Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Children of the Night
- The Strange and Epic Story of Modern Romania
- Narrated by: Paul Kenyon
- Length: 19 hrs and 38 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Children of the Night
Buy Now for £17.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
A vivid, brilliant, darkly humorous and horrifying history of some of the strangest dictators that Europe has ever seen.
Balanced precariously on the shifting fault line between East and West, Romania's schizophrenic, often violent past is one of the great untold stories of modern Europe.
The country that gave us Vlad Dracula, and whose citizens consider themselves descendants of ancient Rome, has traditionally preferred the status of enigmatic outsider. But this beautiful and unexplored land has experienced some of the most disastrous leaderships of the last century.
After a relatively benign period led by a dutiful king and his vivacious, British-born queen, the country oscillated wildly. Its interwar rulers form a gallery of bizarre characters and extreme movements: the corrupt and mentally unbalanced King Carol; the fascist death cult led by Corneliu Codreanu; the vain General Ion Antonescu, who seized power in 1940 and led the country into a catastrophic alliance with Nazi Germany. After 1945 power was handed to Romania's tiny communist party, under which it experienced severe repression, purges and collectivisation.
Then in 1965, Nicolae Ceaușescu came to power. And thus began the strangest dictatorship of all.
Critic reviews
"A witty and page-turning narrative full of grotesque characters." (Misha Glenny)
"Kenyon relates all this with verve [and] humour.... He patiently untangles the complicated webs of loyalty and enmity." (Literary Review)
"Absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in Romania past and present." (John Simpson)
More from the same
Author
What listeners say about Children of the Night
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alastair Thorne
- 04-01-23
Brillant
I really enjoyed it - very focussed on the key geopolitical elements. I know nothing of Romania, but I found the entire book very gripping for that reason.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Yazan Rawashdeh
- 01-02-24
Excellent
Highly recommend this book. It's almost 20 hours long, but finished it in 3-4 days. Interesting all way through but especially details of the ceausescu era!!!! you cannot make such stuff up!!! crazy story excellently told and superbly narrated.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Yawn darts
- 18-01-24
Brilliant insight of a bracing history
The author combined an authoritative macro view of the country’s history with a storyteller’s eye for details and quirks. Well narrated too.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lord Emsworth
- 18-03-23
Exceptional
Exceptional history of modern Romania. I bought this in an Audible sale knowing next to nothing about Romanian history and I can't recommend it highly enough. The title is a line taken from Bram Stoker's Dracula, and this book unfolds much like a gothic horror story.
Extraodinarily, since achieving independence in 1878 as an Ottoman vassal state, Romania has been a constitutional monarchy, a fascist state, a military dictatorship, a communist republic and a parliamentary democracy. Its frontiers ebbed and flowed in a similar way.
Paul Kenyon is married to a Romanian and makes good use of the family memories of life under communist rule.
This is a gripping history, expertly related. As Paul Kenyon explains, his style is historical narrative. He believes description of place and character are crucial to help readers immerse themselves in the subject matter. He transports his audience into Ceausescu's politburo meetings, through the wildly corrupt court of King Carol II, along the secret passageways of Dracula's castle, into the bed chamber of the British-born Queen Marie, and through the swastika-festooned meeting rooms of the mystical cult of the Iron Guard.
Superb
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- R
- 31-12-22
Fascinating and entertaining sweep through Romania
Having once visited Romania I was suprised by the beauty and character of the place. This book fed my interest in its history. The pace of the writing and narration made this a superb audio book for me.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Spook
- 16-08-23
A thoroughly enjoyable read
I knew little of the history of Romania. This narrative is illuminating and very well-researched, detailing the brutal transition of the country from Fascism to Communism and finally to democracy and entry to the EU.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chris N.
- 09-10-22
Stunning💥
An extraordinary history told with great verve, humour and insight. Can not recommend it enough.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Meurigfa
- 13-06-22
Best audio book that I have bought!!
I'm always interested in history but I had no real interest in Romania but, having listened to Paul Kenyon's Dictatorland and enjoying it, I thought that I would give it a try and I'm so glad that I did.
It's a tragedy, it's a comedy, it's a soap opera, it's bizarre and it's deeply sad. But it is an education on what life is like living under oppressive leaders who are barbaric and self-serving.
Both the Fascists and the Communist Leaders were equally cruel and it is sad that idealists so often end up as the problem rather than the solution.
Buy this book if you have even the tiniest interest in World history. You won't regret it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 25-09-22
Revealing
I knew absolutely nothing about the history of Romania & little about Vlad the Impaler. This expose of political shenanigans by Royal Family & usurping of power by communist & fascist alike & the final descent into the implosion that was the final throws of the 1960-90s. A great narration by the author & the revealing of his mother , father, grandparents etc gives the reader a more personable account.
I thoroughly recommend this book & if I had 6 stars or more I’d give them. Author know this stuff. Excellent
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 02-04-24
Good overview of Romania’s communist past
A surprisingly accurate, comprehensive and relevant history of Romanian events. Definitely worth a read or listen
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!