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The Water Thief (2007)

door Ben Pastor

Andere auteurs: Zie de sectie andere auteurs.

Reeksen: Aelius Spartianus Mysteries (1)

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764349,016 (2.95)7
In 304 c.e. Aelius Spartianus, officer and historian at the court of Diocletian in Dalmatia, is writing the biographies of past Roman rulers, including Hadrian, who has been dead for nearly 175 years. Aelius's particular charge is to investigate the unsolved mystery of the drowning death in the Nile of Hadrian's favorite, young Antinous. Soon his duty turns twofold: the hunt for Antinous's grave, supposed to conceal proof of a conspiracy against Rome, and the murder of a wealthy army supplier and his servant. The mystery thickens as deaths multiply; scholarly work turns into a race against time and into a confrontation with risk, lies, and half-truths at the hands of priests, authorities, and former colleagues. While the trials against Christians (later known as the Great Persecution) inflame Egypt, Aelius gathers clues in odd places until his road leads inescapably to Rome. Joined in his search by a blind retired soldier who is well experienced in counterespionage, Aelius scavenges for evidence in a world capital in decline. From Rome his breathless trail takes him to Hadrian's country estate, which is now acres and acres of monumental ruins in the wilderness. In the haunted stillness of roofless halls and overgrown gardens, Aelius deciphers the great plan of the villa, an astronomical chart confirming how the danger against Rome is clear and imminent. But whois behind it all? How deadly close is danger? In order to save the state and himself, Aelius must solve not only the puzzle of Antinous's drowning, but also the murders that have marred his path. Internationally renowned and critically acclaimed author Ben Pastor brings her thematic skill to bear in this new historical mystery.   International Praise for the Works of Ben Pastor   "History blends with absolute perfection to personal story, and the novel is like an orchestral score, with pages of rare evocative power. It is narrative one reads with admiration and even devotion." - La Stampa Turrolibri on Kaputt Mundi   "The mystery plot develops within a perfectly wrought historical milieu. . . . A novel of great emotional impact." - Il Giorno on The Horseman's Song   "Along with Margaret Doody and Elizabeth George, Ben Pastor is considered one of the strongest female voices of today's mystery writing. Her investigative tales show a breathless rhythm, a perfect blend of action thriller and authorial narrative." - La Repubblica on The Dead in the Square   "Pastor's plot is well crafted, her prose sharp." - Publishers Weekly on Lumen… (meer)
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Toon 4 van 4
En el año 304 a.C., el soldado e historiador Elio Espartiano recibe el encargo de escribir la biografía del emperador Adriano, fallecido casi 175 años antes.
  Natt90 | Dec 20, 2022 |
"I, Aelius Spartianus, grew up in foreign barracks and am nobody. I will build no palace, but am privileged to write the history of the men who did, and whose work this magnificent City is". So writes Aelius Spartianus, high-ranking Roman army officer, scholar and historian in his Traveller's Notes, upon entering Rome, in 304AD, reign of Diocletian. I really enjoyed this book with its unusual setting, unusual protagonist, and very good mystery! As Aelius himself muses at one point: he doesn't fit the mold of others' idea of a soldier. I recommend this novel very highly!

At the behest of Diocletian, Aelius is investigating the life of Hadrian and the drowning death of Hadrian's boy-favorite, Antinous. Was the death murder, suicide, or accident? This mystery includes the author's speculation on this and on the location of Antinous' grave. First, Aelius travels to Egypt to investigate: Antinous had drowned in the Nile. After an army supplier-friend of Aelius finds a letter purportedly written by Hadrian, he and his freedman, with links to Aelius, die in suspicious circumstances. Aelius next travels to Rome, where an expert in all things Egyptian, is to help him. That man, Soter, is murdered. Concurrent arson is intended to cover up Soter's murder. A former member of Intelligence, a blind veteran recommended to Aelius by a fellow Roman officer in Egypt, renders help to Aelius in his investigation. Aelius knows someone is after him, but who? Aelius survives several attacks on his person. More bodies pile up, all tied to Aelius...

Written beautifully and flowingly, there were many twists and turns in this well plotted novel. The author took one name in Cassius Dio, the classical historian, and created a believable character! I liked that Aelius used his brain in solving the mysteries, not only physical force against enemies. The author gave a real sense of Egypt and of Rome, in her vivid descriptions. I couldn't connect with Aelius at first; he seemed too wooden, too much of an automaton. After an event in Egypt triggered the remembrance of a boyhood experience and he displayed some feeling, he began to thaw out and become more human. I liked the device of letter-writing between him and the emperor. I also enjoyed 'peeking over his shoulder' at his notes he took at each stage of the investigation. After such a fantastic build-up, the denouement was disappointing and to me illogical, but the author's explanation for Antinous' death and whereabouts of his resting place was completely plausible. I do want to read the others in the series. Only one other:The Fire Waker: An Aelius Spartianus Mystery is in English; the other two are in Italian. As of this date I'm not aware of any English translations. As a college teacher, Ms. Pastor must have researched the background thoroughly. Lack of a bibliography and 'Author's Note' separating fact from fiction were glaring oversights, though. ( )
  janerawoof | Oct 13, 2014 |
En el año 304 a.C., el soldado e historiador Elio Espartanio recibe el encargo de escribir la biografía del emperador Adriano, fallecido casi 175 años antes. Para ello deberá esclarecer los sucesos que rodearon la muerte de Antinoo, favorito del emperador, ahogado en extrañas circunstancias. ( )
  juan1961 | Sep 23, 2014 |
Hum... The book deals with an interesting period with a good description of how it would be like to live in the 4th century. The storyline is not dull as often happens, but I did not find it so engaging, the "mistery" part was slow and looked like going nowhere.

It would be an average read if you like the genre, but I would not suggest people not "into it" to read this first. ( )
  Panairjdde | Jan 26, 2009 |
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» Andere auteurs toevoegen (2 mogelijk)

AuteursnaamRolType auteurWerk?Status
Ben Pastorprimaire auteuralle editiesberekend
Bonini, PaolaVertalerSecundaire auteursommige editiesbevestigd

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In 304 c.e. Aelius Spartianus, officer and historian at the court of Diocletian in Dalmatia, is writing the biographies of past Roman rulers, including Hadrian, who has been dead for nearly 175 years. Aelius's particular charge is to investigate the unsolved mystery of the drowning death in the Nile of Hadrian's favorite, young Antinous. Soon his duty turns twofold: the hunt for Antinous's grave, supposed to conceal proof of a conspiracy against Rome, and the murder of a wealthy army supplier and his servant. The mystery thickens as deaths multiply; scholarly work turns into a race against time and into a confrontation with risk, lies, and half-truths at the hands of priests, authorities, and former colleagues. While the trials against Christians (later known as the Great Persecution) inflame Egypt, Aelius gathers clues in odd places until his road leads inescapably to Rome. Joined in his search by a blind retired soldier who is well experienced in counterespionage, Aelius scavenges for evidence in a world capital in decline. From Rome his breathless trail takes him to Hadrian's country estate, which is now acres and acres of monumental ruins in the wilderness. In the haunted stillness of roofless halls and overgrown gardens, Aelius deciphers the great plan of the villa, an astronomical chart confirming how the danger against Rome is clear and imminent. But whois behind it all? How deadly close is danger? In order to save the state and himself, Aelius must solve not only the puzzle of Antinous's drowning, but also the murders that have marred his path. Internationally renowned and critically acclaimed author Ben Pastor brings her thematic skill to bear in this new historical mystery.   International Praise for the Works of Ben Pastor   "History blends with absolute perfection to personal story, and the novel is like an orchestral score, with pages of rare evocative power. It is narrative one reads with admiration and even devotion." - La Stampa Turrolibri on Kaputt Mundi   "The mystery plot develops within a perfectly wrought historical milieu. . . . A novel of great emotional impact." - Il Giorno on The Horseman's Song   "Along with Margaret Doody and Elizabeth George, Ben Pastor is considered one of the strongest female voices of today's mystery writing. Her investigative tales show a breathless rhythm, a perfect blend of action thriller and authorial narrative." - La Repubblica on The Dead in the Square   "Pastor's plot is well crafted, her prose sharp." - Publishers Weekly on Lumen

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