Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
My favourite aspect of this book was the fact that Hadrian is described as feeling so strongly the weight of history on his shoulders, and it's absolutely crazy to think about the fact that when he was alive, humanity (or civilization, I guess) had been around for such a short time compared to now. He's not only preoccupied with his past and the past of his people but the future too and it made for such a strange experience to read about this almost two millennia later. I just got emotional thinking about history and the fact that people have been people for such a long time and have shared our worries about the future as well as the joy and sorrow of being alive in our present.
I loved this moment when Hadrian was musing about his legacy and whether legacy and glory can bring about immortality (particularly as it relates to his relationship with Antinous), and then he mentions the work of a poet to imply that he was impacted by the stories of people living long ago, how literature carries over their lives to us so that we can find comfort in them, even relate to them (!), as the existence of our species spans in time and space that become increasingly more infinite. We can still look back and say, someone like me was here, a long time ago. And now I’m here. And in the future, someone like us will be here...
“Theognis became a friend, the aristocrat, the exile, observing human activities without illusion and without indulgence, ever ready to denounce the faults and errors which we call our woes. This clear-sighted man had known love's poignant delights; his liaison with Cyrnus, in spite of suspicions, jealousies, and mutual grievances, had endured into the old age of the one and the mature years of the other: the immortality which he was wont to promise to that youth of Megara was more than an empty assurance, since their two memories have come down to me through a space of more than six centuries. ”
I loved the parallel this creates between Hadrian and Theognis and the reader and this novel so much. I don't even know if this is coherent at all but basically ->
I loved this moment when Hadrian was musing about his legacy and whether legacy and glory can bring about immortality (particularly as it relates to his relationship with Antinous), and then he mentions the work of a poet to imply that he was impacted by the stories of people living long ago, how literature carries over their lives to us so that we can find comfort in them, even relate to them (!), as the existence of our species spans in time and space that become increasingly more infinite. We can still look back and say, someone like me was here, a long time ago. And now I’m here. And in the future, someone like us will be here...
“Theognis became a friend, the aristocrat, the exile, observing human activities without illusion and without indulgence, ever ready to denounce the faults and errors which we call our woes. This clear-sighted man had known love's poignant delights; his liaison with Cyrnus, in spite of suspicions, jealousies, and mutual grievances, had endured into the old age of the one and the mature years of the other: the immortality which he was wont to promise to that youth of Megara was more than an empty assurance, since their two memories have come down to me through a space of more than six centuries. ”
I loved the parallel this creates between Hadrian and Theognis and the reader and this novel so much. I don't even know if this is coherent at all but basically ->
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a book club pick and I can say that I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own. It's focused on history and philosophy, which are not the strongest of my interests. However, Hadrian, Roman emperor from 117-138, was quite an interesting figure. While this is a fictional tale of Hadrian's life, the author used all the information available at the time regarding Hadrian and his life so it gave a lot of historical, political, and relationship details that are factual. Hadrian was a man who fought for his position among all the other nobles while also working for the people who needed him.
I'll admit that a lot of the political movements and nation's names were hard to follow since Yourcenar's writing style is one that flows from one thought to the other. It's a bit like a stream of consciousness, like that of a philosopher going from one topic to the next, following his thoughts as they come. This style was what made it difficult to follow so at times I got the idea of what Hadrian was going through but less of the details.
The most interesting part for me was Hadrian's personal relationships, from that with his wife Sabina, to that with his lover Antinuous, and his adopted heirs. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse at how he might have felt while those relationships flourished and ended.
If you love philosophy and history you'll probably enjoy this a lot, especially if you have a bit more background on Roman empire history and all its characters. I'm definitely glad I read it since I got to expand my reading horizons and I'm not as intimidated by history or philosophy heavy novels as much after reading this one.
I'll admit that a lot of the political movements and nation's names were hard to follow since Yourcenar's writing style is one that flows from one thought to the other. It's a bit like a stream of consciousness, like that of a philosopher going from one topic to the next, following his thoughts as they come. This style was what made it difficult to follow so at times I got the idea of what Hadrian was going through but less of the details.
The most interesting part for me was Hadrian's personal relationships, from that with his wife Sabina, to that with his lover Antinuous, and his adopted heirs. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse at how he might have felt while those relationships flourished and ended.
If you love philosophy and history you'll probably enjoy this a lot, especially if you have a bit more background on Roman empire history and all its characters. I'm definitely glad I read it since I got to expand my reading horizons and I'm not as intimidated by history or philosophy heavy novels as much after reading this one.
wonderful, if a bit labyrinthine to read (not sure if this headache is from covid or from the writing). achingly melancholic. could be the sickness getting to me on both counts. will try to get copies of her other works.
will add quotes later.
will add quotes later.
J'ai particulièrement apprécié le milieu de l'oeuvre, même si en parler me ferait spoiler, et c'est là que j'ai vraiment trouvé le "génie" de l'auteure. J'ai bien aimé me replonger dans la civilisation romaine, aussi, que j'ai étudiée pendant le collège et le lycée grâce à mes cours de latin.
Pour le reste, c'était quand même une lecture vraiment longue, et parfois assez peu intéressante. J'avais énormément de mal à accrocher, à être retenue, tant par l'histoire que par le personnage. J'ai trouvé Hadrien assez pédant, mais en même temps quel homme ne le serait pas un peu en gouvernant l'Empire Romain à l'époque... Il récupère cependant une certaine fragilité au cours de l'oeuvre et c'est à partir de ce moment-là que je l'ai trouvé intéressant.
Cela dit, l'auteure dit elle-même qu'il y a des livres qu'il ne faut pas écrire avant ses quarante ans parce qu'on n'a pas le recul nécessaire pour le faire (et elle parle bien évidemment des Mémoires, qui ont été un travail de très longue haleine, mené sur plusieurs décennies), et je pense que le parallèle peut être fait pour les lectures : certains livres devraient être lus plus tard dans une vie, et je pense que c'est le cas de celui-là. J'aimerais le relire dans quelques années, pour le regarder d'un autre oeil, car je ne peux décemment pas dire que c'était nul... sans pour autant pouvoir dire que j'en ai adoré la lecture.
Pour le reste, c'était quand même une lecture vraiment longue, et parfois assez peu intéressante. J'avais énormément de mal à accrocher, à être retenue, tant par l'histoire que par le personnage. J'ai trouvé Hadrien assez pédant, mais en même temps quel homme ne le serait pas un peu en gouvernant l'Empire Romain à l'époque... Il récupère cependant une certaine fragilité au cours de l'oeuvre et c'est à partir de ce moment-là que je l'ai trouvé intéressant.
Cela dit, l'auteure dit elle-même qu'il y a des livres qu'il ne faut pas écrire avant ses quarante ans parce qu'on n'a pas le recul nécessaire pour le faire (et elle parle bien évidemment des Mémoires, qui ont été un travail de très longue haleine, mené sur plusieurs décennies), et je pense que le parallèle peut être fait pour les lectures : certains livres devraient être lus plus tard dans une vie, et je pense que c'est le cas de celui-là. J'aimerais le relire dans quelques années, pour le regarder d'un autre oeil, car je ne peux décemment pas dire que c'était nul... sans pour autant pouvoir dire que j'en ai adoré la lecture.
"À peine arrivé à Charax, l'empereur était allé s'asseoir sur la grève, face aux eaux lourdes du Golfe Persique. C'était encore l'époque où il ne doutait pas de la victoire, mais, pour la première fois, l'immensité du monde l'accabla, et le sentiment de l'âge, et celui des limites qui nous enserrent tous. De grosses larmes coulèrent sur les joues ridées de cet homme qu'on croyait incapable de pleurer. Le chef qui avait porté les aigles romaines sur des rivages inexplorés jusque-là comprit qu'il ne s'embarquerait jamais sur cette mer tant rêvée : l'Inde, la Bactriane, tout cet obscur Orient dont il s'était grisé à distance, resterait pour lui des noms et des songes. Dès le lendemain, les mauvaises nouvelles le forcèrent à repartir. Chaque fois qu'à mon tour le destin m'a dit non, je me suis souvenu de ces pleurs versés un soir, sur une rive lointaine, par un vieil homme qui regardait peut-être pour la première fois sa vie face à face."
(Yourcenar, 1974, 101)
Les Mémoires d'Hadrien fait partie des lectures qui, je sens, vont m'accompagner longtemps. Les réflexions sur la mort, mais surtout sur ce que signifie de vivre, sont à la fois profondes et imparfaites, et le style est toujours superbe et parfois sobre. J'ai particulièrement apprécié les Carnets de Notes, dont les fragments creusent des questions enfouies en soi à propos du monde et de sa propre capacité à écrire.
Les Mémoires d'Hadrien fait partie des lectures qui, je sens, vont m'accompagner longtemps. Les réflexions sur la mort, mais surtout sur ce que signifie de vivre, sont à la fois profondes et imparfaites, et le style est toujours superbe et parfois sobre. J'ai particulièrement apprécié les Carnets de Notes, dont les fragments creusent des questions enfouies en soi à propos du monde et de sa propre capacité à écrire.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Written as a letter from the ailing emperor Hadrian to his protege Marcus Aurelius, it is a lyrical exploration of the mind of one of history's great men. Phenomenal language and truly beautifully imagined. A surprisingly great read.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Memorias de Adriano trata la vida, obra y pensamientos de un hombre que gozó de la vida y la contemplación como nadie. En el apogeo del poder romano en el mundo, Adriano pone los motoros expansionistas del Estado en pausa mientras lo recorre de punta a punta.
La cita de Flaubert que da pie a la obra la resume a la perfección. El último hombre libre pasea solo por el mundo, buscando para el mundo la paz, la calma y la belleza que él mismo busca para su vida.
Aún con el ritmo lento de un hombre que contempla su vida entera, me ha parecido un libro magnífico. Cortázar hace una espectacular faena en la traducción de una obra bella y llena de vida.
La cita de Flaubert que da pie a la obra la resume a la perfección. El último hombre libre pasea solo por el mundo, buscando para el mundo la paz, la calma y la belleza que él mismo busca para su vida.
Aún con el ritmo lento de un hombre que contempla su vida entera, me ha parecido un libro magnífico. Cortázar hace una espectacular faena en la traducción de una obra bella y llena de vida.
haddimi aşarak, virginia woolf’un kendine ait bir oda’daki “shakespeare‘in kız kardeşi” alegorisi gibi; marguerite yourcenar’ın kadın yazarların, orhan pamuk’un ise erkek yazarların birer temsilcisi olduğu bir alegori yaratmak isterim. bu iki yazarı temsilci olarak seçmemin sebebi, yakın zamanda ikisinin de tarihi olaylardan beslenen ancak birebir tarih kitabı olmayan birer kitabını okumuş olmam. ikisi de yazdıkları konuyla ilgili inanılmaz araştırma yapmış, titizlikle çalışmış, konularına son derece hakim olarak; içine kendi hayal güçlerini ve kurgularını da kattıkları birer roman yazmışlar. gelelim aradaki farka. pamuk, veba geceleri için yaptığı araştırmaya kendini o kadar kaptırmış ve öğrendiklerinden o kadar etkilenmiş ki; tüm bunları bize de anlatmak isterken ara sıra kurguyu, hatta romanını unutmuş. yourcenar ise, hadrianus’un ağzından anılarını yazma işinin amiyane tabirle şovunu yapmış. daha doğrusu şöyle söyleyeyim, kitabı okurken ara ara kitabı bizzat hadrianus’un yazdığı algısına kapıldım. sanki yourcenar araştırma yapıp onun ağzından anı yazmamış da, anıları bulup derleyip fransızcaya çevirmiş. bütün o araştırmaları sonucunda elde ettiği bilgileri kitabın önüne geçirmemiş, o bilginin esiri olmak yerine bilgiyi kendine esir etmiş. kitap boyunca bize eşlik eden tüm tarihi bilgiler ana karakter gibi değil, ana karakterin hayatında yer alan detaylar gibi arka plana yerleştirilmiş. yourcenar, bir insanın imparator dahi olsa lise tarih kitabındaymışçasına hayatının sadece şu savaşı, bu anlaşması, o işgaliyle akmadığını o kadar iyi anlamış ve okura o kadar başarılı geçirebilmiş ki, hayran kalmamak elde değil. işte yukarıda bahsettiğim alegoriye yer vermemin sebebi de bu. evet, bütün kadın yazarlar ve bütün erkek yazarlar aynı değil elbette; ancak genel anlamda bakınca aralarındaki fark tam da bu. bu detaycılık farkı, bu anlayış farkı, bu empati farkı, öğrendiklerine, araştırmasına kendini kaptırmama farkı... bu yüzden de kendimizi bilinçsizce erkek yazardan erkek yazara sürüklenmek yerine kadın yazar okumaya doğru ittirmemiz gerekiyor. böyle güzellikleri kaçırmamak için.
şunu da not edeyim: bu kadar övdüm ama okuması gerçekten biraz zor, çünkü gerçekten anı yazmış. zordan kastım sıkıcı olması değil asla, ama yazar yaşlı bir imparatorun anılarını yazma dengesini o kadar iyi kurmuş ki, metin asla kurguya kaymamış. dolayısıyla akıcı veya heyecanlı bir metin değil. tabi çok derin bir kavramdan çok basit bir olaya kadar birçok konuyla ilgili öyle güzel yorumları var ki, amaaaan, her okuduğumuz da akıcı olmayıversin diyebilecek sabırda okurlara tavsiye etmiş olayım bunu.
şunu da not edeyim: bu kadar övdüm ama okuması gerçekten biraz zor, çünkü gerçekten anı yazmış. zordan kastım sıkıcı olması değil asla, ama yazar yaşlı bir imparatorun anılarını yazma dengesini o kadar iyi kurmuş ki, metin asla kurguya kaymamış. dolayısıyla akıcı veya heyecanlı bir metin değil. tabi çok derin bir kavramdan çok basit bir olaya kadar birçok konuyla ilgili öyle güzel yorumları var ki, amaaaan, her okuduğumuz da akıcı olmayıversin diyebilecek sabırda okurlara tavsiye etmiş olayım bunu.