PROVOCATIVE THOUGHTS: 
The late Patric Standford may have written these short pieces deliberately to provoke our feedback. If so, his success is reflected in the rich range of readers' comments appearing at the foot of most of the pages.
Luiza Catrinel Marinescu
Luiza Catrinel Marinescu is the author of nearly 150 articles on Romanian and comparative literature and ten books.
She has written the following: Romanian literature between its canon and its modernity, (2012), The history of Romanian literature from the beginning to the era of the great classics, (2012), Learning the teaching of English: first steps and tests, (2008), Caragealii, a family of writers, (2005), Writing Letters in English. A Practical Course for Intermediate Students, (2005), The Republic of Caragiale, (2005), Mihai Eminescu – Jorge Luis Borges the interferences of postmodern culture, (2004), Umberto Eco in the labyrinth of the postmodern novel, (2003), Synthesis of Romanian literature, (2001), and the English language translation and the foreword by Finn Carling for Diary for the deceased spouse/ Jurnal pentru soţul decedat (2005).
Luiza Catrinel Marinescu
She is also a producer of television programs dedicated to the study of Romanian literature at university level: Why do we love Romanian literature? (2001-2014) She is a lecturer in Romanian Language and Literature at the Institute of Romanian Language in Bucharest, Romania and at the University of St Kliment Ohridsky in Sofia, Bulgaria.
She studied piano and classical music between 1972-1981 at the George Enescu High School of Music in Bucharest, Romania - the place where she was a colleague of Eugen Alcalay.
As a symbol of spring and future in March, Eugen Alcalay offered her a little key (as a mărțișor, a traditional celebration of life and purity in Romania), wishing her to discover, as soon as possible, the key to success.
Eugen Alcalay's present to Luiza Catrinel Marinescu