin Wall.Why Political Democracy Must Go: The Origins of Socialism in the United States is edited, with an introduction by Dr. A.K. Brackob, a noted historian, and editor of John Reed’s collection of writings, Romania during World War I: Observations of an American Journalist (2018).

For the second time in human history, we are on the verge of broad new breakthroughs in health, productivity, and personal freedom. And many-to-many networks are the reason. In business, government, and war, information is no longer the privilege of a powerful few. Now everyone knows what anyone knows, and we are applying that diversity of experience and perspective to expand the frontiers of our lives. We are starting to think together. The age of hierarchical organizations has ended. Social media networks, online forums, and guerilla broadcasting are connecting us in communities with fewer bureaucratic layers. In swarms, walkouts, strikes, and insurrections, people are sharing experience directly in real time, marching together into the public square, and demanding a greater voice in the new democracy. Networks Rising is the colorful story of unsung technology wizards waving us on, of philosophers struggling to free us from the dictates of church and state, and of sociologists, futurists, and even science fiction writers offering dozens of new schemes for living in a more connected world.

Prepare to be delightfully surprised to discover that the godfather of all vampires and the infamous dark wizard share a deep character bond that goes far beyond the title 'monster.' Be intrigued to uncover what a coffin and a horcrux share or to dig further to unearth that the often-overlooked scars which Bram Stoker wrote of in Victorian England are just as significant as those described by J. K. Rowling in the modern era. Indeed, it cannot be a mere coincidence that Dracula was hurt in 1897 and 100 years later, Harry is too. Bookshelves and databases are full of fascinating sources celebrating the supernatural worlds created by beloved authors Bram Stoker and J.K. Rowling. The millions of fans of Dracula and Harry Potter consist of all age groups and varied enthusiasm, ranging from a curious reader or leisure cinema observer to seriously devoted academic scholars. However, followers of each universe have been chiefly segregated – rarely mingling apart from an occasional culture convention, widely dominated by Star Wars, Star Trek, and Marvel heroes' groupies. This is most unfortunate because Stoker and Rowling readers have a lot in common. This is because Count Dracula and Lord Voldemort have much in common. In fact, these two internationally acclaimed bestselling novels possess a remarkable kinship. A Tale of Two Villains is a love letter to both sets of fans paying homage to two superb authors and their extraordinary respective works. It is the first text to set both masterpieces on pedestals, side by side, analyzing the words on the page and the thoughts behind them - exploring their similar themes, unique parallelism, and mystical symbolism. The author delves profoundly into the interesting characters, their traits, conflicts, and motivations, to show how literary art is born. This book is a must have for any Stoker or Rowling reader, as it is the first of its kind ever published.

The Bible is arguably the greatest masterpiece of literature ever produced. But what makes it great? Who decides whether it is great, accurate or valid? Is one opinion or interpretation better than another? These are questions that are best left to the experts...right? Aging Gracelessly is the culmination of an 18-month study by the author to read the Bible, analyzing it from the perspective of a reluctant agnostic... and hopefully find in it a much anticipated inner peace. It is a genuine attempt to investigate the “Good Book” without the bias and influence of others. The author delves into each book of the Bible and relates the experience with an unusual honesty and candor. He is looking for peace... and possibly salvation... and, like C. S. Lewis, fully expects to get off his agnostic fence to join the two billion other Christian adherents who consider the Bible the ultimate handbook for the soul. Along the way, he discusses with himself many of the facets of our intangible existence; things like good vs evil, reality vs wishful thinking, faith vs brainwashing, and ignorance vs stupidity. Aging Gracelessly raises as many questions as it addresses...and it will make even the most vigorous believers among us think about what we believe.