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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ancient Greece and Rome,
By
This review is from: The Etruscan (Hardcover)
Mika Waltari's The Etruscan is one of the better books about ancient civilization that I have read. Dividing it's time between Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome, the book reveals the story of Lars Turms, who can remember nothing of his life before being 'delivered to the earth from a thunderbolt.' Turms travels from city to city, seeking a place to call home, and all the while turning his back on his destiny.Bewitched by the Goddess of Eryx, Turms falls in love with the mortal form that the Goddess inhabits, and spirits her away from the city to make her his wife. But, her heart and soul being ruled by position and wealth, Arsinoe betrays him time and again, until Turms finds himself alone and wandering, again seeking his place in the world. Wars are fought, cities are overtaken, friends come and go, and wealth is gained and lost as Turms moves from city to city. But no matter what misfortunes befall him, Turms simply moves from one circumstance to the next, taking is losses and griefs in stride, praising the Gods when some small token of good fortune comes his way. It is in the last 100 pages of the book that Turms' destiny is revealed. Though a wonderful conclusion to the story, it seems a bit slighted in terms of development and description, when the rest of the book thrives upon both and delivers them in abundance. The bulk of the book moves along at a meandering pace, such as a person with no particular destination might, but picks up in terms of pacing and content at the end. And while the climax of the book is exciting, it might have benefited from a bit more development. Some of the characters suffer from this underdevelopment as well, save for Arsinoe, whose treachery and passion kept her an engaging read throughout the book. The rest of the characters, no matter what role they play in the story, all seem secondary, and pale in comparison to the hero and heroine of the tale. Although Rome has never really been a subject of historical interest for me, as closely tied to the history of Greece as it is, I did find the explanation of ancient time, setting, custom, and tradition an entertaining read.
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Etruscan shows us the Mediterranean in historical perspe,
By A Customer
This review is from: Etruscan (Hardcover)
This historical novel ties together the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean during the push of the Persians into Asia Minor and Egypt. The whole Mediterranean was living in fear that the Persians would conquer and destroy them. The story actually begins in the second chapter. The first chapter can mislead the reader much in the same way that Hawthornes' first chapter of The Scarlet Letter, The Toll House, misleads the reader into thinking that the novel is a textbook and not a novel. I recommend this book for anyone who will be visiting the Mediterrranean. It brings to life many ancient sites from the shores of Cyprus to Delphi, Barcelona, Asia Minor, Marseilles, Egypt, Sicily, etc. PS: I suggest eating Mediterranean Greek/Turkish food while reading this novel: hommus, dolma, olives, baba ganush, etc. They really get you in the spirit of the novel. ( :
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Iron Age Odyssey,
By
This review is from: THE ETRUSCAN (Mass Market Paperback)
Review of "The Etruscan" by Mika Waltari
Iron Age Odyssey I loved this story. This book follows the travels and exploits of Lars Turms as he searches the ancient world. He searches for his origin and for the meaning of his life. The search takes him to: rebellion, to war, to piracy, to asceticism and to the sophistication of his homeland. As the adventure unfolds he looks for understanding in politics, in religion, in nature and in love. The story introduces the reader to the civilizations of the Mediterranean during the Iron Age. Early in the book Turms is involved in the Ionian Revolts against Darius the King of Persia. The result of this disastrous rebellion is an odyssey of action, excitement, adventure, romance and religion. The ensuing travels contrast the cultures of the time. It was very realistic. I could just imagine the Iron Age people behaving just as they were portrayed. The pace of the story never slowed. There was action and suspense from beginning to end. It was easy to sympathize with the plight of the characters. I could identify with Turms and his entire cohort. The book gave a sense of the timelessness of the human condition. The questions posed by Turms are very much like questions we all ask today. The book presented timeless answers to questions asked by the main character. Seek and yea shall find. Open your mind to the possible. Expand your consciousness back in time and find a magical world of the past. Read and enjoy this book. See other books by Mika Waltari: The Egyptian: A Novel and The Roman I highly recommend this book.
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