Subject
Romania -- Social life and customs Books
Best books
Queen Marie
Țara mea
"Țara mea" by Queen Marie of Romania is a collection of personal reflections and sketches written in the early 20th century. The work serves as a heartfelt exploration of Romania's landscape, culture, and people, detailing the author's deepening connection with her adopted homeland after years of residing there. Through her observations, she aims to capture the essence of Romania's soul, including its beauty and the struggles of its rural inhabitants. The opening of the book reveals the author's personal journey as she navigates her evolving identity as a foreigner becoming one with the Romanian people. Queen Marie starts by describing her love for the countryside and its diverse scenery, from vast plains to unspoiled mountains, and emphasizes the simple yet profound lives of the peasants she encounters. She reflects on their dignity and resilience, despite hardship, and expresses an earnest desire to share their stories, capturing the spirit of a nation marked by both beauty and sorrow. Throughout this introductory section, her admiration for the natural world and the Romanian cultural heritage shines through, setting the tone for what appears to be both a tribute and a study of her beloved adopted home.
Queen Marie
My Country
"My Country" by Marie Queen of Romania is a rich, evocative exploration of the author's adopted homeland, written during the early 20th century. This work can be classified as a personal account and travelogue, detailing the landscapes, people, and culture of Romania from the perspective of its queen. The narrative reflects the author's deep affection for Romania, depicting both its picturesque beauty and the challenges faced by its people. In "My Country," Queen Marie shares her experiences and observations as she immerses herself in Romanian life over more than two decades. With vivid imagery and heartfelt language, she paints scenes of rural landscapes, charming villages, and the daily lives of the peasant folk. She highlights the struggles and resilience of the Romanian people, their connection to the land, and their simple yet rich traditions. Through her interactions with them—whether in humble cottages or during joyous harvest festivals—Marie illustrates a profound sense of unity and love for the nation that she has come to call home, ultimately wishing for others to appreciate its beauty as she does.
Maude Rea Parkinson
Twenty years in Roumania
"Twenty years in Roumania" by Maude Rea Parkinson is a memoir of travel and social observation written in the early 20th century. Drawing on decades spent teaching and moving in Romanian society, it offers an intimate, often humorous portrait of the country’s people, institutions, and landscape, from the capital’s salons to village greens. Expect first-hand sketches of geography, politics, religion, and custom, framed by the author’s affectionate yet candid outlook. The opening of the memoir sets out the author’s purpose and loyalties, then follows her youthful decision to settle in Bucarest, her arduous journey via Vienna and Hungary, and her bracing first impressions of the city. It quickly widens into a clear, informal guide to the country—its mountains, rivers, railways, and the drama of the Danube—before turning to parliament, raucous elections, and a stiff but brave army shaped by the monarchy. The religious life of the Greek Orthodox majority appears through priests’ rounds, Easter rites, and the legend of Curtea d’Argesh. Bucarest is sketched as a garden-like capital of trams, the Calea Victoriei, splendid churches, and domestic habits like serving “dulceata,” followed by a stark account of land tenure, peasant hardship, and a violent rural rising that drew troops to the countryside and anxiety to the capital, where she notably kept her nerve by going to church. The section then lingers on village life—music, the hora and sârba, embroidered dress, rustic weddings, and evening songs—while noting how townsfolk sometimes exploit peasant naivety. It closes by segueing into a discussion of trade and commerce.
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