Romania

by Lucian Boia

Romania occupies a unique position on the map of Eastern Europe. It is a country that presents many paradoxes. In this book the preeminent Romanian historian Lucian Boia examines his native land's development from the Middle Ages to modern times, delineating its culture, history, language, politics and ethnic identity. Boia introduces us to the heroes and myths of Romanian history, and provides an enlightening account of the history of Romanian Communism. He shows how modernization and the influence of the West have divided the nation - town versus country, nationalists versus pro-European factions, the elite versus the masses - and argues that Romania today is in chronic difficulty as it tries to fix its identity and envision a future for itself.

The book concludes with a tour of Bucharest, whose houses, streets and public monuments embody Romania's traditional values and contemporary contradictions.

Genres: History, Romania, Nonfiction, Romanian Literature, Travel

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Lucian Boia is a Romanian historian, known especially for his works debunking Romanian nationalism and Communism.

Reviews

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

After visiting Romania a couple of times I got obsessed with this country, its people and culture. This book (recommended to me by romanian friends) opened a whole new world for me. Boia compares and discusses different theories and views on the history and explains why and how it happened that Romania is what it is today. Sometimes the language is a bit too academic but the book is nevertheless truly fascinating.

[Claudia Șerbănescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinci stele sunt prea puține pentru cât de mult mi-a plăcut cartea. O recomand oricui, român sau străin, dornic să cunoască România și pe români așa cum sunt: cu bune și rele, cu defecte și calități, cu momente de glorie sau de obscuritate. Oricum, altfel decât în manualele, cărțile și filmele de propagandă ale diverselor epoci, eliberați de mituri, exagerări și încrâncenări, dar descriși cu detașare și o tușă fină de umor.

[Vali C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiind prima carte de popularizare a istoriei romanesti pe o care o citesc, pot sa spun ca am fost surprins intr-un mod placut. Cartea este foarte usor de citit, combinand multe informatii precise cu observatiile personale ale autorului, adesea umoristice. Nu pot sa spun ca am aflat foarte multe informatii noi, dar cu siguranta am putut sa le sedimentez si sistematizez mai bine pe cele pe care le stiam deja. Capitolul despre politica din perioada 1990-2007 mi s-a parut foarte interesant, intrucat nu am aflat prea multe despre asta la scoala si nici nu am trait constient vremurile acelea, fiind nascut in 1997. Apreciez faptul ca autorul incearca sa pastreze un anumit grad de echidistanta in problemele cu potential crescut de surescitare, cum ar fi cea a teoriei migrationiste a poporului roman, unde prezinta argumentele principale ale ambelor parti.

Inteleg de ce Lucian Boia este tinta multor ultra-nationalisti, intrucat se desparte violent de istoria glorioasa pe care o invatam la scoala. Totodata, cred ca reuseste sa nu pice nici in extrema cealalta de desconsiderare totala a personalitatilor istorice si realizarilor poporului roman. Un exemplu elocvent mi se pare cel al lui Stefan cel Mare, unde aminteste faptul ca domnia sa a fost o perioada de aur a Moldovei caracterizata prin stabilitate si castigarea multor batalii importante, dar acestea au fost deseori urmate de plata tributului peste cativa ani.

Am ales sa dau 4/5 stele pentru ca nu pot gasi un defect major cartii, dar nici nu pot spune ca m-a impresionat intr-un mod unic. O recomand totusi oricui vrea sa inteleaga mai bine formarea Romaniei in partea asta a Europei si poate si cateva justificari pentru situatia actuala a tarii si a poporului sau.

[Fred Garnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being written in 1999 this is a terrific book for those trying to understand Romania through its history and geo-political situation; it contains an excellent chapter on sylvan Bucharest too. So he misses out on the many 21st century changes that have made Romania the bandwidth capital of Europe, revealed a deep corruption in the political class and seen massive demonstrations against and after the Collectiv night club fire in 2016.
Nevertheless this is a magisterial coverage of its chosen material as Lucian Boia wears his learning and knowledge lightly, as he answers the question "What is Romania", and uses it, like the best writers, to dance easily between the many elements of his answers, whilst trying to be both inform us and remain rounded.
The excellent selection of images really helps too. As he puts it he is not "competing with guidebooks" but instead he is providing a history of Romanian people which will help the many who wish to live, love or work there, understand Romanians, and deepen their travel experiences.

[Paul Ispas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Treaba buna facuta de Boia, insa nu pot sa nu critic, la nivel minimalist, caracterul romanesc al unei carti scrisa pentru straini, iar din acest motiv lasa impresia ca nu este completa.
Una-peste-alta, lucrarea poate juca intr-un stil mult mai complet rolul de manual de istorie a romanilor datorita tendintei de explicare a situatiei actuale prin fundamente istorice si referinte pertinente.
Un "must" pentru cei care vor sa-si acopere lacunele in domeniul istoriei romane... sau sa-si schimbe modul de a gandi si trata trecutul tarii. Pentru ca romanii nu vorbeau limba daca.

[Roman Brasoveanu · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book achieves its intention of being a brief introduction to Romanian history and culture but is coated in Boia’s ideology and by omission fails to capture Romania outside of mere historical fact while avoiding the same when they evidence claims unpopular to the ‘Europeanists’

From the outset, Boia presents himself as a balanced and professional historian, giving both sides to cultural disputes and a voice even to the historical enemies of Romania. He is, allegedly, a champion in the fight against nationalistic pseudo-history (promoted especially by Ceaușescu). Still, as ancient history gives way to that of his own lifetime, he devolves into a snarky pro-western agitator. Of Ceausescu, for instance: “Clearly, he had never heard of ecology.” (138) On occasion he’ll throw a bone so as to keep up the pretension to some kind of objectivity. In fairness to Boia, let us note that he does admit to his own bias, “what can I do myself but select and interpret in the light of my own opinions… what follows then does not pretend to present Romania in all its aspects: it is a personal interpretation, my Romania.” (10)

Still, self awareness doesn’t absolve him of deceptive and ideologically motivated retelling of history:

Moreover, his discussion of Romanians in Romania (on 220-225) has implications without substantiation that Romanian philosophy concerning national ethos is predicated on some psychological pathology, attempting to justify Romanian shortcomings or simply as a political project. He simply sweeps Noica and Blaga away without serious engagement because Westerners find their ideas disagreeable.

It may be worth noting that Boia was awarded the Hungarian order of merit for his work as a historian. This, in itself, is not a problem, but it would be ridiculous to assume the innocuousness of this association, discarding the fact that such an award is hardly apolitical and reflects approval from an intellectual culture with clear antipathies towards Romanian historiography.

[Geoffroy JL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Très fluide et accessible à tous.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romania? Voi incerca sa descriu si sa explic o tara. Dar poate fi cuprinsa o tara intr-o carte? Da si nu. Realitatea este multiforma si inepuizabila, in timp ce reprezentarea ei nu poate fi decat limitata si simplificata. Si, inevitabil, subiectiva. 0 singura tara, dar cate priviri asupra ei! O singura istorie, dar cate reconstituiri si interpretari! Nici o imagine nu are cum sa fie identica cu obiectul reprezentat. Vedem intr-un anume fel. Si, cu cat realitatea este mai complexa si susceptibila de a fi privita din foarte multe puncte de observatie, cu atat colectia noastra de imagini castiga in diversitate.

[Francesco Iorianni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a general overview of the history of the Romanian country from the founding myth till the post Communism era with the killing of Ceauşescu. The focus lays on different viewpoint on how the country saw itself over the decades: Dacian, close to the West (Bukarest was called 'Little Paris' ) or as part of the Soviet Union. It's a good and understandable introduction to this vast and diverse country.

[Philipp Hartmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rezumat de bază al istoriei României. În timp ce cele două treimi iniţiale sunt destul de interesante, ultima treime pare a fi mai degrabă o juxtapoziţie a impresiilor autorului, nu prea bine orânduită. În plus, după părerea mea, se vedea prea des atitudinea lui Boia, în loc de a asuma o poziţie mai imparţială.

[Ryan Ard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting history of the Romanian country from its origins to almost present time (early 2000s). Boia writes an excellent history adding in his thoughts and a bit of comic flair. The book certainly doesn’t read like an academic paper. It is also nice to read about the country from a Romanian’s perspective than an outsider’s. Overall very entertaining and informative.

[Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un livre bien écrit et accessible pour entrer dans l'histoire de ce pays trop peu connu qu'est la Roumanie ! Une mise à jour serait cependant appréciée, puisque le livre s'arrête à l'histoire du début des années 2000...

[Stefania Bodea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incroyablement bien écrit, passionnant, et clair

[Ionuț · Rating 4 out of 5]

O sinteza utila, cu amanute inedite, cu intrebari si raspunsuri ce pot clarifica unele aspecte de natură istorica, dar si destule teorii contemporane.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a shallow and populist rehash or the popular romanian myths. There are not much money to be had in the history business where usually one ends up for not having good enough grades for a better university degree. But one can make money as a talking head. And to be a talking head you have to be popular. Lucian Boia just builds up on the previous texts without bringing anything new. His only effort is to pose as sincere and moderate. Yet this is only a pose, a way to painting the nationalism over as something good.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book I was lucky enough to find on the shelf at our local Goodwill. I used it for character development in a story I was writing. The character was the daughter of King of the Dacian Empire who lived briefly an was killed by another of my characters as the Romans marched in and took over. I only needed just enough information to write a plausible piece and with this book I found what I needed.

[Ghemot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juxtapunere a mai multor perspective din care poate fi privită România, Lucian Boia face încă o „încercare” de a portretiza țara sa natală.
Cu siguranță a ieșit un proiect bun și cuprinzător, evident neomițând perspectiva istorică, despre România!
Cred că este o carte care poate fi oferită oricărui străin interesat de „plaiurile mioritice”.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judging by the title and contents, I expected this to be a painfully dry but informative read. So I was surprised and pleased to find the writing expressive and seamlessly weaving in bits of narrative. An introductory read on Romania / armchair travel at its best. Boia provides an insightful, captivating account of the country's origins, and major themes, characters and debates in its history.

[Dora Amalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and easy to read book about Romania's history.

[Chris Wares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Highly readable book on Romania that comes across as far and away the most trustworthy description of the people and their history.

Given the complicated nature of Romania's history and its' sometimes twisted historiography this was a breath of fresh air. Boai comes across as a "modern" western writer and defangs some of the nationalist and communist mythologies.

I probably should have started my Romania reading quest with this book but then maybe I wouldn't have had as much fun getting to this point. :-)