In THESE LIVES, daily Cold War existence under the despotic dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu is vividly documented. Drawn against a chaotic background of hardships, horrors, and hilarity, story after story depicts every imaginable aspect of that era: from cold, brutal murders and betrayal to the abiding love between a husband and wife. These stories flow from the memories of Romanian expatriate Eliade Moldovan, who grew up in that country in painful, troublesome times. Recounted from both his own experiences and those of family and friends, the tales within all have one thing in common: the indomitable spirit of humankind to do right in the face of great evil and adversity.