“The Great Escape: How Bucharest Rolled Entire Churches to Safety” by Kit Gillet, The Guardian Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir by Beth Kephart The Hole in the Flag: A Romanian Exile’s Story of Return and Revolution by Andrei Codrescu The Hour of Sand: Selected Poems 1969–1989 by Ana Blandiana, translated by Peter Jay and Anca Cristofovici “In Bucharest, Tears and Prayers for the Fallen” by Blaine Harden, The Washington Post “In Romania, Kents as Currency” by Gary Lee, The Washington Post
“In Romania, Smoking a Kent Cigarette Is Like Burning Money” by Roger Thurow, The Wall Street Journal “In Rumania, All Hail the Chief, and Dracula, Too” by John Kifner, The New York Times Kiss the Hand You Cannot Bite: The Rise and Fall of the Ceau?escus by Edward Behr Let’s Go: The Budget Guide to Europe, 1989
Letters from a Stoic by Seneca
Letters to a Young Gymnast by Nadia Com?neci
Lines Poems Poetry by Mircea Iv?nescu, translated by Adam J. Sorkin and Lidia Vianu Memorialul Durerii, documentary television series created by Lucia Hossu-Longin My Childhood at the Gate of Unrest by Paul Goma
My Life as a Spy: Investigations in a Secret Police File by Katherine Verdery My Native Land A4 by Ana Blandiana, translated by Paul Scott Derrick and Viorica Patea Nadia Com?neci: The Gymnast and the Dictator, film written and directed by Pola Rapaport National Ideology under Socialism: Identity and Cultural Politics in Ceau?escu’s Romania by Katherine Verdery Peregrina: Unexpected Adventures of an American Consul by Ginny Carson Young Pinstripes and Reds: An American Ambassador Caught between the State Department and the Romanian Communists, 1981–85 by David B. Funderburk A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver
The Politics of Authenticity: Countercultures and Radical Movements across the Iron Curtain, 1968–1989 by Joachim C. H?berlen, Mark Keck-Szajbel, and Kate Mahoney The Politics of Duplicity: Controlling Reproduction in Ceau?escu’s Romania by Gail Kligman “The Power of Touch” by Maria Konnikova, The New Yorker
“Radio Free Europe and the 1989 Fall of Communism in Romania” by Anamaria Neag
“Radio Waves, Memories, and the Politics of Everyday Life in Socialist Romania: The Case of Radio Free Europe” by Ruxandra Petrinca, Centaurus Raggle Taggle by Walter Starkie
Red Horizons: The True Story of Nicolae and Elena Ceau?escus’ Crimes, Lifestyle, and Corruption by Lt. Gen. Ion Mihai Pacepa “The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth（s） of Steaua Bucharest” by Ryan Ferguson
“Romania: Human Rights Violations in the Eighties,” Amnesty International
Romanian Journey by Andrew MacKenzie
The Romanian Revolution of December 1989 by Peter Siani-Davies
“Romania’s Revolution of 1989: An Enduring Enigma” by Donald G. McNeil Jr., The New York Times “Romania’s Revolution: The Day I Read My Secret Police File” by Oana Lungescu, Independent “Romania’s ‘Ungentle’ Revolution 30 Years Later: ‘Still No Prosecutions,’？” Ziarul de Gard?
The Rough Guide to Eastern Europe, Romania and Bulgaria, 1988 by Dan Richardson and Jill Denton “Ruling Romania: A Family Job” by Michael Dobbs, The Washington Post “Rumours in Socialist Romania” by Steven Sampson, Survey: A Journal of East & West Studies “Scenes from a Revolution: Romania after the Fall” by Dick Virden, American Diplomacy “The Spies Who Defended Us: Spy Stories and Legitimating Discourses in Ceau?escu’s Romania, 1965–77” by Drago? Petrescu, Romanian Intelligence Studies Review “Thirtieth Anniversary of the Fall of Communism in Romania” by Tammy Cario, DLIFLC
“Uses and Misuses of Memory: Dealing with the Communist Past in Postcommunist Bulgaria and Romania” by Claudia-Florentina Dobre, European Memory: Eastern Perspectives The Voices of Silence by Bel Mooney
“Women as Anti-Communist Dissidents and Secret Police Collaborators” by Lavinia Stan “Yes, He’s for Real” by Walter Isaacson, TIME
“Youth and Politics in Communist Romania 1980–1989” by Veronica Szabo
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Completing a novel during a global pandemic proved to be extremely challenging. I have never been more grateful for the generosity, patience, and assistance of those so dear to me.
My incredible agent, Steven Malk, has guided my steps since 2007. Kacie Wheeler and Jeffrey Kirkland manage my days and events with loving care. My brilliant and tireless editor, Liza Kaplan, is my creative copilot and champion. Ken Wright and Shanta Newlin have stood beside me since the very first book. I am so grateful to Jen Loja, Jill Santopolo, Talia Benamy, Kaitlin Kneafsey, Kim Ryan, Felicia Frazier, Emily Romero, Carmela Iaria, Trevor Ingerson, Felicity Vallence, Krista Ahlberg, Ellice Lee, Theresa Evangelista, Christina Colangelo, Alex Garber, Venessa Carson, Helen Boomer, Bri Lockhart, Tomislav Tomic, and my Philomel family for giving history a voice and my stories a home.