Customer Reviews

L'Oeuvre au Noir (French Edition)

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The book is an account of the life of Zenon; who manoeuvres through a world were the threats are many. The mid-16th century in north west Europe plagues by many struggles for life. The religious clashes could as well be viewed as social or economic power struggles. Zenon is a philosopher and a medical scientists. The Flanders he lives in is torn between the Catholic Spanish King and the protestant North; where the Prince of Orange has started a guerrilla against the suppressor.

The book is a good reconstruction of the times. All the historical events of the day have somehow found a way in to the story. Sometimes to the detriment of the flow of the story and the development of the characters. So in order to enjoy the book you will have to have some historic interest. Yourcenar's style is sometimes swollen with long sentences and descriptions that I could not always follow. Yet the book keep your attention to, maybe especially, the unavoidable end. A comparison with the world and time of the book with the Algeria of this day was caused by a misunderstanding of Yourcenar's background. Nevertheless one could see lines of comparison.

The book is an account of the life of Zenon; who manoeuvres through a world were the threats are many. The mid-16th century in north west Europe plagues by many struggles for life. The religious clashes could as well be viewed as social or economic power struggles. Zenon is a philosopher and a medical scientists. The Flanders he lives in is torn between the Catholic Spanish King and the protestant North; where the Prince of Orange has started a guerrilla against the suppressor.

The book is a good reconstruction of the times. All the historical events of the day have somehow found a way in to the story. Sometimes to the detriment of the flow of the story and the development of the characters. So in order to enjoy the book you will have to have some historic interest. Yourcenar's style is sometimes swollen with long sentences and descriptions that I could not always follow. Yet the book keeps your attention to, maybe especially, the unavoidable end. A comparison with the world and time of the book with the Algeria of this day was caused by a misunderstanding of Yourcenar's background. Nevertheless one could see lines of comparison.