Threshold of Fire: A Novel of Fifth-Century RomeChicago Review Press, 1 aug 2005 - 255 pagina's In this vivid, dynamic novel, Hella Haasse has once more brought the past to life. This time she has chosen to illuminate a crucial, yet relatively obscure period of history: it is 414 A.D. and the once-powerful Roman Empire is in its death throes—split between East and West, menaced by barbarian hordes almost literally at its gates. The Emperor Honorius, an incompetent weakling, cowers in the marsh-bound city of Ravenna, where he has moved the government; he rarely "makes entry" into Rome. This is the brilliant canvas against which the characters in this drama interact. There is the Prefect Hadrian, a powerful official and fanatical Christian convert; there is Marcus Anicius, the pagan aristocrat who is clinging to a dying past, and there is the Jew Eliezar be Elijah, hemmed in by his own traditions and burdened by his dark vision of the future. There is the intrigue and uncertainty of life at Honorius's court, and there are the streets and tenements of Rome, pulsating with life and with corruption. |
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Pagina 14
... eyes. Except for a few ambiguous lines, there is no reference to Christianity in Claudian's poetry. And although he wrote on mythological themes, he did not necessarily accept the Roman pantheon. It is a reflection of the Prefect's ...
... eyes. Except for a few ambiguous lines, there is no reference to Christianity in Claudian's poetry. And although he wrote on mythological themes, he did not necessarily accept the Roman pantheon. It is a reflection of the Prefect's ...
Pagina 21
... eyes fixed on the floor at his feet — black and white meandering mosaics — can tell from the change in sounds—until then subdued as usual — that the Prefect has entered. A chair is being moved. In the foreground of the Prefect's field ...
... eyes fixed on the floor at his feet — black and white meandering mosaics — can tell from the change in sounds—until then subdued as usual — that the Prefect has entered. A chair is being moved. In the foreground of the Prefect's field ...
Pagina 22
... eyes come to rest on the last man in the row, whose face is averted: a beard, a frayed toga – a strange bird among ... eye – something that goes much deeper. His satisfaction at the arrest – finally! — of what he considers to be a ...
... eyes come to rest on the last man in the row, whose face is averted: a beard, a frayed toga – a strange bird among ... eye – something that goes much deeper. His satisfaction at the arrest – finally! — of what he considers to be a ...
Pagina 33
... eyes and ears to the new; you have always been arrogantly opposed to the spirit of our times. You are literally outside our time, Marcus Anicius Rufus — that's proven by your desire to use incantation and bloody sacrifice to control the ...
... eyes and ears to the new; you have always been arrogantly opposed to the spirit of our times. You are literally outside our time, Marcus Anicius Rufus — that's proven by your desire to use incantation and bloody sacrifice to control the ...
Pagina 38
... eye can reach, the equally impenetrable sea. “Hadrian!” It did not seem to be a summons, nor a greeting. The sound grew fainter, more protracted and melancholy, and there on the ... eyes just as dark and opaque as the 38 THRESHOLD OF FIRE.
... eye can reach, the equally impenetrable sea. “Hadrian!” It did not seem to be a summons, nor a greeting. The sound grew fainter, more protracted and melancholy, and there on the ... eyes just as dark and opaque as the 38 THRESHOLD OF FIRE.
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Threshold of Fire: A Novel of Fifth-Century Rome Hella S. Haasse,Anita Miller,Nini Blinstrub Gedeeltelijke weergave - 2005 |
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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 Muneral never Nile officials Olybrius Olympiodorus once pagan palanquin perhaps person poet praetorian guard Prefect prefecture prisoner Pylades realize recognized 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