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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
"Unhappily, history as presented in our schools virtually ignores two thirds of the world, confining itself to limited areas around the Mediterranean, to Western Europe and to North America. Of China, India and the Muslim world, almost nothing is said, and yet their contribution to our civilization was enormous!! They are now powers with which we must deal, both today and tomorrow and it would be well for us to understand." Louis L'Amour, The Walking Drum, 1984.
The title of this book refers to the large drum usually carried at the end of a procession (or a caravan) and beaten with a steady rhythm designed to be at walking pace for everyone in the procession. This way the members of the procession all take steps in time to the drum.
It is similar to the drum used on the ancient rowing galleys of the Roman Empire - as seen in the movie - Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston.
I love reading about little known cultures and eras in the history of our planet and the Arab Golden age is one that we are never taught about in our western schools. This book introduced me to the Arab Golden Age, where the Arabs translated many of the ancient classics from Greece and Rome (Greek and Latin) into Persian and Arabic. This Arab Golden age ran from roughly 800 CE to around 1300 CE. Then those Arabic manuscripts were translated into French, Spanish and Italian and helped to kick started the European Renaissance.
This novel is about a young man named Mathurin Kerbouchard, from France, who arrives home from a fishing trip only to discover that his mother is dead and his father (a corsair or pirate) who has been enslaved in the famous Fortess of Alamut in Persia. Kerbouchard knows how to read and write and he speaks several languages. He travels down to Cordoba in Spain, one of the main centres of Arab learning. There he learns more languages, translates several books, and eventually sets out on his quest to find his father. That is the basic storyline of this novel.
This novel was very meticulously researched. The author planned on writing at least one sequel, but he died before that second book could be written.
The title of this book refers to the large drum usually carried at the end of a procession (or a caravan) and beaten with a steady rhythm designed to be at walking pace for everyone in the procession. This way the members of the procession all take steps in time to the drum.
It is similar to the drum used on the ancient rowing galleys of the Roman Empire - as seen in the movie - Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston.
I love reading about little known cultures and eras in the history of our planet and the Arab Golden age is one that we are never taught about in our western schools. This book introduced me to the Arab Golden Age, where the Arabs translated many of the ancient classics from Greece and Rome (Greek and Latin) into Persian and Arabic. This Arab Golden age ran from roughly 800 CE to around 1300 CE. Then those Arabic manuscripts were translated into French, Spanish and Italian and helped to kick started the European Renaissance.
This novel is about a young man named Mathurin Kerbouchard, from France, who arrives home from a fishing trip only to discover that his mother is dead and his father (a corsair or pirate) who has been enslaved in the famous Fortess of Alamut in Persia. Kerbouchard knows how to read and write and he speaks several languages. He travels down to Cordoba in Spain, one of the main centres of Arab learning. There he learns more languages, translates several books, and eventually sets out on his quest to find his father. That is the basic storyline of this novel.
This novel was very meticulously researched. The author planned on writing at least one sequel, but he died before that second book could be written.
I read this book in high school and remember being absolutely captivated by it. I forgot the name of it and have spent many trips down Google Lane trying to figure out what book it was, based on snippets of memory. Then, I go home for Thanksgiving, and there it is on my childhood bookshelf. Tis a Thanksgiving miracle!
So this was a phenomenal book to me in my youth. The world L'Amour describes is so vivid that it made me want to explore the world.
Now I see the characters are very shallow, especially the omnipotent-ish protagonist. The plot is thin as well.
If it were another author, I'd probably drop to 3 stars But I can't bear to lower the rating for this book that impacted me so much.
Now I see the characters are very shallow, especially the omnipotent-ish protagonist. The plot is thin as well.
If it were another author, I'd probably drop to 3 stars But I can't bear to lower the rating for this book that impacted me so much.
I wanted to like this book, but found it impossible to finish. Not only were the plot and situations completely unbelievable, but the writing was entirely too repetitive. The same descriptions over and over again, plus similar cliffhanger endings to every other chapter. Not recommended.
i will say i really liked it in the beginning... by the end, i just liked it. LOTS of history info in it, but even for me it was a bit much at times. the most disappointing thing to me was the end- felt really anti-climatic. but loved l'amour's style of writing
This has entered my top 10 favorite books. Knowing a bit about L'Amour and his work on Western novels, I was awestruck at his knowledge of the history, culture, and even food of 12th century Europe/Mid East. I appreciate a well-researched book!
You are captivated immediately by L'Amour's main character, Kerbouchard--his wit, charm, and ingenuity make him irresistible but not unrelatable. The adventures never cease for Kerbouchard, he sails the seas, rides horseback through forests and deserts, keeps company with jugglers and merchants, fights in battles, and studies among famous scholars. But my favorite of all was his dialog. I began writing down my favorite quotes from him in the book...pretty sure I ended up copying half the book!
I have never read a book from this time period, but L'Amour made such exploration a treat. This is an incredible story applicable for nearly all ages and generations. You will be completely immersed in L'Amour's world as soon as you crack open the book. I can't wait to read this one again!
You are captivated immediately by L'Amour's main character, Kerbouchard--his wit, charm, and ingenuity make him irresistible but not unrelatable. The adventures never cease for Kerbouchard, he sails the seas, rides horseback through forests and deserts, keeps company with jugglers and merchants, fights in battles, and studies among famous scholars. But my favorite of all was his dialog. I began writing down my favorite quotes from him in the book...pretty sure I ended up copying half the book!
I have never read a book from this time period, but L'Amour made such exploration a treat. This is an incredible story applicable for nearly all ages and generations. You will be completely immersed in L'Amour's world as soon as you crack open the book. I can't wait to read this one again!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
The most interesting thing is traveling Europe in the age of Andalusia with Louis L'Amour, watching him discover all these fascinating facts about the "Moslem" Middle Ages. An enjoyable adventure, like reading a slightly more mature Edgar Rice Burroughs.
This book was fun. The love interests were a little silly, but not too big a part of the main plot, and the narrator is arrogant and acts like a 19-year-old philosophy major, although his 'heroic' abilities do a lot to counteract this to make it ok. The ending's a little rushed, too, but it's the journey that's important, right? The main character is enamoured with learning and books and history, and the ending is set up for other stories to follow, which I would read.