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ArchivesRe: ***ADVICE FOR A NOVEL: Does origin matter?***
in reply to a message by Satu
Still interesting, however, that women currently in their 70's would more likely have been born during the Weimar period. I also live in Germany, by the way, and for the sake of realism, I think that a name (particularly in the minds of English speakers) that might better summon the image of a staunch NS supporter, would be a more traditional name. These are things that writers need to take into consideration. For example, it is why Dracula was not called Herbert Krosnov.
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Ugh?
I am impressed (and a little bit spooked :o) that you know why Dracula's parents did not name him Herbert.
Seriously, though, your point is a little bit off, because Dracula was a real person. Count Vladimir (Vlad) Draculea Tepes III (1437-1476) was a Romanian nobleman who ruled the Transylvanian county of Wallachia. He was named Vlad after his father, Vlad "Dracul" Tepes II, and his middle name, Draculea (the original spelling of Dracula), means "son of Dracul". Dracul was his father's nickname, the name of his family's castle and, as far as I remember, the Romanian word for "a dragon". Dracula was deprived of his rightful throne at birth, which caused him to grow resentful. When he got old enough, he allied with the Moldavian king and regained the rule of Wallachia. Once in power, he turned into a tyrant and got notorious for being bloodthirsty and extremely fond of torturing his enemies (a lovable person indeed!). The stories of his cruelty spread around quickly and created a lot of legends among the superstitious folk of Transylvania. That is how the legend of the vampire Dracula originated.
P.S. Some sources claim that the name Dracula ("son of the dragon" where dragon = devil) was bestowed upon Vlad by the Catholic church which did not like his anti-catholic actions.
I am impressed (and a little bit spooked :o) that you know why Dracula's parents did not name him Herbert.
Seriously, though, your point is a little bit off, because Dracula was a real person. Count Vladimir (Vlad) Draculea Tepes III (1437-1476) was a Romanian nobleman who ruled the Transylvanian county of Wallachia. He was named Vlad after his father, Vlad "Dracul" Tepes II, and his middle name, Draculea (the original spelling of Dracula), means "son of Dracul". Dracul was his father's nickname, the name of his family's castle and, as far as I remember, the Romanian word for "a dragon". Dracula was deprived of his rightful throne at birth, which caused him to grow resentful. When he got old enough, he allied with the Moldavian king and regained the rule of Wallachia. Once in power, he turned into a tyrant and got notorious for being bloodthirsty and extremely fond of torturing his enemies (a lovable person indeed!). The stories of his cruelty spread around quickly and created a lot of legends among the superstitious folk of Transylvania. That is how the legend of the vampire Dracula originated.
P.S. Some sources claim that the name Dracula ("son of the dragon" where dragon = devil) was bestowed upon Vlad by the Catholic church which did not like his anti-catholic actions.
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