#romania

zarzava:

three romanian authors to read with ur dracula daily

dracula is an orientalist text conceived at the height of british empire, grounded in distortions of a region that stoker never visited. sadly (and unsurprisingly) i found very few romanian authors who have been translated into english online, so here’s a meagre list of recs:

1. luminița cioabă

romanian roma author, famous in romania as the daughter of bulibasha (the king of the roma nation), she forged her own path as a writer of short stories in the oral roma tradition which portray in vivid detail the history of the roma people of romania 

• the birch grove
• queen of the night and stone flower 
• meralda
• from her book, the lost country 

2. marin sorescu

from humble rural romanian roots, he wrote under the oppressive ceausescu government. in a national ironic tradition he very famously said: "Just as I can’t give up smoking because I don’t smoke, I can’t give up writing because I have no talent.“ some of my favorite poems:

• the sea shell (1983)
• carbon paper (1980)
• creation (1992)

3. paul celan

jewish romanian poet from bucovina. i recommend this beautiful essay by ilya kaminsky, who like celan was forced to flee eastern europe due to antisemitism, deconstructing various translators’ attempts to adapt celan’s texts and experience of the holocaust. these are all poems from a 1971 poetry collection

• all souls
• leap-centuries 
• language mesh and night
• homecoming

“Shits with salted cheese”

I’d say the translation is spot on.

Oh Hey Alexandra Marinescu randomly popping in my story tonight lol hope she got some messages as well btw my #rollerskates are otw been said I wanted to get a pair of those#figureskates too cute from ig@iceicedani#Atlanta96⛸

Maya answered, “Thanks, but no. I want to go gargle some Jack Daniels to get the taste of Arab cock out of my mouth. That little bastard came a little before we inserted the device. Then I have to go to Munich.”

“Perhaps after Munich, you could come to Paris. I could show you around. We could talk, swap secrets. After all, we are spies, you and I.” Again thanks, but after Munich I have business in Antwerp and Glasgow and then back to Langley. Perhaps another time.” Then Maya nodded to Andi, the Romanian captain. He understood and said, “I have already arranged for a ride to the airport for you.”

Raymond was disappointed. He thought, “Oh well, I would have liked to get her in the sack, but… At least I got to see the ‘device’ they were bragging about. I’m not sure it’s as effective as a good beating and water boarding though.” Then he paused and turned to Dr Ionescu. “This device of yours? Could it be retrofitted for a female?”

“For a female terrorist?”

“Yes, of course. What else would I be interested in. We do have the occasional female terrorist in France,” said Raymond feigning indignance.

“Well yes, with a few minor alterations. If the DGSE will fund it, I’ll get right on it.”

“Yes, please do.” But Raymond was thinking, “Such a device would be a wonderful addition to Roissy. Taking a slave to the heights of pleasure before turning that same pleasure into unbearable torture. I’m sure the other Masters would love to use it on some of our whores.” Then Raymond turned to Andi and said, “Could you arrange a ride to the airport for me, also?”

And poor Mahmoud continued to float limply in the deprivation tank.