Customer Reviews

Glory and the Lightning

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Having first read this book over 25 years ago, and many times since then, I'm really happy to find others who who have read and enjoyed it. Edith Hamilton's "Greek Mythology" was interesting thru grade school and junior-high, so when I picked this book up in high-school, I already had a keen interest in ancient Greece.

"Glory and the Lightning" is told in three parts: First, the upbringing of Aspasia; second, the upbringing of Pericles and finally, their life together. Remember, though based on real people, this is fiction. It's not meant to be a definitive biography on any of the characters, including peripheral characters like the famous Socrates (I can't help thinking of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure "So-Crates" - he he). Some of the descriptions of life during that time are stark and disturbing, often revolting, and by extension very convincing. Caldwell does not spare anyone's sensibilities about slavery, misogyny, political and familial rivalry, murder-for-hire, depravity, and any number of other topics.

Regarding the characters, yes, Aspasia is depicted as uncommonly beautiful. So has Helen of Troy been thru history, so what? Nobody blames storytellers in ancient times for their discription of the fabled Helen. There's no point in condemning Caldwell for depicting Aspasia as a paragon of beauty and intelligence. Pericles was looking for the perfect woman, so what? What man doesn't have a vision of the perfect woman in his mind? It's just a plot device to get them together - Caldwell can't know the real circumstances, she just wrote it the way she wanted. But still it's an interesting read about two people in the public eye who find a small measure of happiness despite the vagaries of family, friends, enemies and the population at large. I found the movie "The American President" with Michael Douglas and Annette Benning struck a similar chord. Just an observation, not really a comparison.

I found the story highly engaging and often brilliant. It's too bad it's categorized as a romance; I think it could be enjoyed by anyone, not just romance readers. Highly recommend; and if you get a chance to go to Greece, the Parthenon is still fabulous, even though it's now about 3000 years old and is missing pieces. Reading a fictional account of it's conception and construction makes you appreciate it the more.

I read this book many, many years ago, and have never forgotten it. I kept thinking someone else wrote this book, and had to search long and hard to find the true author. I wish this book could be reprinted. I would love to buy it and have a copy. It was wonderfully written and nice to read. If anyone can get their hands on it, give it chance, you wont be disappointed.

Please publish this book again! There are readers such as myslef who would love to have a copy!

I echo the requests of others here for this book to be re-published. I would love to own a copy of the book that first introduced me to the glory of Athens under Pericles. And Aspasia ranks with Cleopatra, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Elizabeth I as a great woman of history.

I'm in disbelief that certain reviewers were displeased with this book. There is nothing "high school" about it. Caldwell's characters are complicated and intelligent. I've read it several times since I was a teenager and it is always inspiring and intellectually satisfying. Caldwell doesn't shy from the imperfections of the human condition but her characters maintain a strong sense of selfhood and integrity that would be gratifying to see reflected in the real world -- and they sometimes are. This is my favorite book; it's glorious.

I've loved this book for so many years and read it every once and a while for a sort of tune-up. Its so beautifully written. The lead character Aspasia is such a fascinating creature. Its inspiring to see her rise through life, using her talent and ability. The courtesan life is not only interesting to look into, but its also of interest to view the male-female relationships of the time (ancient Greece). If you haven't read this, and you have a penchant for delightful historical novels, this is one of the very best.

This is a beautiful story. The book is like a move back in time. I wish publishers would re-publish some of these old treasures.

I read this book back in the '70s when it was published and absolutely loved it. I loaned it to a friend and of course never saw it again. Taylor Caldwell is still my favorite historical novelist and I urge the publisher to bring this book back into print. I'd love to read it again!

This vibrant story of Ancient Greece revolves around two of the greatest people to come out of that civilization...Pericles and Aspasia. Aspasia is probably the greatest woman of all time having been Pericles' political guru and lover, and Socrates' intellectual sparring partner. With such credentials, it makes me wonder why all attention is bestowed upon that bimbo Cleopatra.

Taylor Caldwell expounds on everything from politics, love, philosophy, and justice in this fantastic saga. She truly is a genius.

It was my first introduction to the great individual that is the woman Aspasia. Read this if you want to immerse yourself into the "Glory and the Lightning" that was Ancient Greece, Pericles and the Periclean Democracy, Aspasia, Socrates, and the justice of the Grand Archon!

A friend who knew that I wanted to write about the same subject told me about this book. With much trepidation, I acquired a copy and forced myself to read it. What a relief! A mediocre book that seems to have been written to meet the author's obligation to her publisher.

Anyone who makes a serious study of Athens in the fifth century BC will realize how little research went into this novel, in spite of Ms. Caldwell's statement in the forward about not including a complete bibliography because "...all students of Greece and Pericles know them too well, and have read them as carefully as I have read them." From the contents, I'd guess that she no more than scratched the surface of this fascinating history.

Since my original review, I've acquired other novels using the same characters and setting. Neither are totally satisfactory.

"The Immortal Marriage" by Gertrude Atherton. This book was published in 1927, so it is understandable--if irritating--that the author underplays the [physical] dimension of the characters to such an extent (in a love story!). However, this is much to be preferred to Ms. Caldwell's [detailed] descriptions of child [physical] slavery and sadomasochism.

"Darling Pericles" by Madeleine Dimont. This book was excerpted in an issue of Cosmopolitan magazine and in fact Ms. Dimont's Aspasia seems to be a modern "Cosmo Girl" transplanted to ancient Athens.