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 24
... god Dionysus and his bride Ariadne, said performance being forbidden by decree of our august Emperor Honorius in the twelfth year of his reign. “In the garden I discovered two more members of the artistic troupe: the weightlifter Balcho ...
... god Dionysus and his bride Ariadne, said performance being forbidden by decree of our august Emperor Honorius in the twelfth year of his reign. “In the garden I discovered two more members of the artistic troupe: the weightlifter Balcho ...
Pagina 28
... gods Bacchus and Ariadne? That's enough . . . " “Once more, it should be obvious that I'm relying here on time-honored cultural traditions —” “Those Roman citizens who are aware of their responsibilites know that nowadays they must ...
... gods Bacchus and Ariadne? That's enough . . . " “Once more, it should be obvious that I'm relying here on time-honored cultural traditions —” “Those Roman citizens who are aware of their responsibilites know that nowadays they must ...
Pagina 32
... gods set upon a table and I poured wine to honor them. Now that's called idolatry, it's punishable, I know that. I'm ready to pay any penalty that you decide to impose. I swear on oath that this is all there 32 THRESHOLD OF FIRE.
... gods set upon a table and I poured wine to honor them. Now that's called idolatry, it's punishable, I know that. I'm ready to pay any penalty that you decide to impose. I swear on oath that this is all there 32 THRESHOLD OF FIRE.
Pagina 33
... desire to use incantation and bloody sacrifice to control the future, to meddle in things that belong only to God. I hope fervently that what happened today will bring you insight, help you to regain humility The Prefect 33.
... desire to use incantation and bloody sacrifice to control the future, to meddle in things that belong only to God. I hope fervently that what happened today will bring you insight, help you to regain humility The Prefect 33.
Pagina 53
... youths, surprised in their hiding place, leap away from a fireblackened stone used since time immemorial by the farm workers for secret sacrifices to the ancient fertility gods. One of the youths — still only a 53 Chapter 2.
... youths, surprised in their hiding place, leap away from a fireblackened stone used since time immemorial by the farm workers for secret sacrifices to the ancient fertility gods. One of the youths — still only a 53 Chapter 2.
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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