Folks,
I have just had the good fortune of receiving an advance copy of Antti
Ruokonen’s work entitled “Yesterday and Today’s Knights, Orders of Romania.”
Brilliant work. Ruokonen does more than bring us the rarely told story of the
beautiful and oft neglected gems that make up the heraldic symbols of Romania’s
bravest and most worthy sons and daughters. His huge 512 page labor of love
features magnificent oversized photos of both the obverse and reverse of each
decoration, the various types, (type 1, type 2, etc.) and their respective
dimensions. The author has taken on the difficult task of listing the numbers
of each award presented, although Romanian source material is sometimes lacking
due to incomplete records. Nonetheless, this does not distract from the overall
presentation, which catalogs both award documents and cases, and features a
number of period, never before published portraits showing the awards in wear.
The reader will be amazed at the variety of awards presented, including my
personal favourite, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Ruling House, bearing a
striking resemblance to the Prussian House Hohenzollern and Princely
Hohenzollern orders. It was interesting to read that the makers of Romanian
decorations also included French and German firms, and a delight to discover
the Romanian manufacturers were not to be outdone in terms of craftsmanship.
The historic importance of Ruokonen’s work is illustrated in the multiple
Forewords of the book, written by no less a person than the State Advisor and
Chancellor of the Romanian Orders, Gheorghe Angelescu, followed by the esteemed
Special Counsellor of Royal Decorations and Orders, Adrian Buga. In an unheard
of honor, the author himself was presented with a Knight’s Cross of the
Cultural Merit Order by the President of Romania in appreciation of his work.
How many authors of like books can claim that!?
Antti Ruokonen has done an immense service to the field of collecting and
appreciating medals and decorations by taking on a topic once neglected, but
now able to shine again through the pages of his book. His love of the topic is
clearly evident, and contagious to the reader. Although a Finn, Ruokonen
narrates the book in English, a service rendering it accessible to a very wide
audience.
Antti Ruokonen has opened a long closed door on a very proud heritage, and a
family of decorations that continue to be awarded to this day. I am proud
to place his work on the shelf of my library.
Well done Antti!
Stephen
I have just had the good fortune of receiving an advance copy of Antti
Ruokonen’s work entitled “Yesterday and Today’s Knights, Orders of Romania.”
Brilliant work. Ruokonen does more than bring us the rarely told story of the
beautiful and oft neglected gems that make up the heraldic symbols of Romania’s
bravest and most worthy sons and daughters. His huge 512 page labor of love
features magnificent oversized photos of both the obverse and reverse of each
decoration, the various types, (type 1, type 2, etc.) and their respective
dimensions. The author has taken on the difficult task of listing the numbers
of each award presented, although Romanian source material is sometimes lacking
due to incomplete records. Nonetheless, this does not distract from the overall
presentation, which catalogs both award documents and cases, and features a
number of period, never before published portraits showing the awards in wear.
The reader will be amazed at the variety of awards presented, including my
personal favourite, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Ruling House, bearing a
striking resemblance to the Prussian House Hohenzollern and Princely
Hohenzollern orders. It was interesting to read that the makers of Romanian
decorations also included French and German firms, and a delight to discover
the Romanian manufacturers were not to be outdone in terms of craftsmanship.
The historic importance of Ruokonen’s work is illustrated in the multiple
Forewords of the book, written by no less a person than the State Advisor and
Chancellor of the Romanian Orders, Gheorghe Angelescu, followed by the esteemed
Special Counsellor of Royal Decorations and Orders, Adrian Buga. In an unheard
of honor, the author himself was presented with a Knight’s Cross of the
Cultural Merit Order by the President of Romania in appreciation of his work.
How many authors of like books can claim that!?
Antti Ruokonen has done an immense service to the field of collecting and
appreciating medals and decorations by taking on a topic once neglected, but
now able to shine again through the pages of his book. His love of the topic is
clearly evident, and contagious to the reader. Although a Finn, Ruokonen
narrates the book in English, a service rendering it accessible to a very wide
audience.
Antti Ruokonen has opened a long closed door on a very proud heritage, and a
family of decorations that continue to be awarded to this day. I am proud
to place his work on the shelf of my library.
Well done Antti!
Stephen