I Must Betray You (25 page)

The research process for this novel was a global, collaborative effort that spanned many years. That said, any errors found herein are my own.

My Romanian publisher, Epica Publishing House, connected me with people, places, and experiences to bring this story to life. I am forever grateful to Anca Eftime Penescu, Dan Penescu, and Dana Popescu. Anca and Dan spent years working with me on this project. Together with my interpreter, Dana Popescu, they accompanied me throughout many regions of Romania during my research and endured many long days of travel. They all read drafts and answered endless questions. This novel would be impossible without the three of them!

I am extremely indebted to Stejarel N. Olaru. Stejarel is a Romanian historian, political scientist, and bestselling author based in Bucharest. Stejarel is also an expert on the history of intelligence services. He generously informed my research on the Securitate as well as Ceauşescu’s particular brand of communism. Stejarel helped guide my research, arranged many interviews, and introduced me to historian Claudiu Secașiu, former president of National Council for the Study of Securitate Archives (CNSAS). Stejarel answered my many historical questions about the structure and function of the Securitate and its effects on the population, and also acquainted me with the current Securitate archives.

Nicoleta Giurcanu was fourteen at the time of the revolution.
On December 21st, she was arrested with her father and little brother and endured the horrors at Station 14, Jilava, and the juvenile facility on Aaron Florian. Nicoleta bravely and generously shared her history with me and spared no detail. She is an ambassador for the unsung heroes of December 21st. Her story, her humanity, and her continued quest for truth and freedom inspire me beyond description and helped shape the scenes of the revolution and the spirit of the young people in the novel.

Maggie Chitoran served as the interpreter for my meeting with Nicoleta and facilitated the interview while patiently navigating my bouts of tears.

Ionel Boyeru was a military captain within a special unit of Romanian paratroopers when he volunteered for a mysterious Christmas Day mission. Unbeknownst to him, he would become one of the three soldiers on the firing squad assigned to execute the Ceauşescus. Ionel traveled a long distance to meet with me and described the complex situation of the military in 1980s Romania, the intensity around the execution, as well as the evolving perceptions during and after the revolution. Ionel’s personal testimony was incredibly informative, honest, and an important reminder that often history is nuanced, complicated, and doesn’t easily fit into defined categories. I am indebted to Ionel for his generosity and perspective.

Paulina Huzau-Hill was an incredible resource and supporter. She went above and beyond to share her family’s very moving story as well as items from her personal family archives. Her perspective made the history very human.

Irina Margareta Nistor is a Romanian translator and film critic. She is also an iconic voice of freedom. During the communist period, Irina secretly dubbed over three thousand movies from the West into Romanian. Through movies, Irina brought the outside world inside of Romania and shared concepts of democracy with Romanian citizens.
Irina answered many questions and informed the framework for the use of videos in the novel.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America deserve a novel all their own—and I hope to write one. In countries where freedom of the press does not exist or is restricted by the government, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty provides uncensored news, discussion, and debate. Emil Hurezeanu is a journalist and writer who worked in the Romanian department of Radio Free Europe in Munich from 1983 to 1994. While I was writing the novel, he was serving as the Romanian ambassador to Germany and, despite his incredibly busy schedule, took time to assist my research and thoughtfully answer my long list of questions.

Nadia Comăneci is not only a legendary Olympic gymnast, she is a well of generosity. During our interview, Nadia continually emphasized perspective and the importance of focusing on what average Romanian citizens endured for so many years and their heroic courage while doing so. Her affection and sincere admiration for her fellow Romanians was so moving and highlighted the beautiful bond of the Romanian diaspora worldwide.

I’m very grateful to the elderly residents of Bucharest who welcomed me into their homes. They shared many details, vintage items, and examples that helped me research the structure and layout of the apartment blocks. As I’ve expressed, Romanian generosity is unending.

Claus Pedersen has been a longtime friend and steadfast research partner for several novels, and this was no exception. He embraces “peace, love, and good happiness stuff.”

There were people who provided detailed information and heartfelt testimonies about the history and time period but for various reasons have requested to remain anonymous. I acknowledge them here and send them my love and sincere gratitude.

While writing and researching, I returned constantly to reference
the invaluable works of Ana Blandiana, Paul Goma, Dennis Deletant, Katherine Verdery, Herta Müller, Mihai Eminescu, Gail Kligman, and others. A full reference list of sources follows.

I also thank the following for their generous assistance and inspiration:

The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, ASTRA Museum Sibiu, Andrei Bersan, Dr. Murray Bessette, the Brașov County Museum of History, the Bucharest Palace of Parliament, Adrian Bulgaru, the Ceauşescu Mansion, Laura Gabrielaitytė-Kazulėnienė, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Arnas Gužėnas, Octavian Haragos, the Institute for the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism and the Memory of the Romanian Exile, Ms. Mancea Ioncea, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Ambassador Rolandas Krisciunas, Alexandra Loewy, MF3 High School, Peleș Castle, Adina Pintea, Ambassador Arvydas Pocius, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Historical Collection at the Hoover Institution Library and Archives housed at Stanford University, the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, the Romanian Institute for Human Rights, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the Sighet Museum, Manuela Tabac, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, and Victoria Brașov County.

I Must Betray You
was built with bricks from the following books, academic papers, articles, films, and resources.

1989 Libertate Roumanie
by Denoël Paris

“23 Years of Ceauşescu: Romania—Tight Rule of a ‘Deity’ ” by Charles T. Powers,
Los Angeles Times

Abandoned for Life: The Incredible Story of One Romanian Orphan Hidden from the World, His Life, His Words
by Izidor Ruckel

“After the Revolution: The American Library of Bucharest Enters a New Era” by Mary Ann Ignatius

“Alternative Images: The ’50s in Romania through Jokes Broadcasted by Radio Free Europe” by Gabriel Stelian Manea

At Home There’s Only Speaking in a Whisper: File and Diary Recording the Late Years of the Romanian Dictatorship
by Stelian Tănase

Authoritarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know
by Erica Frantz

Betrayals: The Unpredictability of Human Relations
by Gabriella Turnaturi, translated by Lydia G. Cochrane

Bottled Goods
by Sophie van Llewyn

Broadcasting Freedom: The Cold War Triumph of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty
by Arch Puddington

“Bucharest Journal; To Rumanians, It Just Feels Like the Third World” by Craig R. Whitney,
The New York Times

“Bullets, Lies, and Videotape: The Amazing, Disappearing Romanian Counter-Revolution of December 1989” by Richard Andrew Hall

Burying the Typewriter: A Memoir
by Carmen Bugan

The Captive Nations; Eastern Europe: 1945
–
1990: From the Defeat of Hitler to the Fall of Communism
by Patrick Brogan

Ceauşescu and the Securitate: Coercion and Dissent in Romania, 1965–89
by Dennis Deletant

“Ceauşescu Palace Rises as Monument to Greed” by Joseph A. Reaves,
Chicago Tribune

“Ceauşescu Regime Used Children as Police Spies” by Daniel McLaughlin,
The Guardian

Checkmate: Strategy of a Revolution
, documentary film directed by Susanne Brandstätter

The Christmas Gift
, film written and directed by Bogdan Muresanu

Chuck Norris vs. Communism
, documentary film written and directed by Ilinca Călugăreanu

Communism: Its Ideology, Its History and Its Legacy
, curriculum created by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation

Contemporary History Romania: A Guide through Archives, Research Institutions, Libraries,Societies, Museums and Memorial Places
by Stejărel Olaru and Georg Herbstritt

The Day We Won’t Forget: 15 November 1987, Brasov
by Alex Oprea and Stejărel Olaru

The Dean’s December
by Saul Bellow

“Doina Cornea’s Doll” by Cristina Petrescu, Cultural-Opposition.eu

“The Enduring Legacy of Romania’s Securitate” by Paul Hockenos, PRI

“Ex-Ambassador Says Washington Would Hear No Evil About Ceauşescu” by Mike Feinsilber,
Associated Press

Explaining the Romanian Revolution of 1989: Culture, Structure, and Contingency
by Dragoş Petrescu

“Fall of Ceauşescu: When Romanians Stood Up to Tyranny,”
BBC News

“Finally, We Called It Christmas Again: My Role in Romania’s Revolution” by Eugen Tomiuc, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Fodor’s ’89 Eastern Europe: Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, East Germany

“Freedom!” by George J. Church,
TIME

“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 Ceauşescus
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 Comăneci

Lines Poems Poetry
by Mircea Ivănescu, 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 Comăneci: The Gymnast and the Dictator
, film written and directed by Pola Rapaport

National Ideology under Socialism: Identity and Cultural Politics in Ceauşescu’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. Häberlen, Mark Keck-Szajbel, and Kate Mahoney

The Politics of Duplicity: Controlling Reproduction in Ceauşescu’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 Ceauşescus’ 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 Gardă

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 Ceauşescu’s Romania, 1965–77” by Dragoş 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