Customer Reviews

The Wreckage of Agathon

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3 star:		(1)
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This very modern novel of a down and out pre-Socratic philosopher, self-exiled from Athens to Sparta, has stayed vivid in my memory for 35 years and more. It combines razor sharp satire, low comedy, a philosphical playfulness that reminds you of Borges, and an aching, bittersweet recollection of a life firecely lived. I can't think of a more continuously entertaining book. What is amazing is that it also draws the reader into a deep and uncompromising confrontation with the most serious questions of loyalty and love.

John Gardner gives us the view of the power of one man's life on those that he loves and those that he is employed to serve. Once a revered and respected "Seer", Agathon in his later years has been relagated to a decrepid one man sideshow of mystery and absurdity. As he took his fall from grace and stature, his personal life paralleled that fall. Through the choices he made in his life, he was forced to endure the consequences of his actions. For better or worse, he gained his wisdom and accepted dwelling in his fetid existence.

The two strands of the story--the life and times of a "wise man", and the rise and fall of political and social ideologies--demonstrate the degree with which these two human conditions are historically linked. As a result, it is often too late in the game that truths are revealed and roles are understood.

At the end of the book, Agathon achieves a certain level of freedom from who he is, in death, while hopefully revealing truths early enough to the "Peeker", who was his pupil.

"The Wreckage of Agathon" appears to be a metaphor for the life that he left in ruin and for the impact he had on a political system by virtue of the fact that he had existed and lived.

An incredible tale told alternating between Agathon, an old Seer, and Peeker, the apprentice. There are many storylines going on because of the nature of the narration and as the story advances Agathon's past is thrust further and further into the light. Very unique subject matter, setting and style. You should read this book.

This is a truly funny satire of political thought. The main character is a philosopher in Sparta who dispite authoritarian and military rule is allowed to speak out about the system.

I appreciated the detailed and politically critical vision of ancient Sparta. However, Gardner's writing was hampered by numerous instances of 'modern English'. It ruins the aura of the novel to have characters shout out modern swearwords, or use modern turns of phrase and clichés. I was also displeased with the imbalance of chapters, some rather short, others much longer.