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 26
... . . As he dressed, he decided that it must have been his secretary's voice that he had heard. “Marcus Anicius Rufus, you are accused of having organized a gathering in your house for the secret practice 26 THRESHOLD OF FIRE.
... . . As he dressed, he decided that it must have been his secretary's voice that he had heard. “Marcus Anicius Rufus, you are accused of having organized a gathering in your house for the secret practice 26 THRESHOLD OF FIRE.
Pagina 27
... secret practice of magic, the intention being the destruction of our august Emperor and the ruination of the Empire. Do you admit these facts?" “I invited a few friends to dinner and to an artistic performance. I don't see anything ...
... secret practice of magic, the intention being the destruction of our august Emperor and the ruination of the Empire. Do you admit these facts?" “I invited a few friends to dinner and to an artistic performance. I don't see anything ...
Pagina 42
... secretly greedy for prophecies and black arts—if not for something still worse. It is curious that you were so close to the villa where, as has been proven, preparations had been made for the sacrifice of cocks. Everything that has come ...
... secretly greedy for prophecies and black arts—if not for something still worse. It is curious that you were so close to the villa where, as has been proven, preparations had been made for the sacrifice of cocks. Everything that has come ...
Pagina 43
... secret fear? That question is closely connected to another which the Prefect must admitto his consciousness: why, when surprise and displeasure were clearly written on the faces of his officials, did he not go on to interrogate the ...
... secret fear? That question is closely connected to another which the Prefect must admitto his consciousness: why, when surprise and displeasure were clearly written on the faces of his officials, did he not go on to interrogate the ...
Pagina 51
... secrets of a dead sinful world arise once more through the breaches they create, to threaten the peace of the soul, achieved at so high a price. Pious hermits in the mountains of Umbria have told Hadrian how, with their own eyes, they ...
... secrets of a dead sinful world arise once more through the breaches they create, to threaten the peace of the soul, achieved at so high a price. Pious hermits in the mountains of Umbria have told Hadrian how, with their own eyes, they ...
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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