The Story of a Life

Book excerpt: Prior to WWII when the Romanian monarchy modernized the nation, Romania became one of the richest countries in Europe. During that time, my family was a part of privileged intellectuals and land owners. After 1939, Romania was subjected to Fascism against her will, and after 1945, the country came under Communist rule. All of us were reduced to poverty. I have witnessed how the Communist regime marginalized people and suppressed individual liberty, private initiative, lack of opportunities, and hope. I used the course of my life and decided to write its story for the purpose of showing others what an unsuccessful, socialist, Marxist government means. When it came to power, the State seized the fruits and the bounty it found, however, without producing anything on its own, except thousands of deaths and political prisoners. This is my story under a Communist regime when I lost my liberty.