Publisher's Synopsis
The Golden Pen; The key to the American dream
In "The Golden Pen," Jan Havel Smith, embarks on a quest to uncover his mother's roots in Central Europe while conducting research on the Austro-Hungarian Empire his ticket for a Nobel or pulitzer prize. His journey leads him to the untrodden parts of European history.
As Jan delves deeper into his research, he inadvertently becomes a suspect in the daring heist orchestrated by Alexine, seeking revenge for her father's murder by Imperium Historia Veritas widely known as IHV. IHV, led by Maximus, believes Jan to be the mastermind behind the heist, and their pursuit threatens Jan's life.
Cornered in Litomerice, near the grave of Blumentritt, Jan finds himself transported back in time through the mystical powers of the Golden Pen. In the past, he witnesses Laong Laan and Blumentritt's life-altering encounters and the correspondence that binds their destinies.
Jan's presence in the past unravels a shocking revelation-he discovers that Blumentritt is not just a historical figure, but his own ancestor. This realization deepens his commitment to preserving the truth.
Returning to the present, Jan faces surveillance by IHV but finds allies in Maria, a human who chose to be manananggal, a monster of Philippine mythology after experiencing the horrors of the "Balangiga Massacre" and Alexine, who joins him in exposing the truth. Despite threats to his family, Jan resolves to publish his book revealing unknown parts of world history.
Throughout the narrative, various first-person perspectives, including Dr. Laong Laan, Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, Blumentritt's wife, Maria, Alexine, Maximus, and Don Tiburcio, provide unique insights into the intricate web of friendship, betrayal, and historical manipulation.
"The Golden Pen" is a thrilling time-travel adventure that challenges the status quo and redefines heroes and monsters in a world where truth is the ultimate treasure, and where the pursuit of Jan's American Dream intertwines with the quest for identity and justice.
The novel's unique features:
- Modern translation of Dr. José Rizal's Travelogue from the Philippines to Spain taken from Diario's y Memorias (1961).
- Never before translated Preface of (1890) Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas annotated reprint by Dr. José Rizal.
- Modern English translation of the fifteen (15) paged Spanish prologue by Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt in Sucesos, his love letter to the Philippines and defense of the Filipinos dream of reforms.
- Professor Blumentritt's 1886 letter to Professor Hugo Schuchardt warning him about Dr. José Rizal translated from German.
- Twenty (20) correspondences between the doctor, the professor, family and friends taken from Epistolario Rizalino collection.
- Dr. José Rizal's translated French letter to Dr. A. B. Meyer from New Berry Edward E. Ayer Collection about the packages of conserved Dapitan species he sent during his exile.
- Bayan Ko original lyrics in Spanish, English and Baybayin
- Baybayin Scripts
