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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
PG-Rated Historical Romance with a Unique Setting,
By No Expert (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Golden Lyre (Paperback)
*** SUMMARY (from the back):Driven by her desire to win the heart of Alexander the Great, lovely, young Thais goes to Athens to find him. But Alexander is so obsessed with the desire to invade Persia and expand his empire that he hardly notices the seductive Thais. Unwilling to give up, Thais joins the army's march eastward in an attempt to be close to the man she loves... the man who can love no woman.... __________ *** REVIEW: Thais (pronounced "ty-EESE") is known to have been a concubine of Alexander the Great, and, in this work of romantic historical fiction, author Noel B. Gerson takes pains to be accurate and tasteful, as well as entertaining. Yes, "The Golden Lyre" is a historical romance, but nothing like a bodice ripper. Having been written in 1965, "The Golden Lyre" predates "[following] the principles into the bedroom." Think Caeser and Cleopatra instead. In the story, Thais is a servant in the house of King Philip's wife. Though she vies for Alexander's attention, it is another boy who takes her unwillingly. With nothing to recommend her old situation, she tails Alexander to Athens, where she uses her wits and wiles to become renowned in her own right. When Alexander himself comes to call on the now popular courtesan, he brings with him his trusted friend and general, Ptolemy... whom Thais recognizes as the boy who assaulted her. So the triangle is staged. Thais wants Alexander, Ptolemy wants Thais, and Ptolemy and Alexander are friends. In order to stay close to her beloved Alexander, Thais must strike a bargain with the man she considers the lowest creature on earth. Thais and Ptolemy follow Alexander throughout his campaign, and equal attention is given to their pursuits, both private and territorial, with no one thing dwelt upon for so long that it becomes dull. Mind you, I'm more of a lover than a fighter, so war scenes described in excruciating detail do not entertain me, but thoughtful expressions of tactical ingenuity as they relate to the story do. A well-written, entertaining book on a relatively unique subject. I've only ever found one other work of historical fiction written about Thais, by Anatole France, but even that was less about Thais and more about a holy man's obsession with her. I was impressed with "The Golden Lyre," not only for its originality but also for its story-telling prowess. __________ *** EXCERPT (chosen by the publisher, appears on page 1): "Don't come near me." Thais retreated across the room. A grim smile on his face, Ptolemy followed her and took her in his arms. She fought him with all of her strength, but he laughed and tightened his grip. Thais managed to reach into the folds of her peplos and extract a thin, double-edged knife. Ptolemy saw the glint of the blade and released Thais immediately. He strapped on his sword and, turning back to her, grinned. "An important element in battle is estimating the strength of your enemy." He moved toward her again, swiftly. Thais slashed at him desperately, but he side-stepped, caught her wrist and wrenched the knife from her and, balancing the blade in the palm of his hand, looked around the room. A Persian tapestry on the far wall caught his attention, and he studied it for a moment: a nude woman was depicted in cloth of silver, standing beneath a pomegranate tree. "A good soldier," he said, "plans his campaigns carefully, and he always prepares for the unexpected." His hand moved quickly, the knife flashed and, cutting through the tapestry, embedded itself in the wall. Thais felt a cold dread when she saw that the blade was protruding through the throat of the nude woman. "You and I will meet again," Ptolemy said, and raising the hand to the visor of his helmet, quietly left the chamber.
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