ELIZABETH KOSTOVA
Monday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m.

The book has been jumping out since the day it arrived mid-June. A bestseller here and elsewhere (already) and an Elliott Bay "Maiden Voyage" pick, Elizabeth Kostova’s compelling debut novel, The Historian (Little, Brown), has readers squirming—and transfixed. "One of the most enduring legends, and one of the most classic stories, must be that of Dracula, the darkest of dark princes . . . Elizabeth Kosotova apparently has also fallen under the evil count’s spell. But she has done something quite extraordinary. She has refashioned the vampire myth into a compelling contemporary novel, a late-night page-turner that will be sure to make you lose some precious hours of sleep . . . Erudite, with subtle displays of wit . . . Kostova enjoys the conventions of vampire lore . . . All roads lead to the climax. The last few chapters bring us face to face with evil. Kostova sets the scene beautifully, and her description of the count himself is masterful, down to every bone-chilling detail . . . Anyone who loves to become involved in the lives of fictional characters will find much to savor in this intricately plotted, delicately written novel. Kostova is a natural storyteller. She tells her otherworldly tale with great assurance and considerable style." - June Sawyers, San Francisco Chronicle.

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