Threshold of Fire: A Novel of Fifth Century RomeAllison & Busby, 1997 - 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 40
... Marble steps rise to the quays of Alexandria , they rise out of the sea to the colonnades of the buildings . The desolate region of his dreams - was it an hermeti- cally sealed country of origin , an Egypt become inaccessible ? How can ...
... Marble steps rise to the quays of Alexandria , they rise out of the sea to the colonnades of the buildings . The desolate region of his dreams - was it an hermeti- cally sealed country of origin , an Egypt become inaccessible ? How can ...
Pagina 168
... marble , the City that was her crown , and beyond that white radiance , the Alban mountains far off in a haze of heat . Since those days , I have taken another look at our goddess and benefactress . At times she seems like a dead queen ...
... marble , the City that was her crown , and beyond that white radiance , the Alban mountains far off in a haze of heat . Since those days , I have taken another look at our goddess and benefactress . At times she seems like a dead queen ...
Pagina 227
... marble or granite , a piece of a relief . A thin voice calls out in the dis- tance , or is it only his imagination ? Two stone fingers , larger than life , stab through him before raising themselves aloft as though taking an oath . The ...
... marble or granite , a piece of a relief . A thin voice calls out in the dis- tance , or is it only his imagination ? Two stone fingers , larger than life , stab through him before raising themselves aloft as though taking an oath . The ...
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
accused Alexandria Arcadius asked Aulus Fronto Balcho barbarians become believe bishops blood calls himself Niliacus Christian City Claudius Claudianus cock 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 past perhaps person poet praetorian guard Prefect prefecture prisoner Pylades Roman Rome Rufinus sacrifice secret Serena shoulder silent slave someone standing statue stink stood Subura tablinum temple Theodosius things thought THRESHOLD OF FIRE tion turn Urbanilla villa voice waiting wall words