by John Gray

Created on: September 14, 2008   Last Updated: November 21, 2011

Elizabeth Kostova adds yet another novel to the ever popular myth of Dracula, in this historically orientated debut entitled "The Historian". The novel starts when a young woman discovers a collection of letters and a strange book in her father's library, which sets off a chain of events, mingling past with present, in a journey across Eastern Europe. The story slowly unfolds as her father - who is a diplomat - narrates events stage by stage, in various backdrops, revealing how he mysteriously came into possession of the book as a student at Oxford.

This slow unfolding of the story in short bursts is the strength of Kostova's technique, and the strongest part of the novel, creating tension and building character without much effort. Readers are placed in provoking settings, such as the Alps of Slovenia, while continuingly shifting to Oxford in the past. It is here we learn how her father discovered the mysterious book, as well as being introduced to his friend and mentor Professor Rossi. Rossi is to become an integral part of the novel as the focus of events transpires around his mysterious disappearance.

However, any early promise is soon lost as the quality of prose becomes tired, lacking in substance, and as a result the story loses much of its interest. Kostova, disappointingly fails to take advantage of some potentially inspiring settings, as description becomes beaten back by tired dialogue, as the cast of characters increase, it is something that we have seen all too often before with this sort of novel.

There is a split in the direction of the novel as readers are taken down different channels of the story, while still delving into the past. Unfortunately Kostova resorts to tired cliches -  the love interest, the long lost parent scenario, the secret society - and as a result, throws away any possible redemption the novel may have.

More than once there are ridiculous chance meetings, between characters equally devoted to the study of Dracula, which stretches the imagination beyond breaking. Not even an angry vampire librarian can save the novel, as it quickly descends into the total absurd.

Dracula eventually makes his appearance, much too late into the novel, and is the customary perfect host. When we finally reach the end of the novel, it has become lost in an abandon of stereotype and low-budget horror. By this time, any good points in the novel has been eroded by this onslaught and unfortunately leaves the reader feeling cheated, tired and clutching for something of more substance.

So overallyou may wish to avoid this novel completely. For vampire kicks it is best to turn to the original "Dracula" by Bram Stoker or the novels of Anne Rice.

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