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 |
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Pagina 15
... pagan Marcus Anicius , who yearns for a Rome that is lost for- ever , and the tormented Christian Hadrian , who , like Bishop Ambrose , has spent his life in the Roman civil administration , which was known to breed narrow ...
... pagan Marcus Anicius , who yearns for a Rome that is lost for- ever , and the tormented Christian Hadrian , who , like Bishop Ambrose , has spent his life in the Roman civil administration , which was known to breed narrow ...
Pagina 52
... pagan altar . Through persistent pagan practices , Marcus Anicius Rufus and his friends appear to have eclipsed the light of the sun and to have caused one word to buzz in the Prefect's brain like a poisonous insect : the Nile , the ...
... pagan altar . Through persistent pagan practices , Marcus Anicius Rufus and his friends appear to have eclipsed the light of the sun and to have caused one word to buzz in the Prefect's brain like a poisonous insect : the Nile , the ...
Pagina 58
... pagan custom and his familiarity with it , in the same breath . Eliezar found his pedantry almost unbearably irritating . He brings the oil lamp to the recess where his bed stands , but he cannot sleep . The guilt of his son , who ...
... pagan custom and his familiarity with it , in the same breath . Eliezar found his pedantry almost unbearably irritating . He brings the oil lamp to the recess where his bed stands , but he cannot sleep . The guilt of his son , who ...
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