Maria Tănase și iubirile ei controversate

Dan-Silviu Boerescu tells the life story of Maria Tănase. He looks at her love affairs and role in Romanian song. This book suits those who seek her story beyond music. It blends drama based on records with tales some dispute. It draws on press reports and other records too. It forms part of the series Femei fascinante din Romania.

She grew up in Cărămidari, a district of Bucharest. Her parents had come there from Oltenia. She left school after three or four primary grades. She later worked at Automatele Herdan. The book calls it Bucharest’s first fast-food outlet. It tells how she lost in the Miss Romania semifinal. Her legs were the reason for her rejection. She also posed nude for a chess-themed photo shoot. This led to a Legionary ban. She had an abortion at sixteen. Later, she could not have children.

She had both Romanian and foreign lovers. Some of the foreign men were secret agents. Did she herself play a role in spying? The book asks but does not settle this. It tells of her disputed affair with Brâncuși. He later sent her away. She wed Clery Sachelarie in a marriage of convenience. She supported him, and he accepted her affairs.

The book covers claims that Gheorghiu-Dej favoured her. These claims say he gave her a house too. It tells how Păstorel Teodoreanu informed on her to the Securitate. It links words from one song to her private life. Through these troubled tales, it stresses her gift for song.