What People Are Saying About Kast & Rosapepe's
"Dracula is Dead"

“If they gave out gold medals for books, Dracula is Dead would get one. It’s a fascinating, long overdue, and timely look at Romania, giving readers an unparalleled view of my country’s many, many layers.”
——Nadia Comaneci, Olympic Champion and Gymnastics coach

“Wo“To understand how Eastern Europeans moved from Soviet satellites to NATO allies, Dracula Is Dead is a great place to start. Sheilah and Jim know the region well. Their insights are relevant to nations from the Baltic to the Black Sea.”
—U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer; former co-chair, U.S. Helsinki Commission

“If you buy only one book about Romania, Dracula is Dead should be the one. Culture, religion, war, humor, kings, Communists, kids, IT nerds, gypsies­—and Dracula—they’re all here, seen through the eyes of two keen American observers and storytellers.”
—Sam Donaldson, ABC News contributor and anchor

“Romania is a living legacy of Rome, as well as a great American ally. Jim and Sheilah are outstanding guides to this country, which is both familiar and exotic.”
—Madeleine K. Albright, U.S. Secretary of State, 1997-2001

“Vivid travelogue, gripping memoir, and accurate analysis, this book is a compellingly insightful look at the dilemmas entailed with Romania’s embrace of democracy. Sheilah Kast, the indefatigable journalist, and Jim Rosapepe, the astute diplomat-politician, take readers on a marvelous journey through Romania’s history, geography, culture, and habits of the heart. Highly recommended to all those who want to understand the human underpinnings of the struggle for freedom in East-Central Europe.”
—Vladimir Tismaneanu, professor of politics, University of Maryland; author, Stalinism for All Seasons: A Political History of Romanian Communism

“What a great read! With the eye of the journalist and the ear of the politician, Sheilah Kast and Jim Rosapepe make their Romanian experience so absorbing that you’ll want to jump on the next plane to go see for yourself. But I refuse to believe that Dracula is really dead.”
—Cokie Roberts, author, syndicated columnist, and senior political analyst for ABC News and NPR

“I chose fiction to convey the chaos and connections of Chicago politics. Sheilah and Jim found chaos and connections and much more while uncovering the real story of Romania—exploding the myths and filling in the rest of the story. You’ll be fascinated by what they found.”
—Scott Simon, Host, NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday; author, Windy City

“You don’t have to be Italian American to understand why Sheilah and Jim call Romania the New Italy—Latin language, dazzling creativity, roots in the Roman Empire. They show you the Romania you don’t know, the place you’ll want to visit.”
—Bill Novelli, former CEO, AARP; and author, Fifty Plus: Give Meaning and Purpose to the Best Time of Your Life

“This book puts a three-dimensional face on a country most Americans know only through legend. At last, the appeal, the wonderful reality and the fascinating interplay of the past and the present make Romania a place which belongs on everyone’s “must see” list. Tourism or business, there is hidden treasure here!”
—Lesley Israel, former president, National Conference on Soviet Jewry

“Post-communist Romania was lucky to have a bright couple who were genuinely fascinated by the country, an ambassador who asked questions, and a journalist who dug deep. The portrait they have drawn of a vibrant and warm nation should overthrow many of the negative cliches that have persisted in our media. Travel with them in this eye-opening book, and you may feel the urge to go there yourself.”
—Andrei Codrescu, NPR Commentator and author, The Posthuman Dada Guide: Tzara and Lenin Play Chess

“Hungarians knew Transylvania long before Bram Stoker created Dracula. This intriguing book shines a spotlight on the Hungarian heritage—and current struggles—in 21st-century Romania. Agree or disagree, it’s thought-provoking reading.”
—Helen Szablya, Honorary Hungarian Consul, Seattle, WA, and co-author, The fall of the Red Star

“Dracula is Dead is just the right metaphor. This interesting and entertaining book, with Sheilah’s journalistic acumen and Jim’s inside knowledge, takes readers behind the myth and the fiction to today’s real Romania.”
—Professor Radu Florescu Sr., Historian and Co-Author, In search of Dracula

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