Blue Guide Romania, First Edition

• Paperback - September, 2000 - W. W. Norton & Company
• Usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks
• By: Caroline Juler
• ISBN: 0393320154

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Reviews by readers

The best guide book introduction to the arts and culture of Romania

I cannot see how, from any standpoint, this book can be construed as "misleading and a danger," "disturbing," or "badly written"! Quite the contrary is true.

Far from displaying an "ignorance of Romanian culture," Caroline Juler describes places in the cultural and geographical landscape of Romania which you will most likely miss without the help of this book. From Moldavian church iconography to road trip tips and mentions or mini-portraits of (Romanian, Hungarian, German, Armenian, Jewish, etc.) writers, architects, artists and other figures of historical importance in the history of Romania, Caroline paints an intricate, deep but accessible, portrait of Romania, and it does so with care, love, a discerning eye, and an informed appreciation of Romanian history and culture.

Relying on English-language publications and the field notes of six years of research, Caroline Juler's book also benefits greatly from the author's training as an art historian. You will not find a better guide book introduction to the frescoes of the painted monasteries in Bucovina, to the architecture of Romanian Orthodox churches, or to the architectural landmarks of Bucharest than this Blue Guide. While it's true that some of the Romanian words could use a second edition of this Blue Guide, the lively account of the arts and the well-considered, informed yet digestible weaving of historical facts highly recommend Caroline Juler's book as the best guide book introduction to the arts and culture of the whole of Romania.

excellent synthesis

After almost 7 years living in Romania I finally got round to reading this book and was bowled over by it. In many ways it is a better introduction to Romania that reading a conventional history of the country. Very informative and so much condensed so well. Lively and stimulating. Of course there are occasional inaccuracies and Romanians would detect more but it vastly outclasses the other guide books. Every visitor to Romania should read this book. But one caveat. The index is so disgraceful that whoever compiled it should immediately find another career

There Are Better Books Out There

I was disappointed with this book. I found it to be mostly out of date and very dry and difficult to get through. It also is missing a key part of any guide book: a map. I thought the illustrations were very poorly done... just childish line drawings where photographs would've been much better. I'd say skip this one and get the lonely planet one instead.

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