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Anii frigului
„Atlet al realismului ezoteric şi campion al tristeţilor metafizice, Dan Stanca este cel mai dostoievskian (şi eliadesc) scriitor din peisajul nostru literar. De peste trei decenii se luptă narativ cu demonismul, erezia, vinovăţiile năucitoare şi ispăşirile halucinante. Indiferent că-i vorba de mistică, politică, sexualitate, de ocultism, legionarism, alcoolism, alchimie, gazetărie, simbologie sau guénonism, el alcătuieşte frenetic scenografii fantaste, şubrezite de ispite abisale, iniţieri morbide, deprimism hipnotic, hierogamii şi hierofanii delirante. Proza lui pare că rivalizează sufleteşte cu lupta biblică din Vadul de la Peniel.
Imaginaţi-vă, acum, un «Fenomen Piteşti» conjugal (cu o soţie torţionară), corelat cu destinul aiuritor al lui Sandu Tudor, stranietatea iniţiatică a grupării Rugului aprins de la mănăstirea Antim, sculptori atinşi de «tipologia deznădejdii şi deformării», dispariţii magice din puşcăria Aiudului, şocante inserturi erotice de tantrism punitiv, plus un final paradoxal – totul textuat cu sarcastică ambiguitate de personajul… Hector Noroaie!
Altminteri, o lecţie tulburător parabolică de ce poate însemna, în istorie, ca şi în destinul individual, coincidenţa contrariilor.“ (DAN C. MIHĂILESCU)
„Pentru mine, un roman este transformarea demonului sau a daimonului în înger. Mi-am gândit cărţile ca pe un proces spiritual, în care plec de undeva de foarte jos, sau în orice caz dintr-o materie foarte frământată şi chinuită, ca să ajung la o transparenţă unde sensurile spirituale se pot desluşi.“ (DAN STANCA)
Imaginaţi-vă, acum, un «Fenomen Piteşti» conjugal (cu o soţie torţionară), corelat cu destinul aiuritor al lui Sandu Tudor, stranietatea iniţiatică a grupării Rugului aprins de la mănăstirea Antim, sculptori atinşi de «tipologia deznădejdii şi deformării», dispariţii magice din puşcăria Aiudului, şocante inserturi erotice de tantrism punitiv, plus un final paradoxal – totul textuat cu sarcastică ambiguitate de personajul… Hector Noroaie!
Altminteri, o lecţie tulburător parabolică de ce poate însemna, în istorie, ca şi în destinul individual, coincidenţa contrariilor.“ (DAN C. MIHĂILESCU)
„Pentru mine, un roman este transformarea demonului sau a daimonului în înger. Mi-am gândit cărţile ca pe un proces spiritual, în care plec de undeva de foarte jos, sau în orice caz dintr-o materie foarte frământată şi chinuită, ca să ajung la o transparenţă unde sensurile spirituale se pot desluşi.“ (DAN STANCA)
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2017
3 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Dan Stanca
28 books11 followersDan Stanca a debutat editorial cu romanul Vintul sau tipatul altuia. A lucrat multi ani la cotidianul Romania libera, unde a publicat sute de articole. De asemenea, prezenta sa in presa culturala, de la Romania literara la Luceafarul si de la Apostrof la Convorbiri literare, acopera un interval de peste doua decenii. Vocatia sa este insa aceea de romancier. A publicat pina in prezent 17 romane, dintre care amintim: Morminte stravezii, Muntele viu, Ritualul noptii, Mila frunzelor, Mut, Cei calzi si cei reci, Noaptea lui Iuda, A doua zi dupa moarte, Ultima biserica, Apocalips aminat. I s-a decernat de doua ori Premiul Uniunii Scriitorilor din Romania si in alte doua rinduri a fost nominalizat la aceeasi distinctie. A primit premiul Asociatiei Scriitorilor din Bucuresti, a fost premiat, de asemenea, de revistele Ateneu si Flacara. Romanul sau Noaptea lui Iuda a fost nominalizat la premiul Cartea Anului al revistei Romania literara in 2007. Romanul Morminte stravezii a fost tradus in limba maghiara in 2011, la Editura Napkut din Budapesta.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 28, 2024
Pe alocuri puțin cam vulgară pentru gustul meu, dar foarte puțin, câteva scene. În rest, foarte bine împletită ficțiunea cu realitatea și elemente fantastice, oarecum cu notă de magie, ireal.
Dan Stanca a trecut foarte natural de la viața conjugală oribilă trăită de Hector Noroaie, alături de Anastasia, soția lui despotică, la eșecul vedetei Daria Dima, la viața lui Sandu Tudor, gazetar, poet și monah din perioada interbelică.
Anii frigului a fost un roman care m-a ținut în filmul țesut de autor. Interesant. Cu nuanțe de reverie, nefericire, speranță...
Dan Stanca a trecut foarte natural de la viața conjugală oribilă trăită de Hector Noroaie, alături de Anastasia, soția lui despotică, la eșecul vedetei Daria Dima, la viața lui Sandu Tudor, gazetar, poet și monah din perioada interbelică.
Anii frigului a fost un roman care m-a ținut în filmul țesut de autor. Interesant. Cu nuanțe de reverie, nefericire, speranță...
July 13, 2017
Dan Stanca scrie aici despre fericire și mai ales despre nefericire, așa că, pentru unii, este un roman ciudățel, în care personaje cu nume stilizate se iau la trântă cu nemulțumirile domestice, cu oprobriul public, cu coincidențele vieții și cu Securitatea, pentru a găsi o cale de a străbate nefericirea.
Anii frigului - anii comunismului, anii închisorilor securității - nu s-au terminat niciodată, chiar dacă oameni persecutați sau bătăuși securiști au supraviețuit acestora. Poate ei vor trece doar dacă creatorul unei opere (fie el sculptor sau arhitect, scriitor sau muzician) s-ar contopi cu opera creată.
Anii frigului - anii comunismului, anii închisorilor securității - nu s-au terminat niciodată, chiar dacă oameni persecutați sau bătăuși securiști au supraviețuit acestora. Poate ei vor trece doar dacă creatorul unei opere (fie el sculptor sau arhitect, scriitor sau muzician) s-ar contopi cu opera creată.
December 19, 2021
🌸 Not a classical review, just notes to my future self:
3,5/5
🌸 De ce nu 5?
- nu am suficiente cunostiinte legate de contextul istoric astfel nu cred ca am putut aprecia ultimele părți ale romanului la adevarata lor valoare ( * citește cărți despre comunism*).
- nu am apreciat Combinația dintre realismul clar și o tenta de suprarealism strecurata pe ici și colo. Probabil autorul a dorit sa ofere puțin mister și farmec firului narativ dar mi s-au părut fără rost.
- din nou, subiectiva fiind, nu pot ignora limbajul vulgar dintr-o carte, motiv pentru care nu mă ating nici de bukowski
🌸 + pt: - stilul de scriere
- felul in care a reușit autorul sa contureze personajul principal
- nu plictiseste cititorul, acțiunea decurge rapid fără descrieri și pasaje inutile, de umplutura (cu excepția celor, după părerea mea, suprarealiste), te face sa nu vrei sa lași cartea din mâna pana nu o termini.
🌸 Voi reveni la aceasta carte?
- Probabil, după ce mă voi documenta mai bine in legătura cu perioada comunista.
3,5/5
🌸 De ce nu 5?
- nu am suficiente cunostiinte legate de contextul istoric astfel nu cred ca am putut aprecia ultimele părți ale romanului la adevarata lor valoare ( * citește cărți despre comunism*).
- nu am apreciat Combinația dintre realismul clar și o tenta de suprarealism strecurata pe ici și colo. Probabil autorul a dorit sa ofere puțin mister și farmec firului narativ dar mi s-au părut fără rost.
- din nou, subiectiva fiind, nu pot ignora limbajul vulgar dintr-o carte, motiv pentru care nu mă ating nici de bukowski
🌸 + pt: - stilul de scriere
- felul in care a reușit autorul sa contureze personajul principal
- nu plictiseste cititorul, acțiunea decurge rapid fără descrieri și pasaje inutile, de umplutura (cu excepția celor, după părerea mea, suprarealiste), te face sa nu vrei sa lași cartea din mâna pana nu o termini.
🌸 Voi reveni la aceasta carte?
- Probabil, după ce mă voi documenta mai bine in legătura cu perioada comunista.
September 5, 2024
**Review of *Anii Frigului* by Dan Stanca**
Dan Stanca’s *Anii Frigului* (The Years of Cold) offers a haunting exploration of post-communist Romania, delving into the psychological, spiritual, and emotional landscapes of a society emerging from a long, oppressive regime. This novel is a complex and often unsettling meditation on history, trauma, and the human spirit, interwoven with elements of mysticism and existential dread. Stanca is known for blending historical realities with spiritual and metaphysical questions, and *Anii Frigului* stands as one of his most powerful works in this regard.
### **Setting and Atmosphere**
Set in the cold, desolate years following the fall of communism, the book paints a vivid picture of Romania during this time of great upheaval. The "years of cold" in the title do not just refer to the literal chill of Romanian winters but also to the emotional and psychological freeze that followed decades of dictatorship. The atmosphere of the novel is heavy with a sense of loss, disillusionment, and the slow thawing of a frozen society.
Stanca uses this backdrop to explore the deeper meaning of the cold—both as an external force that freezes people's actions and emotions and as a symbol of the spiritual barrenness that had taken root under Ceaușescu's totalitarian rule. Through his characters, he explores the lingering effects of living in a regime where fear and repression were the norm. The physical cold becomes a metaphor for the emotional numbness that many Romanians experienced during this period, struggling to regain a sense of identity and purpose.
### **Plot and Characters**
The novel follows several characters who are trying to rebuild their lives in the post-communist era, each haunted by the specters of their past. Stanca does not offer a single, linear narrative but rather fragments of stories that overlap and echo one another, reflecting the fractured state of Romanian society at the time.
One of the central characters is a journalist, burdened by guilt and regret, who tries to reconcile his complicity with the regime with his desire for redemption. His story is one of internal conflict, as he grapples with the choices he made to survive in a morally corrupt environment. Stanca masterfully portrays this inner turmoil, showing how the scars of dictatorship do not heal easily, and how the passage of time does not automatically bring absolution.
Other characters include a former political prisoner whose experience in the labor camps has left him spiritually broken, and a woman whose faith has been tested by the brutality of the regime and its aftereffects. Through these characters, Stanca portrays the full spectrum of suffering under communism, from those who were directly persecuted to those who became complicit in the system's survival.
### **Themes**
One of the major themes of *Anii Frigului* is the concept of spiritual exile. The characters in the novel are not just grappling with the physical realities of life in post-communist Romania; they are also struggling with existential questions about their place in the world. The sense of displacement—of not belonging to the present, and not being able to escape the past—pervades the novel. Stanca explores the idea that the cold years are not over; they persist in the hearts and minds of those who lived through them.
Another important theme is the exploration of guilt and redemption. Many of the characters in *Anii Frigului* are seeking some form of redemption, whether from the sins they committed to survive or from the guilt they feel for their inaction during the regime. Stanca examines the complicated nature of forgiveness, both from others and from oneself. In a society where so many people were forced to compromise their morals just to stay alive, the question of guilt becomes almost impossible to untangle.
Faith also plays a central role in the novel. Stanca, who is known for infusing his works with religious and mystical elements, uses faith as a way for his characters to process their trauma and search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of it. However, this is not a simple or comforting faith. The characters wrestle with their beliefs, often questioning the existence of God in a world that allowed such atrocities to occur. Stanca’s exploration of faith is nuanced and complex, reflecting the difficult relationship between religion and politics in Romania during and after the communist era.
### **Stylistic Elements**
Stylistically, *Anii Frigului* is dense and lyrical, filled with rich imagery and symbolic language. Stanca’s prose can be challenging, but it is also rewarding. He has a way of weaving together the physical and metaphysical, creating a narrative that feels both grounded in reality and imbued with a deeper, almost mystical meaning. The cold, for instance, is not just a description of the weather but a pervasive force that seeps into every aspect of the characters’ lives, representing the emotional and spiritual desolation that lingers after decades of oppression.
The novel is also deeply philosophical, with characters frequently engaging in introspective monologues and debates about the nature of suffering, guilt, and the possibility of redemption. Stanca does not offer easy answers to these questions. Instead, he forces the reader to sit with the ambiguity, much as his characters must sit with the unresolved trauma of their pasts.
### **Critical Reception**
*Anii Frigului* has been lauded for its depth and complexity, though it is not an easy read. Some readers may find the novel's fragmented structure and dense prose challenging, but those who are willing to engage with it on a deeper level will find a profound meditation on the human condition. Stanca's ability to blend the political and the spiritual, the personal and the collective, makes this novel a standout in contemporary Romanian literature.
Critics have noted the novel’s ability to capture the psychological and emotional fallout of living under an oppressive regime, and its exploration of themes such as guilt, redemption, and faith has resonated with many readers. However, some have also pointed out that the novel’s heavy use of symbolism and philosophical musings can make it feel distant and inaccessible to those looking for a more straightforward narrative.
### **Conclusion**
In *Anii Frigului*, Dan Stanca has crafted a haunting, thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the scars left by Romania’s communist past. Through richly drawn characters and a powerful sense of atmosphere, Stanca explores the lingering effects of trauma, guilt, and spiritual desolation in a society struggling to find its way in the aftermath of dictatorship. This is not a novel for the faint of heart—it demands patience and reflection—but for those willing to engage with its complexities, it offers a deeply rewarding experience.
Stanca’s ability to weave together the political, the personal, and the spiritual makes *Anii Frigului* a profound meditation on the human condition, and a significant contribution to the literature of post-communist Europe. The novel leaves readers with no easy answers, but perhaps that is the point. The cold years may have ended, but their chill remains.
Dan Stanca’s *Anii Frigului* (The Years of Cold) offers a haunting exploration of post-communist Romania, delving into the psychological, spiritual, and emotional landscapes of a society emerging from a long, oppressive regime. This novel is a complex and often unsettling meditation on history, trauma, and the human spirit, interwoven with elements of mysticism and existential dread. Stanca is known for blending historical realities with spiritual and metaphysical questions, and *Anii Frigului* stands as one of his most powerful works in this regard.
### **Setting and Atmosphere**
Set in the cold, desolate years following the fall of communism, the book paints a vivid picture of Romania during this time of great upheaval. The "years of cold" in the title do not just refer to the literal chill of Romanian winters but also to the emotional and psychological freeze that followed decades of dictatorship. The atmosphere of the novel is heavy with a sense of loss, disillusionment, and the slow thawing of a frozen society.
Stanca uses this backdrop to explore the deeper meaning of the cold—both as an external force that freezes people's actions and emotions and as a symbol of the spiritual barrenness that had taken root under Ceaușescu's totalitarian rule. Through his characters, he explores the lingering effects of living in a regime where fear and repression were the norm. The physical cold becomes a metaphor for the emotional numbness that many Romanians experienced during this period, struggling to regain a sense of identity and purpose.
### **Plot and Characters**
The novel follows several characters who are trying to rebuild their lives in the post-communist era, each haunted by the specters of their past. Stanca does not offer a single, linear narrative but rather fragments of stories that overlap and echo one another, reflecting the fractured state of Romanian society at the time.
One of the central characters is a journalist, burdened by guilt and regret, who tries to reconcile his complicity with the regime with his desire for redemption. His story is one of internal conflict, as he grapples with the choices he made to survive in a morally corrupt environment. Stanca masterfully portrays this inner turmoil, showing how the scars of dictatorship do not heal easily, and how the passage of time does not automatically bring absolution.
Other characters include a former political prisoner whose experience in the labor camps has left him spiritually broken, and a woman whose faith has been tested by the brutality of the regime and its aftereffects. Through these characters, Stanca portrays the full spectrum of suffering under communism, from those who were directly persecuted to those who became complicit in the system's survival.
### **Themes**
One of the major themes of *Anii Frigului* is the concept of spiritual exile. The characters in the novel are not just grappling with the physical realities of life in post-communist Romania; they are also struggling with existential questions about their place in the world. The sense of displacement—of not belonging to the present, and not being able to escape the past—pervades the novel. Stanca explores the idea that the cold years are not over; they persist in the hearts and minds of those who lived through them.
Another important theme is the exploration of guilt and redemption. Many of the characters in *Anii Frigului* are seeking some form of redemption, whether from the sins they committed to survive or from the guilt they feel for their inaction during the regime. Stanca examines the complicated nature of forgiveness, both from others and from oneself. In a society where so many people were forced to compromise their morals just to stay alive, the question of guilt becomes almost impossible to untangle.
Faith also plays a central role in the novel. Stanca, who is known for infusing his works with religious and mystical elements, uses faith as a way for his characters to process their trauma and search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of it. However, this is not a simple or comforting faith. The characters wrestle with their beliefs, often questioning the existence of God in a world that allowed such atrocities to occur. Stanca’s exploration of faith is nuanced and complex, reflecting the difficult relationship between religion and politics in Romania during and after the communist era.
### **Stylistic Elements**
Stylistically, *Anii Frigului* is dense and lyrical, filled with rich imagery and symbolic language. Stanca’s prose can be challenging, but it is also rewarding. He has a way of weaving together the physical and metaphysical, creating a narrative that feels both grounded in reality and imbued with a deeper, almost mystical meaning. The cold, for instance, is not just a description of the weather but a pervasive force that seeps into every aspect of the characters’ lives, representing the emotional and spiritual desolation that lingers after decades of oppression.
The novel is also deeply philosophical, with characters frequently engaging in introspective monologues and debates about the nature of suffering, guilt, and the possibility of redemption. Stanca does not offer easy answers to these questions. Instead, he forces the reader to sit with the ambiguity, much as his characters must sit with the unresolved trauma of their pasts.
### **Critical Reception**
*Anii Frigului* has been lauded for its depth and complexity, though it is not an easy read. Some readers may find the novel's fragmented structure and dense prose challenging, but those who are willing to engage with it on a deeper level will find a profound meditation on the human condition. Stanca's ability to blend the political and the spiritual, the personal and the collective, makes this novel a standout in contemporary Romanian literature.
Critics have noted the novel’s ability to capture the psychological and emotional fallout of living under an oppressive regime, and its exploration of themes such as guilt, redemption, and faith has resonated with many readers. However, some have also pointed out that the novel’s heavy use of symbolism and philosophical musings can make it feel distant and inaccessible to those looking for a more straightforward narrative.
### **Conclusion**
In *Anii Frigului*, Dan Stanca has crafted a haunting, thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the scars left by Romania’s communist past. Through richly drawn characters and a powerful sense of atmosphere, Stanca explores the lingering effects of trauma, guilt, and spiritual desolation in a society struggling to find its way in the aftermath of dictatorship. This is not a novel for the faint of heart—it demands patience and reflection—but for those willing to engage with its complexities, it offers a deeply rewarding experience.
Stanca’s ability to weave together the political, the personal, and the spiritual makes *Anii Frigului* a profound meditation on the human condition, and a significant contribution to the literature of post-communist Europe. The novel leaves readers with no easy answers, but perhaps that is the point. The cold years may have ended, but their chill remains.
November 17, 2025
Prima carte de la acest autor. Am fost curioasă de romanele dumnealui pentru că domnul Florin Iaru l-a menționat într-un podcast. Cu mare mirare am descoperit că Dan Stanca a scris (peste, dacă-mi amintesc bine) douăzeci și cinci de romane; spre rușinea mea, nu auzisem niciodată de dumnealui. „Anii frigului” m-a făcut să mă opresc la pagina 60. Deh, prea frig!
De la primul contact cu frazele domnului Stanca, am descoperit o senzație de greutate, o lipsă de muzicalitate. Din punctul meu de vedere, dacă îmbinarea cuvintelor, a sensurilor, a propozițiilor nu exprimă naturalețe și curgere firească, indiferent de calitatea ideilor din text, nu pot citi cu plăcere. Și de ce să fac din lectură un antrenament de scremere? Ar fi păcat de celelalte cărți din bibliotecă.
Nici povestea nu m-a dat pe spate, atât cât am prins din ea în puținele pagini. Aceleași figuri șterse, personaje românești bolunde, nevricoase, alcoolice, nefericite ș.a.m.d. Nu ar fi problema că se repetă un tipar, dar mă așteptam la o altfel de „împachetare”, o formulă nouă de a spune același lucru la nesfârșit, cum am observat că se mai face în literatura noastră.
În plus, stilul mi s-a părut că seamănă cu cel al domnului Radu Aldulescu. Pentru mine e suficient.
De la primul contact cu frazele domnului Stanca, am descoperit o senzație de greutate, o lipsă de muzicalitate. Din punctul meu de vedere, dacă îmbinarea cuvintelor, a sensurilor, a propozițiilor nu exprimă naturalețe și curgere firească, indiferent de calitatea ideilor din text, nu pot citi cu plăcere. Și de ce să fac din lectură un antrenament de scremere? Ar fi păcat de celelalte cărți din bibliotecă.
Nici povestea nu m-a dat pe spate, atât cât am prins din ea în puținele pagini. Aceleași figuri șterse, personaje românești bolunde, nevricoase, alcoolice, nefericite ș.a.m.d. Nu ar fi problema că se repetă un tipar, dar mă așteptam la o altfel de „împachetare”, o formulă nouă de a spune același lucru la nesfârșit, cum am observat că se mai face în literatura noastră.
În plus, stilul mi s-a părut că seamănă cu cel al domnului Radu Aldulescu. Pentru mine e suficient.
April 27, 2018
Pentru primul roman de Dan Stanca pe care l-am citit, pot să spun că nu-s deloc dezamăgit, ci chiar din contră. Obișnuit fiind cu „mizerabilismul” posdecembrist din romanele unui Radu Aldulescu sau ale altora, am apreciat, firește, realismul frust și lipsit de fasoane, însă bine garnisit cu anumite elemente pseudofantastice/miraculoase, care dau, pe alocuri, o oarecare tentă de mister și inexplicabil tramei. De asemenea, merită menționată recuperarea - prin literaturizare - a destinului acelui Sandu Tudor, artizanul grupului anticomunist „Rugul aprins”, arestat și mort în închisoarea de la Aiud, în 1962. Într-o altă cheie, ramificațiile storyline-ului, precum și conexiunile dintre personajele active sau doar evocate sunt aparent surprinzătoare, însă, de fapt, autorul reușește să închege o lume deranjată, întoarsă pe dos, în jurul unui personaj-pretext pe măsură, acest memorabil - cel puțin prin numele său - Hector Noroaie. O carte de 3.5 stele, a mon avis.
May 23, 2024
o carte ce se citește ușor, deși paginile se dau greu;
despre neputința de a îndrăzni, victime și putința de a gândi.
despre neputința de a îndrăzni, victime și putința de a gândi.
June 12, 2017
descrierea de pe spate e pretențioasa.
are aroma unei narațiuni comuniste.
are aroma unei narațiuni comuniste.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews