Written by one of the country’ s most renowned rulers, A Description of Moldavia provides unique insight into the geography, history, economy, ethnography, culture, and traditions of the principality. Born to a noble family, the author, Dimitrie Cantemir, ruled as Prince of Moldavia on two occasions (March-April 1693 and 1710-1711). He was a famed statesman, philosopher, and scholar. Cantemir wrote his Description of Moldavia (Descriptio Moldaviae) in 1716 at the request of the Royal Academy in Berlin, of which he was a member. Cantemir’ s manuscript included a map (reproduced in the present edition), the first real map of the country, containing geographical detail. The book provides a wealth of information about the country’ s natural resources, political organization, customs and traditions, history, religion, and language.

Dr. A.K. Brackob is a noted specialist on Romanian and East European history. Dimitrie or Demetrius Cantemir (26 October 1673 – 21 August 1723), also known by other spellings, was a Moldavian prince, statesman, and man of letters. He twice served as voivode of Moldavia (March– April 1693 and 1710– 1711). Cantemir was also a prolific writer, variously a philosopher, historian, composer, musicologist, linguist, ethnographer, and geographer. Diana Livesay is an investigative journalist from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. When she’ s not exposing corruption in the local government, she works in the publishing world as a translator and marketing specialist, promoting Romanian history, culture, and literature.