In Search of Romania

The imposition of Communist ideology was a misfortune for millions
in Eastern Europe, but never for Dennis Deletant. Instead, it drew him
to Romania. The renowned historian's association with the country and
its people dates back to 1965, when he first visited. Since then,
Romania has made Dennis appreciate the value of shrewd dissimulation, in
the face of the state's gross intrusion in the life of the individual.
This vivid memoir charts his first-hand experience of the Communist era,
coloured by the early 1970s surveillance of his future wife Andrea; his
contacts with dissidents; and his articles and BBC World Service
broadcasts, which led to his being declared persona non grata in 1988.
'In Search of Romania' also considers how life went on under
dictatorship, even if it was largely mapped out by the regime. How did
individual citizens negotiate the challenges placed in their path? How
important was the political police, the Securitate, in maintaining
compliance? How did dissent towards the regime manifest? How did all
this affect the moral compass of the individual? Why did utopia descend
into dystopia under Ceausescu? And how has his legacy influenced the
difficult transition to democracy since the collapse of Communism?