One of the perks of this job is that I get to meet lots of interesting people. Mathew L. Burr, for example. Matthew has a biography of which I’m ferociously jealous. Not only has he visited Romania, seeking out all the historical sites associated with Prince (or, more accurately, “Voivode”) Vlad III of Wallachia, nicknamed “The Impaler” and surnamed DRACULA, his numerous scholarly expeditions there and his enthusiasm for the subject led to his being granted honorary membership in the Transylvanian Society of Dracula (a sort of combination tourist and historical organization, encouraging greater knowledge of Dracula and his homeland), ceremonially “knighted” by an actor portraying Vlad inside the Prince’s birthplace at Sighisoara. How cool is that?
His large format, self-published book, IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE VOIVODE, is available by contacting the author at matgeuse@yahoo.com for a price of $25. Is it worth it? Yes. If you’re a serious Dracula mark, it is a must-have. Burr is no professional writer, but the many gorgeous, full color photographs make up for any occasional typos or run-on sentences. Neither is he a professional historian, but the guy’s sure done his homework. He promises that his book contains information never before in print in the West, and he delivers. I’m a very well-read Dracula-phile, myself, and there are some facts in the book with which I was unfamiliar. Highly educational to anyone who wants to learn more about the legendary warrior behind the vampire legend, and highly recommended.
