Excerpts :
Princess Marthe Bibesco
Ana Blandiana
Smaranda Braescu
Madelene “Madi” Cancicov
Nina Cassian
Elena Ceausescu
Ioana Celibidache
Queen Elisabeth of Romania
Princess Gregoire Ghica
Princess Ileana of Romania
Dora D’Istria
Monica Lovinescu
Ileana Malancioiu
Queen Marie of Romania
Dr. Agnes Kelly Murgoci
Mabel Nandris
Countess Anna de Noailles
Ana Novac
Oana Orlea
Ana Pauker
Marta Petreu
Elisabeta Rizea of Nucsoara
Sanda Stolojan
Leontina Vaduva
Anca Visdei
Sabina Wurmbrand
|
|
Marta Petreu
Poet, Philosopher, Essayist, Academic
Living in Cluj, (b. 14th March 1955)
Eugene Ionesco in Romania:
“He was cured as one would be, through a classic psycho-analytic
therapy, by writing (like a writer would do, with all the pre-requisite
exaggerations and not like a historian, with all its scientific
precision), by stating the truth: this truth, which we no longer
like.” (“Eugeen Ionesco in his paternal country”)
Legionary Movement:
“The Legionnary Movement is our national product, the revolt
of our nasty and vindictive collective subconsciousness”…
“ I believe that the source of some of the excesses during
the Communist period is to be found in the inter-war period
and in its excesses. Likewise, I believe that the reason of
so many failiures during the past ten years – corruption,
politicking, improbable justice, undemocratic behaviour is to
be found in our history since 1918.” (“"Adevarului
literar si artistic" (Nr. 547/ 05.12. 2000)”)
Biography:
Marta Petreu is professor at Cluj University,
a poet, essayist and a Philosopher and at the same time Editor-in-Chief
of the magazine “Apostrof”, a platform from which
she directs her criticism at the right-wing extremist nationalism
in Romania. It is to be noted that the very mayor of Cluj, as
a proponent of extreme nationalism is a graphic representation
of professor Petreu’s attention. The interest is reciprocal
with the difference that instead of using the same means of
criticism through publishing professor Petreu’s opponents
indulge in tactics of the more basic variety, involving threats
of physical violence. As a result, both Marta Petreu and her
publication remain rather isolated in a climate where it had
become increasingly difficult to speak one’s mind.
Under Ceausescu’s regime Marta Petreu would have ended
in a lunatic asylum or in the kind of isolated prison camp described
by Oana Orlea, Madeleine Cancicov, Annie Samuelli, Sabina Wurmbrand
(q.v.) and thousands of women tortured like them under the Communist
dictatorship. Instead, in the post-Communist transition period
such treatment is confined rather to intimidation and regular
death threats. This is clearly quite an achievement considering
the starting point on the road to NATO and to the European Union,
that Romania wants to join. It is little wonder that she is
expected to align and apply it laws in compliance to accepted
civilised standards, before entry to such Clubs may be achieved.
It maybe that Marta Petreu’s treatment, and that of other
people llike her, may be a test case.
In 2002 the Writer’s Union of Cluj nominated Marta Petreu
for the 2001 Henri Jacquier Prize given by the Institut Francais
for her book “Eugene Ionesco in his paternal country”.
Earlier, in June 2001, in New York , Marta Petreu was given
by the Human Rights Watch the presitigious Hellman-Hemmett Prize,
as one amongst 27 world authors who suffered persecution in
their own country.
One could say, without fear of contradiction that for her courage
and obduracy, combined with an incisive analytical mind and
high moral values Marta Petreu falls in a very special category
of exceptional women.
Bibliography:
Petreu, Marta. “Teze Neterminate” , Bucuresti: Cartea
Romaneasca, 1991.
Petreu, Marta - Un trecut deocheat sau "Schimbarea la fata
a României" (Cluj: Apostrof, 1999)
Petreu, Marta “Modelul si oglinda: Evelyn Underhill-Nae
Ionescu,” in Iordan Chimet, ed., Momentul adevarului. Cluj:
Dacia, 1996, 337-382.
Petreu, Marta – “Eugeen Ionesco in his paternal country”
("Ionesco au pays du père") ” Apostrof”
Publishing House, Cluj Writers Association, 2002
|
