Customer Reviews

The Wanderer

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Ever since reading The Egyptian, I have been checking out used book stores for anything by Mika Waltari, wish more of his books were still in print. He wrote superb medieval fiction and it was well worth the search to find a copies of both The Adventurer and The Wanderer. The first part, The Adventurer is an
adventure novel set in various parts Europe in the early sixteenth century with rich descriptions of both characters and places, it is the story of one man's life Michael, a bastard born in Abo, Finland sometime in the year 1502 or 1503 he believes. Book Two, The Wanderer continues the adventures of Michael the Finn from Abo and this time the settings are throughout the extensive kingdom of Suleiman the Magnificent, supreme ruler of the Ottoman Turks.

After setting out from Vienna at the end of The Adventurer, Michael and his friend Andy are captured by pirates and compelled to convert to Islam to avoid death, he eventually ends up as the slave of Ibrahim, the Grand Vizier, second most powerful ruler after Suleiman. Michael's skill with languages is his gift and propels him to the front of the action again and again, traveling to Istanbul, Baghdad, Tunis and Budapest and experiencing many battles and sieges. A great deal of the action also takes place in the shadier, behind the scenes world of the harem, where concubines and eunuchs take power by more subtle means.

I highly recommend both or either of these books to anyone who enjoys medieval fiction with detailed and vivid scene descriptions and characters with depth. The Wanderer is particularly unique as instead of the usual Crusades style story of Christians fighting Moslems, these characters embrace the other religion and move through the other world.

I cannot add anything to the review from the reader in Vancouver who says it all. Both "The Adventurer" and "The Wanderer" are terrific stories from beginning to end. Can never guess where they are heading. And as in "The Adventurer" a lot is learned about the history of the time, in this case, Islam and the Moslem way of life in the early 1500s. Not a bad thing to know in these times. I am very sorry that there is not another one of these books about Michael, as he and his buddy Andy led picturesque and exciting lives, to say the least. It makes for great and fun reading, with a tad of learning thrown in for good measure. You won't go wrong by picking these up, believe me.

First published in 1951 (I can remember my mother reading it to me) this work is on par with the Egyptian and in fact is probably even more of a page turner. So many of these wonderful old books are all but forgotten, and that is truely a pity as we are missing some great reading. This particular story takes place in the Sixteenth Century. A young Finnish scholar is the reader and hero who spins this wonderful tale. The book more or less opens with the hero and his brother setting off on a pilgrims journey to the Holy Land... It is pure historical adventsure after this. The author has well researched his subject and is a natural story teller. The author has the ability to put you in the middle of the story and keeps you there page after page. I hate to get into the plot deeper as I am not overly fond of spoilers. If you like and injoy well written, well researched historyical fiction, then I feel quite sure you will enjoy this one as I have over the years (several rereads after mom gave the the start). Recommend this one highly.

The book was in great condition and the shipping was fast. Very happy. Also the book was fantastic, I read it in a few day's time because Mika Waltari is addicting.

How I love Mika Waltari! He did not write in English but this is an excellent translation. I have read many of his novels and I looked for a copy of this for a while. It is so engaging and like many of Waltari's novels follows an individual on his quest to find his place in this world. To find meaning in the randomness and capricious fate of life. It weaves in a grand historical period with real characters whose actions we can trace in history and imbues them with motives that are at once plausible and yet fantastic. It is thoroughly enjoyable. I found myself searching for the historical record of the Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha and the Sultana Roxelana, even the pirate chief turned grand admiral.

If you liked The Egyptian, The Etruscan or The Roman, then give this a try. You can decide what personal rank you assign to it among Waltari's great novels, but either way it deserves the same praise that The Egyptian has received.

I just finished reading this book. I found this book by Mika waltari because of his first book: "The Egyptian". Both are excellent novels. Now I am reading his third novel: "The Wanderer". I'll keep you posted guys. You will really enjoy Mika's works....

I have read many of Mika Waltari's books, and I wouldn't be able to decide which is the best. When you are reading any of the books, you feel as if you were part of the story, and even though it is fiction you learn much about that historical period. I would make his books a must in high school.

I Loved this book, I do a lot of reading and I now have found a new author I love! I must read all Mika Waltari books, they are fun reads!