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Rodica Ojog-Bra?oveanu (28 August 1939 ? 2 December 2002) was a Romanian writer. She was dubbed the " Agatha Christie of Romania", her works consisting mainly of detective novels and short stories. ^[1]

Biography [ edit ]

Daughter of Ana and Victor Ojog, Rodica Ojog-Bra?oveanu was born into a family of wealthy intellectuals. Her mother was a teacher, while her father was a lawyer and member of the Liberal Party.

Enrolled at the age of six at the "Le Maison du Francais" school, Ojog-Bra?oveanu revealed a taste and remarkable talent for the French language, to which she will remain deeply attached for the rest of her life.

She started her secondary education in 1948 at the "Domni?a Ileana" High School (now known as the Mihai Eminescu National College ), and upon graduating went on to study Law at the University of Bucharest . However, in 1956, she was expelled and arrested on a political basis, accused of supporting the anti-communist revolt in Budapest . She would only be readmitted in 1962, following a year of unqualified work in a factory. In 1963, she married actor Cosma Bra?oveanu and resumed her Law studies, this time in Ia?i , which she finally finished in 1967, at the University of Bucharest. From 1968, she began working as a lawyer.

Ojog-Bra?oveanu died in 2002, as a result of severe lung problems.

Works [ edit ]

Her novels [ edit ]

After her debut in 1969 with a television scenario, Ojog-Bra?oveanu started writing on her husband's demands. Her first detective novel, Moartea semneaz? indescifrabil (Death Has an Indecipherable Signature) , was published in 1971 at the Albatros Publishing House. Following the success of this novel, Ojog-Bra?oveanu decided to quit her job as a lawyer and dedicate herself completely to writing.

Her works are much appreciated for their humor, irony and atypical characters, and in particular, her fine and amusing descriptions of the Romanian society (regardless of the time of action), as well as the alert pace of her narrative. ^[2]

Her novel Cianur? pentru un suras (Cyanide for a Smile) has been translated into Bulgarian. ^{[3] [4]}

Famous characters [ edit ]

Ojog-Bra?oveanu's most well-known character is undoubtedly Melania Lupu , a mischievous old lady, half-detective half-criminal, to whom the author gives an unusual confidant ? her cat, Mirciulic? . Her other well-known character is Minerva Tutovan , a former math teacher turned commissioner, particularly rigorous in her investigations and with a remarkable talent for disguises. She has her dog Spiridon as a companion, but works especially with the young inspector Dobrescu , who is also one of her former students.

Influences [ edit ]

Ojog-Bra?oveanu's favourite authors include Edgard Wallace , Georges Simenon , Karl May , and among Romanian ones, Theodor Constantin and Haralamb Zinca . Critics dubbed her the " Agatha Christie of Romania", with the British novelist being one of her most obvious sources of inspiration for her books. In addition, like the British author, Ojog-Brasoveanu was able to live on just her writings throughout her life, her novels selling in tremendous numbers.

Bibliography [ edit ]

Detective Novels [ edit ]

• 1971 ? Moartea semneaz? indescifrabil (Death Has an Indecipherable Signature)
• 1971 ? Enigm? la mansard? (Enigma in the Attic)
• 1973 ? Coco?atul are alibi (The Hunchback has an Alibi)
• 1977 ? Anchet? in infern (Investigation in the Inferno)
• 1981 ? ?tafeta , reissued in 1999 under the title O bomb? pentru revelion (A Bomb for New Year's Eve)
• 1983 ? Intalnire la ?Elizeu" , reissued in 2004 under the title Intalnire la Elysee (Meeting at Elysee)
• 1985 ? Apel din necunoscut (Call from the Unknown)
• 1991 ? Crim? prin mica publicitate (Crime through Classified Advertising)
• 1992 ? Co?mar (Nightmare)
• 1994 ? Cutia cu nasturi (The Box of Buttons)
• 1998 ? Poveste imoral? (Immoral Story)
• 1998 ? Un blestem cu domiciliul stabil (A Curse with a Stable Address)
• 1999 ? Telefonul din bikini (The telephone in the Bikini)
• 2001 ? R?zbunarea slu?ilor (Revenge of the Disfigured)
• 2002 ? Necunoscuta din congelator (The Unknown Body in the Freezer)

Minerva Tutovan Series [ edit ]

• 1972 ? Spionaj la m?n?stire (Espionage at the Monastery)
• 1973 ? Omul de la cap?tul firului (The Man at the End of the Line)
• 1974 ? Minerva se dezl?n?uie (Minerva goes wild)
• 1974 ? Plan diabolic (Diabolical Plan)
• 1977 ? Panic? la c?su?a cu zorele , reissued in 1999 under the title Stilet cu ?ampanie (Champagne Stiletto)
• 1982 ? Nop?i albe pentru Minerva (Sleepless Nights for Minerva)
• 1986 ? Violeta din safe (The Violet in the Safe)

Melania Lupu Series [ edit ]

• 1975 ? Cianur? pentru un suras (Cyanide for a Smile)
• 1975 ? Bun? seara, Melania! (Good evening, Melania!)
• 1979 ? 320 de pisici negre (320 Black Cats)
• 1984 ? Anonima de miercuri (The Wednesday Anonymous)
• 1990 ? Melania ?i misterul din parc , reissued in 2004 as Dispari?ia statuii din parc (The Disappearance of the Park Statue)
• 1992 ? O crim? a la Liz Taylor , reissued in 2000 as O toalet? a la Liz Taylor (Grooming a la Liz Taylor)

Historical novels [ edit ]

• 1978 ? Al cincilea as (The Fifth Ace)
• 1983 ? Intalnire la ?Elizeu", reissued in 2004 under the title Intalnire la Elysee (Meeting at Elysee)
• 1990 ? A inflorit liliacul (The Lilac has Blossomed)
• 1990 ? S? nu ne uit?m la ceas (Let's Not Check the Time)

Logothete Andronic Series [ edit ]

• 1976 ? Agentul secret al lui Altin-Bey (The Secret Agent of Altin-Bey)
• 1978 ? Logof?tul de tain? (The Secret Logothete)
• 1980 ? Ochii jupani?ei (The Noblewoman's Eyes)
• 1981 ? Letopise?ul de argint (The Silver Chronicle)
• 1988 ? Vulturul dincolo de Cornul Lunii (The Eagle Beyond the Horn of the Moon)

Short story collections [ edit ]

• 2000 ? Gras? ?i proast? (Fat and Dumb)
• 2000 ? B?rba?ii sunt ni?te porci (Men are Pigs)

Theatre plays [ edit ]

• 1984 ? Cursa de Viena (The Journey to Vienna)

Scenarios and TV adaptations [ edit ]

• 1969 ? Crima din Ci?migiu (Murder in Ci?migiu)
• 1981 ? ?antaj (Blackmail) , screening of the novel Omul de la cap?tul firului ^[5]
• 1984 ? A doua variant? (The Second Option)
• 1995?1996 ? Dou?sprezece (Twelve) , twelve scenarios
• 1996 ? Enigma (The Enigma)
• 1998 ? Poveste imoral? (Immoral Story) , series based on the novel of the same name ^[6]

See also [ edit ]

• List of crime writers
• List of mystery writers
• List of Romanian writers

References [ edit ]