The Reading List Part 2

Well here I am again folks for the second part of the reading list.

So once I had finished working my way through a boatload of Asimov books I decided to hit some nonfiction works. All covering one issue that is near to my heart. My adopted country of Romania, primarily its past leaders. First of the mark is the book that, you could say, helped bring down a dictator.

‘RED HORIZONS’

Written by Mihai Pacepa.

One of Ceausescu’s most trusted men back in the 70s, Pacepa was privy to many of his darkest secrets so when Ceausescu heard of his defection in 78 he was numb to the core (Pacepa was the highest ranking intelligence officer to defect throughout the whole of the cold war) In fact Ceausescu set a 2 million dollar bounty on Pacepas head, this was increased to 4 with a million each from Arafat and Gaddafi. The Romanian secret police gave Carlos the Jackal 1 million to try and kill him. All efforts failed.

This book gives insight to the psychology and psychosis of Ceausescu and his volatile wife Elena.  (Elena was even more feared by Ceausescu’s men than he was and many of them prayed for the day that she would die and they would be free to deal with Ceausescu without the uncontrollable and volatile Elena breathing down their necks)Throughout its pages are some disturbing revelations about the agendas and policies of communism as a whole and the drive of Ceausescu to convince the world (through his personality cult) that he was a decent and peace loving leader dedicated to wellbeing of his people. But within the borders of Romania the people were poor, hungry and afraid.

Unfortunately for Romania, the world (for a while) was convinced. He received a knighthood from the Queen, Romania the ‘most favoured nation’ by America and numerous other pats on the back by world leaders. All fooled by the seeds of misinformation fed to them by his well placed agents.

Some of the book has to be taken with a pinch of salt but for the most part it is disturbing reading. After its release it was broadcast over several evenings from Radio Free Europe allowing Romanians to tune in and hear, in full detail, Ceausescu’s corruption. This, in the end, could be said to have played a small part in the eventual downfall of this insane couple.

Next was another book about  the Ceausescu family.

‘KISS THE HAND YOU CANNOT BITE’

By Edward Behr

This book covers the rise to power of Ceausescu and his eventual demise. The first few pages cover the last couple of days of Ceausescu’s life from his return to Romania from Iran to the eventual shooting of both him and Elena on Christmas day 1989. Found guilty of charges ranging from illegal gathering of wealth to genocide. It was a show trial and a flimsy excuse to give those who were newly in charge reason to execute Nicolea and Helena. Given that they could easily have been found guilty in practically any court in the world this travesty, in the shallow guise of a legal trial, failed to convince anyone

This is a fascinating book that gives insight to the early life and experiences that led to the creation of one of modern histories truely evil men.

Next I dug even further into Romanias past with

‘VLAD THE IMPALER: SON OF THE DEVIL HERO OF THE PEOPLE’

By Gavin Baddeley and Paul Woods

I have mixed feelings regarding this book. I wanted a book dealing with Vlad Tepes, from birth to death and all the bits in between. What I got was a book that did just that but was padded out by endless references to other notorious people from the annuls of history. Ranging from Ghengis Khan to Billy the Kid. Some of it was interesting while other parts just read like page filling dribble.

For the most part, it was a great book and certainly the parts detailing Vlads life were fascinating stuff. The depths of cruelty to which he sank were truly astounding but for all histories will to create a monster he was, for the most part, just a product of his times.

Given  by his father  to the Ottoman Sultan, along with his brother, as a guarantee of loyalty. He was raised within the sultans palace and used a source of pleasure by the Sultan, and probably many of the Sutans guests, this led to and an uderstandable hatred for the Turks. His brother Radu the Handsome becam the lover of the Sultans son and seemed to accept his life in the Sultans palace with a certain relish that Vlad could never do.

As a ‘guest’ of the Sultan he bore witness to many acts of cruelty by the Sultan and his Ottoman army. Some believe that he got his taste for impaling from witnessing it’s use by the Ottoman force.

In fact the Ottoman army were well known for cruelty and would often use their prisoners of war for pleasure before killing them slowly and cruely.

Given that he was raised in such surroundings is it any wonder that he turned out like he did?

But his short reigns as Voivod of Wallachia may have been enforced by extreme cruelty but his people lived in peace. Crime was minimal and he is viewed by Romanian people to this day as a hero who fought for the unity and protection of Romania.

For the most part a great book and worth reading.

I am currently back on the Ceausescu wagon reading.

‘THE RISE AND FALL OF NICOLAE AND ELENA CEAUSESCU’

By Mark Almond.

Once I’m done I’ll let you know what it was like.

Till next time…

The voice has spoken.