Hello, God!

By Leonard Oprea

"The works of Leonard Oprea are within the sphere of philosophical thinking represented by S. Kierkegaard, V. Soloviov or Teilhard de Chardin. Though similar, his works are not inspired, nor influenced by the writings of these Christian philosophers. The special importance and the crystal-clear beauty of Leonard Oprea's meditations are revealed by his diamond ideal of humankind's Salvation through Faith. "Hello, God", the third volume of Trilogy of Theophil Magus, is an unique book worldwide. It inspires and thrills the reader making him ready for a sincere and responsible meditation on the human condition, now, at the dawn of the third millennium." (Vladimir Tismaneanu - philosopher, essayist and author)

"Leonard Oprea's dominant perspective is one of cold objectivity, relying little on easy emotions, with the exception of hidden, profound feelings and questions. Themes are his life's purpose - the ultimate springs of human actions... Intelligence, laconic sarcasm, humor, right targeting. How could we not be indebted to the author? He put his talent of storytelling to serve as exhortation which is a healthy response in the presence of the morbid, the simplistic in the face of artificial, the man-loving of light against darkness and evil." (Nicolae Steinhardt - philosopher, essayist and author)

"Leonard Oprea has no choice but to offer up his thoughts, his philosophies and experiences - his breathings - in these pages. In doing so, he reveals his being and the very nature of his soul. This is not an easy or simple process because words often fail. But fi nding just the right combination of nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs is a reward in itself because it elevates the mundane to higher, more ethereal levels... levels where one may fi nally develop the nerve to come and out say, "Hello, God." (Jeff Howe - poet, author, essayist)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493107209

Leonard Oprea

LEONARD OPREA - one of the most interesting East-European novelist, poet and essayist.Former anti-communist dissident and forbidden writer under the Romanian Dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu. Leonard Oprea’s works are well-known in Europe, America, Asia, Australia. Author of The X-Ray of an Instant and The Straitjacket, novels banned by the Romanian Communist Dictatorship. Also, author of Theophil Magus in Baton Rouge – a haiku novel, Trilogy of Theophil Magus – The Truth, The Daily Agony of Theophil Magus, Theophil Magus in Boston, novels, essays and poetry, works published in the USA and well appreciated worldwide. Leonard Oprea created the first "haiku-novel" and the "Breathing", a genuinely different type of essay in the whole world culture. Today, Leonard Oprea lives in the USA.

Book preview

Hello, God!

Volume III of TRILOGY OF THEOPHIL MAGUS

Leonard Oprea

Copyright © 2013 by Leonard Oprea.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2013917769

ISBN:       Hardcover       978-1-4931-0719-3

                Softcover         978-1-4931-0718-6

                Ebook               978-1-4931-0720-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 10/08/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

141151

Contents

PART I

RE-BIRTH, LIFE

WORD AHEAD/THE CROSS OF THE FIVE PRINCIPLES

THE ONE THAT IS... / THE MAKING

WHY JESUS CHRIST?

JESUS’ SMILE

THE THIRD Millennium’s SADDUCEES

I LOVE YOU...

THE FLOCK AND THE DOGMA

THE NIGHTMARE

ONE EPISTLE ABOUT NIETZSCHE

IN GOD’S WILL

THE COMPASSION OF GOD

THE GENTLENESS OF GOD

THE CHURCH

YOURSELF

FREE WILL?... PREDESTINATION?

THE THIRST

THE SACRIFICE

MOSES

CHRISTIAN?

CNN AND THE TRUTH...

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

THE LONGING

THE PRAYER

THE CARPENTER

THE DEATH

HUMAN CONDITION

I AM...

TO BE – TO EXIST

IMMORTALITY

POSTUM GLORY

THE REGRETTABLE CONFUSION

I CRY, I LAUGH...

ATTENTION!

ECCE HOMO!

THE DAILY WORRY

THE CONTEMPLATION

TWO TIMES BORN

ABOUT STUPIDITY

THE PRAYER’S DIAMOND

THE POWER OF FAITH

A HYPOTHESIS

THE RESSURECTION AND THE LIFE

JESUS CHRIST’S HUMILITY

SOCIETAS JESU

THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

THE PATH AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

AN AXIOM

CYBER-MAN

GOD’S EQUAL

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

WHAT IS HIS NAME?

SAINTS IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM

THE GENIUS’ IMPOTENCE

THE CHRISTIAN’S EGOCENTRISM

THE ATHEIST

BONA FIDE

THE RISK TO BELIEVE

THE BIBLE

THE JOY OF LIVING

CAIN’S WORLD

THE BABY’S SHOUT

APOCALYPSE

THE SUBLIME OF HUMAN EXISTENCE

OUR FATHER (AN INTERPRETATION)

GOD’S RESPONSIBILITY

THE DEFINITION OF HEAVEN

THE ART CRITIC

THE MYSTERY OF ALL MYSTERIES

THE INVALUABLE GIFT

THE OTHER-LIFE

THE ANGER OF GOD

TODAY

THE MORALE OF GOD

DOGEN AND THOMAS AQUINAS

EPIPHANY

DEMONSTRATIONS NOT MIRACLES

TO SOME ATHEISTS AND SOME AGNOSTICS...

THOMAS’S LAW

THE ROAD OF THE CROSS

ABOUT THE AUTHENTIC ARTIST

A CHIMERA...

THE BEATITUDES

A REMARK

THE AMERICAN CHRISTIAN

GOD IS ALIVE

CONFESSION

FATHER PATRICK

THE HOLY EASTER CELEBRATION

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - 2001

JOHN 4:1-3

BARABAS AND DON CORLEONE

IT HAPPENED TO ME LIKE THIS...

THE BABIES’ BLESSING

ABOUT GOD

TWO WORDS

THE CHRISTOCENTRISM

A PRAYER

THE HOLY GHOST

THE TIME

A THOUGHT

THE 119th PSALM

THE NATURAL LANGUAGE

REDEMPTION AND SALVATION

PAROUSIA

THE CHRISTIAN’S TOLERANCE

THE IMMORTAL APOSTLE

GOD HELP...

KENOSIS

I WOULD JUST WHISPER...

SATAN’S TEMPTATION

BOOK OF JOB

THE TRANSFIGURATION

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON

TO BE INTO THE LIGHT

LAZARUS’ RESURRECTION

THE NEXT DAY’S WORRY

JESUS CHRIST’S ATTRIBUTES

METANOIA

THE 50TH PSALM

THE LIAR PROPHETS

IN THE UNFAITHFULNESS’ VACUUM

THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED

THE TECHNOLOGICAL MAN

CLONE JESUS CHRIST

DOMINUS JESUS

QUO VADIS, DOMINE?

BERTRAND RUSSELL

THE CHRISTIAN CROSS

THE RUIN

LORD’S ASCENSION

FAUSTIC COVENANT

THE HISTORICAL FACT

GENOCIDE

THE DISCOMFORT BY LACK OF FAITH

THE HOLY GHOST...

PART II

LIFE, NEW RE-BIRTH

101 BREATHINGS

ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS...

2 SECONDS

TO BE ALONE

I’M MUSIC...

MY DERSU UZALA

A DROP

BLUES ABOUT STUPIDITY

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, MAMMON ENTERPRISES

ABOUT THE SIMPLE JOYS...

THE EMPTY CATHEDRAL

WE ARE BADLY MISTAKEN...

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BEYOND THE CLOUDS?

THE BEAUTY OF CONFESSION

The American POLITICIAN today

SOMETIMES...

ABOUT WOMAN

The HOLY DIVORCE versus THE HOLY FAMILY

WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST?

WHEN I’LL DIE...

ANOTHER Mayflower TALE without GOD

THE DAY YOU ARE BORN...

THE GIFT...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – ANNA MARIA! (1) A MIRACLE WAS BORN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA-MARIA! (2) THE INEFFABLE BURDEN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA-MARIA! (3) A DROP OF EDEN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA-MARIA! (4) THEY DO NOT WAVE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA-MARIA! (5) THE UNIMAGINABLE CRUELTY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA-MARIA! (6) A PRAYER

JUSTICE TODAY

MADE IN THE USA – CORAZON ESPINADO

The METAPHYSICS of DOUBT – YOU, WHAT KIND

of DUST ARE YOU? or The RAINBOW of KNOWLEDGE

About THE GOLDEN SH... IT and THE PLATINUM SH... IT

09.14.2010/CROSS CELEBRATION – JESUS IS THE CROSS...

WHO ARE YOU?!

THE HAWK LONELINESS

WHO ARE WE?...

A TERRIBLE ROMANIAN CURSE – A WONDERFUL BLESSING

USA – THE PROMISED LAND of LONELINESS. Enjoy!

THE WAY OF THE NINE BEATITUDES or

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

THE POLITICAL AXIOM OF THE 21st CENTURY

The PARADIGM of FREEDOM - The WAY

and The TRUTH and The LIFE

WHY JESUS CHRIST?

THE AUTHENTIC ARTIST

THE HEAVEN

THE REPOSE

WHO CARES about HOLOCAUST – TODAY?

Walking through the Darkness of Being... or

the HUMAN CONDITION

Why OUR FATHER? or The CORNER-STONE of the FAITH

THOMAS’ LAW or GOD is GOOD, but HE is NOT STUPID

EQUAL with GOD

ANNA-MARIA, MY CHILD – NEVER FORGET...

ANNA-MARIA, COPILA MEA – NICIODATA NU UITA...

BLUES, JAZZ – THE MUSIC

THE WRITER – THE EXLIXIR of LIFE and THE PHILOSOPHICAL STONE

SCRIITORUL – ELIXIRUL VIETII si PIATRA FILOZOFALA

A NIGHT – A CATHEDRAL FOR BROTHER MOZART

ECCE HOMO and THE RISK TO BELIEVE

ANNA-MARIA, LEARN ABOUT AMERICA... or

THE FAMILY STILL EXIST IN THE USA?

ANNA-MARIA – THE SORROW of AN AMERICAN CHILD or

THE BIOLOGIC FATHER and SATAN

LIVING IN AMERICA or CAIN’s DEED & FAUST’s COVENANT

ANNA-MARIA – LET’S WALTZ UNDER THE BLACK STARS

ISLAMIC TERRORISM TODAY

TO HATE YOURSELF – TO LOVE YOURSELF?

I LOVE YOU ... ASHES IS THE LIGHT...

THE BLOOD OF MY LOVE

THE QUESTION OF DEATH ANGEL

WHO ARE YOU AMERICA TODAY? or

THE MOST SWEETEST TORTURE IN THE WORLD

THE DIGNITY OF MAN DEMNITATEA OMULUI

I BOW DOWN MY HEART – WHERE ARE YOU GOD?!

PLECACIUNEA INIMII MELE – UNDE ESTI DUMNEZEU?!

ANNA-MARIA IF GOD IS AGAINST YOUR LOVE – FIGHT GOD! or

AN OPEN EPISTLE TO MY AMERICAN DAUGHTER

The MISERY of AMERICA – ANNA-MARIA, DO NOT CRY, PRAY! SUFERINTA AMERICII – ANNA-MARIA, NU PLINGE, ROAGA-TE!

CHRISTIAN INTO GOD’ S WILL

A TALE about SAINT NICHOLAS of CHILDREN O POVESTE

despre SFINTUL NICOLAE al COPIILOR

THE RIGHT TO BE STUPID or THE SOCIALISM

ACROSS AMERICA TODAY

Image%201.JPG

LEONARD OPREA is a contemporary Romanian and American novelist, poet, essayist and journalist.

Leonard Oprea was a well-known anti-communist dissident in Romania during Nicolae Ceauşescu’s dictatorship.

(Congressional Record: Human Rights in Romania, Vol. 136, Washington, DC, Thursday, July 26, 1990, issue No.98.) (Romania Literara / Literary Romania—a weekly magazine on Romanian cultural issues/ ISSN 1584-9465),#27, July 13 2007, Tudorel Urian, Dumnezeu si Lumea de Azi /God and Today’s World/. This article refers to Oprea as a ‘genuine dissident’. Search site for specific content: Romanian quote: „Structural, Leonard Oprea face parte din familia adevăraţilor disidenţi, de tipul Corneliu Coposu sau Adam Michnik. Ca şi aceştia, a înfruntat regimul communist")

He was born in Prejmer, a village in Braşov (Kronstadt) County in the south-eastern part of Transylvania, central Romania.

Religious views: Christian.

A graduate of the University of Braşov, Leonard Oprea studied mass-media communication at Chico University of California, in 1990.

Leonard Oprea is an expert in editorial works, editorial art-works, literary workshops, and advertisement works, as well.

Leonard Oprea studied and practices Japanese and Chinese Martial Arts. He is a Martial Arts black-belt instructor.

Between 1980 and 1987 he published a book and several short stories, which were honored with Romanian national literary prizes.

In 1984—Orwell’s Year—he published his first book, Domenii Interzise (Forbidden areas), short stories and novellas, and some other short stories in the most well-known Romanian literary reviews and won very important national literary prizes.

After 1987, the Securitate (the Secret Police of the Romanian Communist regime), officially forbade the publication of his writings.

After the Romanian anti-Communist Revolution of 1989, living in Bucharest, he became a praised Romanian writer, and a distinguished journalist and editor. He was able to resume publishing his works: novels, short stories, tales and essays, meditations etc. He founded Athena Romanian Publishing House; also, he created the Vladimir Colin Romanian Cultural Foundation, as well as the Vladimir Colin international awards (among the winners, famous Americans authors like Andrei Codrescu and Vladimir Tismaneanu).

Among the other activities of Vladimir Colin Romanian Cultural Foundation, Leonard Oprea organized and ran national and international conferences, seminars and literary workshops in collaboration with the University of Bucharest, national publishing houses and national newspapers, as well.

In 1995 as chief editor and owner of Athena Publishing House of Bucharest, Romania, Leonard Oprea (at Athena Publishing House) has published 3 bilingual, English and Romanian (translations by the professor Bogdan Stefanescu, from Bucharest University, Romania) editions with works by the former candidate of Nobel Prize for Literature, the poet Nichita Stanescu; essays by the philosopher Constantin Noica and by the prestigious American-Romanian philosopher of Religions, Mircea Eliade. These 3 bilingual and bibliophile editions have been distributed to the Library of Congress, USA, and to the Libraries of Universities and Cultural Institutes from Europe, America and Japan—for a better knowledge of the Romanian Culture values in the universal circle of culture.

From 2000 to 2012, in Romania and in the USA, Leonard Oprea successfully published his works: novels, essays (the Breathings) and poetry (the first two haiku-novels in the universal culture). His books are praised by critics and are known worldwide.

Between 2003 and 2007, in the American-Romanian social and cultural magazines from New York and Portland, Oregon—New York ‘Magazin’ and Romanian Times, USA, Leonard Oprea published social and philosophical essays, short stories, and his Breathings.

(Leonard Oprea created the Breathing, an original type of essay in Romanian and world literature. The Breathing is a short, simple yet profound meditation on human condition, a meditation ended by a haiku. But—this haiku does not finish the meditation. In fact, it re-opens this reflection to new questions and responses on human destiny/ see Leonard Oprea’s Romanian and English Works.)

Between 2005 and 2007 he published cultural and philosophical essays, and short stories in the Canadian-Romanian cultural magazine Atheneum, from, Vancouver, Canada.

Since 1999 he has been living in the USA, currently in Auburn, Maine.

Links:

Congressional Record: Human Rights in Romania, Vol. 136, Washington, DC, Thursday, July 26, 1990, issue No.98.

http://www.amazon.com

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

http://www.borders.com

http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Oprea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Oprea

http://editura.liternet.ro/carte/216/Leonard-Oprea

http://magultheophil.wordpress.com

http://reteaualiterara.ning.com

http://romaniadindiaspora.ning.com

http://www.google.com

http://www.yahoo.com

ROMANIAN and ENGLISH WORKS

Books Originally In Romanian

Domenii interzise (Forbidden areas), dystopia/ short stories and novellas; Albatros Publishing House, 1984; (from this book, the novella Colonia was awarded with the Great Romanian National Prize of Romanian Fiction and Science-Fiction Convention, Iasi, Romania, 1981).

Radiografia clipei (The X-ray of an instant), fiction/ short stories and novellas banned in Communist Romania in 1987; Editura Dacia, 1990, Romania; the second edition with critical references, Curtea Veche Publishing House, 2003, Romania; electronic book by LiterNet www.liternet.ro/. 2006, Romania.

Cămaşa de forţă (The Straitjacket), fiction/ novel banned in Communist Romania 1988; Editura Nemira, 1992; second edition foreword by Liviu Antonesei and with critical references, Curtea Veche Publishing House, 2004, Romania; foreword by Gelu Vlasin—electronic book by LiterNet www.liternet.ro/. 2005, Romania.

Theophil Magus—Confesiuni 2004-2006 (Theophil Magus—Confessions 2004-2006), American and Romanian essays; with a foreword by Vladimir Tismăneanu; Universal Dalsi Publishing House, 2007. (In this book Leonard Oprea created the Breathing, an original type of essay in Romanian and world literature. The Breathing is a short, simple yet profound meditation on human condition, a meditation ended by a haiku. But—this haiku does not finish the meditation. In fact, it re-opens this reflection to new questions and responses on human destiny. There are 100 Breathings in Leonard Oprea’s work Theophil Magus—Confessions 2004-2006).

The TRILOGY of THEOPHIL MAGUS

Volume 1:

Cele Nouă Invăţături ale lui Theophil Magus despre Magia Transilvană (The Nine Teachings of Theophil Magus on Transylvanian Magic),

Polirom Publishing House—2000, Romania; electronic book by LiterNet www.liternet.ro/, 2003, Romania.

Volume 2:

The Book Of Theophil Magus Or 40 Tales About Man (Cartea lui Theophil Magus sau 40 de Poveşti despre Om), with a foreword by Liviu Antonesei; Polirom Publishing House—2001, Romania. Paperback English version (translated from Romanian by Bogdan Stefanescu); foreword by Vladimir Tismăneanu; published in the United States by Ingram Book Group, 2003; new edition at AuthorHouse, 2004. ISBN 141075278X (Trade Paperback); electronic book by LiterNet www.liternet.ro/, 2004, Romania.

Volume 3:

Meditaţiile lui Theophil Magus sau Simple Cugetări Creştine la Începutul Mileniului III (The Meditations of Theophil Magus or Simple Christian Thoughts at the Beginning of the Third millennium),

Polirom Publishing House—2002, Romania; electronic book by LiterNet www.liternet.ro/, 2004, Romania.

Ghilotina de Scrum (the Guillotine of Ashes) (Conversations with the American philosopher Vladimir Tismaneanu), edited by West Publishing House, 1992; second edition by Polirom Publishing House, 2002, Romania.

• • • • •

Books Originally In English

Theophil Magus in Baton Rouge – a haiku novel

(Xlibris/Random House Ventures, 2007, USA /Library of Congress Control Number: 2007909824/ ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4363-0966-0/Softcover 978-1-4363-0965-3)

In Romania, Leonard Oprea is a distinguished writer. In my opinion, here in the USA, Leonard Oprea could make a genuine contribution to our current writing landscape. His narrative of his immigrant experience is felicitously captured in his novel in haiku.

Andrei Codrescu—American poet, author, NPR commentator

Theophil Magus in Baton Rouge, to the best of my knowledge, the first novel made up of haiku. In many respects it is reminiscent of the most amazing Central European stylistic virtuosi, and I am sure readers will be delighted to enter this universe of shining plasticity.

Vladimir Tismaneanu—American philosopher, author, essayist

Trilogy of Theophil Magus – the Truth

(Xlibris/Random House Ventures, 2008, USA /Library of Congress Control Number: 2008901520/ ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4363-2366-6/Softcover 978-1-4363-2365-9)

In Trilogy of Theophil Magus’ 40 Tales about Man, a great variety of sacred and profane themes, archaic, mythical, contemporary /Moses, Gandhi, Christmas, children, journalism, pilgrimage etc./serves as vivid stimulation for this literary adventure, written with humor, knowledge and wit . . . in an inviting dialogue with the reader.

Norman Manea—American novelist, essayist

The Truth, the second book of Trilogy of Theophil Magus is situated in the strange no man’s land where everyday life becomes truly magical. I consider these writings as splendid expressions of a unique vision of our fragmented but marvelously exciting world. Leonard Oprea’s style combines a discovery of hidden meanings of words with a fabulous sense of secret humor. His works received the highest praises from the most influential critics, who rightly compared his vision to works by Thomas Mann, Borges or Paulo Coelho.

Vladimir Tismăneanu—American philosopher, author, essayist

Leonard Oprea’s 40 Tales of Trilogy of Theophil Magus—The Truth, range from the depiction of the everyday to the mythological and Borgesian to the religious. Honored with numbers of prizes in his native Romania, this writer is a true iconoclast and a true talent.

Adam J. Sorkin – American author, essayist, editor

Theophil Magus living in Boston—Anna-Maria 101 Breathings

(Xlibris/Random House Ventures, 2011, USA /Library of Congress Control Number: 2011910709/ ISBN: Hardcover 1-4628-9476-3 & 978-1-4628-9476-5/Softcover 1-4628-9475-5 & 978-1-4628-9475-8/ebook 1-4628-9477-1 & 978-1-4628-9476-5)

In Theophil Magus living in Boston—Anna-Maria 101 breathings, "Leonard Oprea’s dominant perspective is one of a cold objectivity, too little disposed to easy emotions, other than those hidden, profound feelings and questions. Themes are the life purpose, the ultimate springs of human actions . . . Intelligence, laconic sarcasm, humor, right targeting. How could we not be indebted to the author? He put his talent of storytelling to serve an exhortation which is nothing else than the health response in the presence of the morbid, the simplicity in the face of artificial, the man-loving of light against darkness and evil.

Nicolae Steinhardt – European philosopher, essayist and author

A novelist and essayist of Leonard Oprea’s literary value does not need any introduction. From no one.

Valeriu Gherghel – European philosopher, essayist,

literary critic and author

The Daily Agony of Theophil Magus—Jazz & Blues Haiku Novel for Anna-Maria (Xlibris/Random House Ventures, 2012, USA /Library of Congress Control Number: 2012908901/ ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4771-1431-5 /Softcover 978-1-4771-1430-8/ebook 978-1-4771-1432-2)

From the back-cover: "A genuine jazz & blues haiku-novel worldwide: almost 170 haiku illustrated by almost 170 masterpieces of jazz and blues . . . this is my confession about the America’s promised-land of loneliness where, like in Kafka’s Penal Colony: Guilt is always beyond any doubt.

Theophil Magus – European Novelist, Haijin

A text in haiku, jazz, blues; the real news of the world; each haiku enters the body, enters the heart, rests there and then explodes, explodes in hot emotions, explodes in intelligence, heat and light; our hearts beat faster: we are more awake, more alive; pulled forward into the story, into the stories of our times, our lives, the story of our hearts, beating. Listen, the story will change your heart, and that will change the world. Hello, Hello! Are you breathing?

Gary Lawless – American Poet, Essayist, Editor

Time after Time

(International Anthology of Poetry) edited by The International Library of Poetry & Library of Congress, 2000, USA.

• • • • •

QUOTATIONS:

In Romania, Leonard Oprea is a distinguished writer. In my opinion, here in the USA, Leonard Oprea could make a genuine contribution to our current writing landscape. His narrative of his immigrant experience is felicitously captured in his novel in haiku.

Andrei Codrescu – poet, author, NPR commentator

• • • • •

Theophil Magus in Baton Rouge, to the best of my knowledge, the first novel made up of haiku. In many respects it is reminiscent of the most amazing Central European stylistic virtuosi, and I am sure readers will be delighted to enter this universe of shining plasticity.

Vladimir Tismaneanu – philosopher, author, essayist

• • • • •

First, there’s no such thing as a haiku novel. At least, not until you’ve read this book. Not until Leonard Oprea thought it could exist. How can anyone think of hailing Jesus in a Japanese poem? In the small space of Leonard’s haiku novel, you’ll be taking a giant leap of fancy. His haiku will envelop you in its grace and will open a magic world, making you dream once again like a child.

Bogdan Stefanescu – author, essayist, literary translator

• • • • •

In Trilogy of Theophil Magus’ 40 Tales about Man, a great variety of sacred and profane themes, archaic, mythical, contemporary (Moses, Gandhi, Christmas, children, journalism, pilgrimage etc.) serves as vivid stimulation for this literary adventure, written with humor, knowledge and wit . . . in an inviting dialogue with the reader.

Norman Manea – novelist, essayist

• • • • •

The Truth, the second book of Trilogy of Theophil Magus is situated in the strange no man’s land where everyday life becomes truly magical. I consider these writings as splendid expressions of a unique vision of our fragmented but marvelously exciting world. Leonard Oprea’s style combines a discovery of hidden meanings of words with a fabulous sense of secret humor. His works received the highest praises from the most influential critics, who rightly compared his vision to works by Thomas Mann, Borges or Paulo Coelho.

Vladimir Tismăneanu – philosopher, author, essayist

• • • • •

Leonard Oprea’s 40 Tales of Trilogy of Theophil Magus—The Truth, range from the depiction of the everyday to the mythological and Borgesian to the religious. Honored with numbers of prizes in his native Romania, this writer is a true iconoclast and a true talent.

Adam J.Sorkin – author, essayist, editor

• • • • •

Yes, Leonard Oprea knows how to tell his 40 Tales about Man of Theophil Magus and all the tales of the world because he uses la modification to place his unmistakable fingerprint on each of them. In this, no doubt that Leonard Oprea is a genius thief who strangely wants to enlarge the public domain he furtively relishes, not diminish it. I repeatedly asked myself if one can say about a writer who is still alive, whom I had the privilege of knowing, that he is a very good writer, even a great one. I have always had my doubts about it until now—when I braced up and concluded that you can.

Liviu Antonesei – poet, novelist, essayist

• • • • •

Achievments:

Leonard Oprea’s works are in the bibliography of the Romanian high-schools, colleges and universities.

Also, his works are in the bibliography of some of American Universities like Berkeley University, Louisiana State University and