The Birth of the Romanian People

This book tells how the Romanian people came to be. Neagu Djuvara wrote this history for young readers. His warm, direct style turns the past into stories. Radu Oltean adds art in colour. Miruna Fulgeanu put the Romanian text into English.

Oltean joined the work on this book in 2001. By then, he had begun to paint Romania’s ancient past. He sought to teach children history free of myths. He also sought to avoid false claims of national greatness. Djuvara let him choose what to draw. Their work led to two more history books for young readers. Oltean went on to make art for popular history as a career. At times, he wrote it too.