In 1946 ominous clouds are gathering on the narrow horizon of Lupoaia (Valley of the Wolves), a little village in Transylvania, where traditions, impregnated with prejudice and superstition, have endured over many generations. The Second World War is over but the lives of the villagers are thrown into turmoil with the imposition of drastic, senseless changes by a new regime, intent on creating a "new man" for a "new society." The newly-installed totalitarian government threatens to eliminate the Flonta family by declaring Teodor's father, Pavel, a "chiabur" - an 'enemy of the people'. Pavel is arrested, imprisoned and tortured. When the wave of persecutions reaches its peak, he is forced to live in hiding. A trade, learned by Pavel in his youth, unexpectedly becomes his salvation - the Russians, who are extracting uranium in the Carpathians for their first atomic bomb, hire him. There, at the mine, the tentacles of the "Securitate" - the secret police - cannot reach him. Stalin is still alive when Teodor starts school. Torn between two opposite worlds - home, where traditional values are preserved and love abounds - and school, where indoctrination and inequity prevail, he constantly questions and ponders the twisted logic behind events, sometimes with cheekiness and humour, as only a child is capable of doing under the circumstances. Events, however, affect Teodor deeply from an early age, as in the communist system the sins of the father - imaginary as they might be - are made to fall on his young son's shoulders. *** '"A Luminous Future" offers a unique insight into one of the most disturbing periods of modern European history. By turns amusing, terrifying and confronting, the story of Teodor Flonta, his father, his family and his community, is both a valuable social document and an intriguing read.' Chris McLeod, "Man of Water," Fremantle Arts Centre Press 'The author does a wonderful job combining the historical and the personal. The images and themes surrounding the wolves - both animal and human - are brilliant. One of the greatest things about this memoir is how the author balances the darkness and cruelty with pitch perfect humor. It is such a triumphant story in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and I think readers will love this family and thespirit they show. It's funny and warm andheartbreaking - as life so often is.' Jayne Pupek, "The Tomato Girl," Algonquin This is a charming and sometimes shocking portrait of growing up in a remote village in Romania during the Communist era. It is an intriguing portrayal of the customs and traditions that lingered on from the pre-Communist days, humorous and brutal as they were, and their destruction at the hands of what seems a madness that gripped the country during the 1940s and 50s. It is also a testament to the resilience of the author's father who endured unimaginable pressures, humiliations and imprisonments for committing no crime other than employing a couple of men. Personally I find the story quite gripping, and clearly and vividly told, with a mass of illuminating detail. The characters come to life well, the author makes a good guide to this - to us - strange world, and conveys the politics in a lively but understated way.' Helena Drysdale, "Looking for George," Picador

In 1946, nori amenintatori se aduna pe cerul unui satuc din Transilvania, Lupoaia, unde traditiile imbibate cu prejudecati si superstitii au dainuit de-a lungul multor generatii. Cel de-al Doilea Razboi Mondial s-a sfarsit dar vietile lupoienilor sunt ravasite de impunerea unor schimbari draconice si fara sens de catre un nou regim care doreste sa creeze un om nou, pentru o societate noua. Guvernul totalitar recent instalat ameninta sa elimine familia Flonta, declarandu-l pe Pavel, tatal lui Teodor, chiabur - "dusman al poporului." Pavel este arestat, intemnitat si torturat. Cand valul persecutiilor atinge apogeul, Pavel este obligat sa traiasca ascuns. In mod neasteptat, meseria pe care Pavel a invatat-o in tinerete il salveaza: rusii, care extrag uraniu in Carpati pentru prima lor bomba atomica, il angajeaza la ei. Acolo, la mina, bratul lung al Securitatii nu il poate ajunge. Stalin inca mai traieste cand Teodor incepe sa mearga la scoala. Sfasiat intre doua lumi opuse - casa, in care sunt pastrate valorile traditionale si unde oamenii se iubesc - si scoala, unde indoctrinarea si nedreptatea fac legea, Teodor pune mereu intrebari si cugeta asupra logicii incurcate din spatele evenimentelor, uneori cu obraznicie si umor, de care numai un copil este in stare in astfel de imprejurari. Evenimentele, desigur, il afecteaza puternic pe Teodor inca din pruncie, intrucat in comunism pacatele parintilor - imaginare sau reale - cad pe umerii copiilor lor.