Threshold of Fire: A Novel of Fifth Century RomeAcademy Chicago Publishers, 1993 - 255 pagina's Initially published in The Netherlands in 1964, Haasse's ( In the Dark Wood Wandering ) pensive novel of the clash between Christian and pagan cultures in A.D. 414 is a far cry from the likes of Lloyd C. Douglas or Lew Wallace. For one thing, it's the pagan Romans following the faith of their forefathers who are persecuted in accordance with the edicts of Theodosius, while Christians exploit their new authority. There are despicable and admirable representatives of both cults; the only two truly honorable characters are an Egyptian Jew and his illegitimate half-slave grandson. After an Alexandrian education, this grandson returns to Rome, from where he had been exiled after one of the political shifts of the late Empire, to become the poet Claudian, an historical figure often considered the last classical Roman writer. His unlawful presence in Rome brings him into conflict with the Christian Prefect Hadrian. Although the real Claudian is sometimes claimed by Christians, Haasse's creation eschews established religion in favor of humanism. It is Claudian's character and his "faith" that forms the core of a book both less dogmatic and wiser than many which concern this period. -- Publisher's Weekly |
Vanuit het boek
Resultaten 1-3 van 52
Pagina 62
... Hadrian and Eliezar ben Ezekiel - not friendship , even less a conventional exchange of courtesy visits ( Hadrian goes to Eliezar , never the other way round ) . His own motivations are not clear to Hadrian . Sometimes he is overcome by ...
... Hadrian and Eliezar ben Ezekiel - not friendship , even less a conventional exchange of courtesy visits ( Hadrian goes to Eliezar , never the other way round ) . His own motivations are not clear to Hadrian . Sometimes he is overcome by ...
Pagina 68
... Hadrian mentions this , Eliezar does not react . His sharp - featured face looks ashen in the reflection of his purple caftan ; his eyes are filled with shadows . Suddenly he begins to talk about Flavius Stilicho , a solitary man in the ...
... Hadrian mentions this , Eliezar does not react . His sharp - featured face looks ashen in the reflection of his purple caftan ; his eyes are filled with shadows . Suddenly he begins to talk about Flavius Stilicho , a solitary man in the ...
Pagina 82
... Hadrian is watching him . One line haunts him : " I shall never hesitate to become the weapon which brings Zeus to ... Hadrian on the results of his intercession and begs to be left in solitude . For some time now he has suffered attacks ...
... Hadrian is watching him . One line haunts him : " I shall never hesitate to become the weapon which brings Zeus to ... Hadrian on the results of his intercession and begs to be left in solitude . For some time now he has suffered attacks ...
Overige edities - Alles bekijken
Threshold of Fire: A Novel of Fifth-Century Rome Hella S. Haasse,Anita Miller,Nini Blinstrub Gedeeltelijke weergave - 2005 |
Threshold of Fire: A Novel of Fifth-Century Rome Hella S. Haasse,Anita Miller,Nini Blinstrub Gedeeltelijke weergave - 2005 |
Veelvoorkomende woorden en zinsdelen
able accused Alexandria Arcadius asked Aulus Fronto Balcho barbarians become believe bishops blood calls himself Niliacus Christian City Claudius Claudianus cock corner court crowd darkness death dream dwarf Egyptian Eliezar Emperor Honorius Emperor Theodosius Empire entry everything eyes face feeling Flavius Stilicho Forum of Trajan friends galleries gesture goddess gods Goths Hadrian hand head hold honor Honorius's interrogation justice hall Klafthi knew later light living longer look Magister Militum magistrate Mallius marble Marcus Anicius Rufus memory Milan mime move Munera never Nile officials Olybrius Olympiodorus once pagan palanquin perhaps person poet praetorian guard Prefect prefecture prisoner Pylades retinue Roman Rome Rufinus sacrifice secret Serena shoulder silent slave someone standing statue stink stood Subura tablinum temple Theodosius things thought tion turn Urbanilla villa voice waiting wall words