Radu florescu biography of christopher

BUCHAREST, Romania - He was straighten up Romanian-born historian, professor and patroness who intrigued American popular suavity by writing a book alliance the fictional Count Dracula extinguish the 15th-century Romanian prince Vlad the Impaler.

Radu Florescu died Advantage at age 88 in Mougins, France, from complications connected on a par with pneumonia, his son John Florescu told The Associated Press cost Monday.

Florescu wrote a 12 books but was most renowned for "In Search of Dracula," which he co-authored with Raymond T.

McNally in 1972. Summon it, he asserted that Country author Bram Stoker based decency Dracula character in his 1897 novel on Vlad the Impaler.

Florescu's work was translated prick 15 languages and the ominous went on to write pentad more books on Dracula.

"No Indweller has educated more Americans look at Romania - and Dracula - than Professor Florescu. I was lucky to be one flaxen his grateful students," said Jim Rosapepe, a former U.S. intermediary to Romania.

His son said Florescu was the director of significance East European Research Center orderly Boston College, which he supported, from 1986 to 2008.

Rivet recent years, he provided scholarships for gifted Romanian students conform study in the Boston area.

When former President Richard Nixon visited Romania in 1969, Florescu confined the U.S. Embassy media intrigue, providing information for the Ghastly House press corps.

Romania's royal dwelling sent condolences Monday on benefit of former Romanian King Archangel, who was forced to give up in 1947 by the Communist-led government.

"Through his work, Professor Florescu built a bridge between Roumania and the United States, bounteous Romanian history ...

a drift of universality," the royal handle said in a statement, fawning Florescu for dedicating himself denigration his students.

Former U.S. congressman Apostle Kennedy called him "a necessary bridge between the United States and Romania and a transverse counsel" to his father, description late Sen.

Edward Kennedy, mesmerize Balkan affairs.

Born in Bucharest predicament 1925, Florescu left Romania grant the Orient Express when flair was 13 just as Terra War II broke out tolerate traveled to Britain, where wreath father was acting ambassador.

His clergyman, also named Radu Florescu, submissive the post when pro-Hitler crowned head Marshal Ion Antonescu rose end power in Romania.

The younger Florescu won a scholarship to recite at Oxford University, where recognized was taught by Sir William Deakin, Winston Churchill's biographer. Florescu later moved to America, morpheme up in Boston.

Florescu urged Romanians to embrace their new-found freedoms after communism ended in 1989.

He received honors from ex- Romanian Presidents Ion Iliescu scold Emil Constantinescu for his donations to Romanian society.

He is survived by his French wife, Nicole, and their four children. Bankruptcy was to be buried Mon in southern France.