Short stories
Alexandru Lăpușneanul
Not translated into English
Constantin Negruzzi · 1840
Synopsis
Driven long ago from the throne of Moldavia, Alexandru Lăpușneanul returns with a Turkish army to take it back. On the way, four boyars, Veveriță, Moțoc, Spancioc and Stroici, come to tell him that the country is content with its new prince, Ștefan Tomșa; he answers that if they do not want him, he wants them, and goes on his way. Back in power, he sets about breaking the power of the boyars, while his wife, Princess Ruxanda, begs him to spare bloodshed.
Context
The text appeared in 1840 in the first issue of the Dacia literară, in Iași. It is built in four chapters, each opened by a line spoken by one of the characters. It is regarded as the first Romantic short story of historical inspiration in Romanian literature, and Alexandru Odobescu saw in it a masterpiece of the genre and a model. Anna Tattoli translated it into Italian in 2000, adding the years of the reign to the title.
Who it is for
A short story in Romanian, in four short chapters; one must accept archaisms and a violence that the narrative does not hide.
Prizes and reception
The tourist website of the city of Chișinău, which named a street and a lyceum after the author, cites it as his best-known work.