The Persian boy (origineel 1970; editie 1972)

Este é o primeiro de três volumes de uma biografia de Alexandre o Grande, uma das figuras históricas que mais me apaixona . Aluno do filósofo Aristóteles não só foi grande conquistador mas um homem com uma visão para uma humanidade unida nas suas diferenças. Admirador da cultura persa, conseguiu criar um mundo onde se falava grego e que durou mil anos, misturando culturas e povos. Pretendo terminar a trilogia no ano 2020. ( )

I found this book remarkable for the sympathetic portrail of a boy, forced in to a very bad situation, who comes to find meaning in life despite a world in which he is fundamentally devalued. His beauty is both his salvation, and his curse. Yet he comes to terms with his powerlessness as well as his ability to heal others, over the course of time. Renault does a wonderful job of showing the different timelines in her first person narrative, via the perceptions of a young boy, and also his improving grasp of Greek, and of politics, over time.

This is the second of Renault's greek novels I have read (after The Praise Singer), and I find(thus far) no evidence for the accusation I saw somewhere of her misogyny.

I loved the way she points up, much like Gore Vidal does in "Julian," the differences and similarities between Persian and Greek (and how Greek diff. from Macedonian) cultures, and showed the melting pot that was ancient Mespotamia.

In service to community,
ShiraDestinie
William-James-MEOW Date: 19 July, 12014 Holocene Era ( )

I found this book remarkable for the sympathetic portrail of a boy, forced in to a very bad situation, who comes to find meaning in life despite a world in which he is fundamentally devalued. His beauty is both his salvation, and his curse. Yet he comes to terms with his powerlessness as well as his ability to heal others, over the course of time. Renault does a wonderful job of showing the different timelines in her first person narrative, via the perceptions of a young boy, and also his improving grasp of Greek, and of politics, over time.

This is the second of Renault's greek novels I have read (after The Praise Singer), and I find(thus far) no evidence for the accusation I saw somewhere of her misogyny.

I loved the way she points up, much like Gore Vidal does in "Julian," the differences and similarities between Persian and Greek (and how Greek diff. from Macedonian) cultures, and showed the melting pot that was ancient Mespotamia.

In service to community,
ShiraDestinie
William-James-MEOW Date: 19 July, 12014 Holocene Era ( )

"We shall have crossed the world to its furthest end"
By sally tarbox on 9 September 2017
Format: Audible Audio Edition
Narrated by the eponymous Persian youth, Bagoas, this is an account of the exploits of Alexander the Great - from Persia, across Central Asia and into India. Bagoas, son of a nobleman, is captured in his youth, castrated and sold as a eunuch slave. From his wretched first position, 'hired' out to local men by his master, he later enters the court of King Darius... and ultimately that of Alexander.
Bagoas is utterly smitten with his final master; self-effacing but watchful, silently agonizingly jealous of the King's other intimates. He relates the Macedonian's progress across Asia - the glorious life at court, the king's friendly, first-name terms rapport with his men, the boundless ambition and the affection the two share. But set against this are bloody campaigns, court intrigues and feuds, a desperate journey through an Indian desert..

It's quite a long read but totally brings to life an era in history that I knew little about. ( )

Zweiter Teil einer meisterhaften Roman-Trilogie zu Alexander dem Großen.

Sofern es die Liebesbeziehung zwischen dem jungen Eunuchen Bagoas und Alexander dem Großen tatsächlich gab – was wohl kaum abwegig scheint – ist vielleicht nie jemand dem Welteroberer näher gekommen. Aus dieser Sicht erhalten wir einen sehr intimen Blick auf das von Tollkühnheit, Visionen und Größenwahn geprägte Leben dieser besonders charismatischen Figur unserer Geschichte. Wir erahnen sein großes Ziel, die Verschmelzung von Orient und Okzident, und wir fühlen mit ihm, wenn er tiefsten Weltschmerz erleidet, weil ihm gerade das nicht gelingt, obwohl ihm doch die Welt scheinbar zu Füßen liegt. Die Erzählung führt uns einfühlsam und detailverliebt in die Vergangenheit, wobei auch das persönliche Leid und Glück des jungen Protagonisten nicht zu kurz kommen. ( )