Decorah Public Library is hosting an Armchair Travelogue discussion about Romania and William Blacker’s book “Along the Enchanted Way” at 6 p.m. Tuesday October 25 in the library’s mezzanine. The discussion will be facilitated by Paul Gardner and Rebecca Wiese.
“Along the Enchanted Way” tells a story of life and love in Romania after the end of the Soviet Union, through the perspective of an outsider. Englishman William Blacker entered the country shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall and spent eight years living among rural Romanians as they navigated the collision between their centuries-old traditions and a rapidly modernizing country. Blacker also gains intimate knowledge of Romania’s complicated relationship with the Romani people after falling in love with a member of that community.
Our local guides, Paul Gardner and Rebecca Wiese have spent considerable time in Romania, most recently as part of a Fulbright Fellowship in the fall of 2021. They’ll bring their first-hand experience traveling through modern Romania to the discussion of Blacker’s experience living in the country during its transition.
Stop by the library’s front desk to check out a copy of “Along the Enchanted Way” or call 563.382.3717 or email dpl@decorahlibrary.org to reserve one. Contact Zach Row-Heyveld at zrow-heyveld@decorahlibrary.org for more information.