Ruta Sepetys in Romania - 'I Must Betray You'

In I Must Betray You, New York Times best selling author, Ruta Sepetys, writes a historical fiction thriller set in communist Romania in 1989. Sepetys said, “…it follows the story of a 17-year old high school student, who is blackmailed by the Romanian secret police to become an informer for the Communist regime. They expect this young man to betray and inform on his neighbors, his friends, his teachers, his family, even his girlfriend; but the main character, Cristian, decides instead of betraying those he loves, he’s going to turn the tables and he’s going to betray the regime and this is on the eve of the fall of communism in Europe and the Romanian Revolution.” The story is filled with an atmosphere of mistrust, with citizens closely monitored and controlled under the tyranny of dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu. During that time, listening devices could be found anywhere from telephones to light fixtures and even beneath ashtrays, as the Romanian people were under constant surveillance by the secret police.

Sepetys goes on to describe the bleak conditions the people of Romania were facing during that time of oppression. While watching movies from the west, Romanians saw people living lives of freedom that appeared to be fictional and pure fantasy. Little did they know, that was the reality of the outside world; it was later discovered that Ceausescu and his wife were living in opulance while the Romanian citizens starved and remained isolated. How did Ceausescu get away with this? Sepetys explained that he was able to appear as a benevolent leader, having allied with the U.S., France, and England, and speaking out against the Soviet Union. Those countries felt that Ceausescu was a friend they could trust. Additionally, very few tourists visited the country at the time due to the country’s shortage of food and therefore, few outsiders saw what life was really like there.

In addition to being a full-time author, Sepetys is also a presenter, speaking to audiences such as NATO, the European Parliament, and embassies from all around the world. Her topic of discussion is the power of historical fiction, which she believes helps to create opportunities for global dialogue. “Sharing these pieces of hidden history and encouraging dialogue and also pointing out that historical fiction is such a powerful genre, in reading groups and study circles, we actually have readers from families who stood on opposite sides of history and here we come together in a book club or in a reading circle and we’re discussing that history. History divided us, but I point out at these events that through reading, we can be united in story and study and remembrance and that’s the power of books.”