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 36
... sloping shore moving under the water. Slivers in the mosaic on the floor before his platform gleam like wet stones. The sun is higher in the sky; there are fewer shadows in the corners of the justice hall. Some sounds 36 THRESHOLD OF FIRE.
... sloping shore moving under the water. Slivers in the mosaic on the floor before his platform gleam like wet stones. The sun is higher in the sky; there are fewer shadows in the corners of the justice hall. Some sounds 36 THRESHOLD OF FIRE.
Pagina 37
... justice hall. Some sounds are still coming from the doorway through which Quintus Fulcinius Trio has just been led away: footsteps ring in the hollow corridor beyond it. The low voices of the praetorian guard summon the next prisoner ...
... justice hall. Some sounds are still coming from the doorway through which Quintus Fulcinius Trio has just been led away: footsteps ring in the hollow corridor beyond it. The low voices of the praetorian guard summon the next prisoner ...
Pagina 46
... justice hall could have missed. Beautiful letters, regular and even on the page – Marcus Anicius Rufus had capable calligraphers among his slaves. Verses teeming with mythological names. . . this choice of reading matter only confirms ...
... justice hall could have missed. Beautiful letters, regular and even on the page – Marcus Anicius Rufus had capable calligraphers among his slaves. Verses teeming with mythological names. . . this choice of reading matter only confirms ...
Pagina 48
... justice hall betrayed by look or gesture that he knew what all Rome knew: that the Prefect of the City, Hadrian, was standing eye-to-eye with a former client and longtime intimate friend who had 48 THRESHOLD OF FIRE.
... justice hall betrayed by look or gesture that he knew what all Rome knew: that the Prefect of the City, Hadrian, was standing eye-to-eye with a former client and longtime intimate friend who had 48 THRESHOLD OF FIRE.
Pagina 50
... justice hall. A voice behind him (one of the police officials) asks whether the instruments should be prepared for the more stringent interrogation. With a hasty wave of his hand, Hadrian delegates the decision. A ghost has been called ...
... justice hall. A voice behind him (one of the police officials) asks whether the instruments should be prepared for the more stringent interrogation. With a hasty wave of his hand, Hadrian delegates the decision. A ghost has been called ...
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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