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archaeolologist's review
challenging
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dani7silver's review
4.0
"'What do you want? A tomb's a tomb, even if it's got Alexander the Great inside. He's fine for these wise men, but not for me and you.'
'Yes he is!' Aristodemus said stubbornly. 'We'll become wise men, too.'
'Wise? No, we shouldn't do that. You can gain wisdom from life, but that's no life. We should become wise? Maybe one day. But not now.'
'Why not?'
'Why not? Don't you get it? Life is running ahead and we have to catch it. What we need right now is strength, not wisdom. Strong arms and sharp claws. We'll keep up with it like a wildcat with a galloping horse. We'll run alongside it, we'll spring to the finish. Got it?'"
This book, while a product of its time, is a great allegory questioning the role of the past and heritage in identity formation. While the role of the archaeologist is one which idealizes and romanticizes the past, it remains interesting how a product of some nationalist archaeologies have historically (and in some places still do) work to corroborate a national identity. The book illustrates some of the limitations of national heritage: promulgation of exclusive and segregating nationalism, idealization and romanticization of "great" individuals whose greatness is attributed to their existence in the unknown and mysterious past (ancestors), the unreliability of oral histories, the celebration of "heroic" moments of the past, and many more. These questions in heritage and identity formation still exist today, which is why something like the Elgin Marbles still makes the news. Who does the past belong to and why do we incorporate it in our identity to the extent we do? Is this necessary? All good questions with many implications. But essentially, one can look to the past perhaps as a continuum into the present, the fact that the past does not exist and we are not separate from natural processes. This is best summed when Dimitrikas (whose character is a metaphor for embracing modernity) proposes to Elpida:
"'I think that the struggle is long and our lives are short. What's one life compared with such a purpose! I will fight, yes. But I'm afraid, Elpida, I'm afraid. If all that I manage is to change the look of our yard, I'll be content. I don't believe I'll do any more. I, too, am a sinner. I, too, have my people in my blood. I'm a dreamer, Elpida.... That, then, is why I want you to be my wife: to give me children, healthy and strong children, children endowed with your deep way of feeling, your practical thinking and tour greatness of soul. I'll gather up the stones one by one. Then they will come along and build our new Parthenon. Yes?'"
In terms of format and content, I feel as though the translation could have been a bit better. I really enjoyed the introduction which placed the novel into its historical context, but I also feel as though this publication may have been rushed to publish for the bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence. One should also look to this novel as a product of its time, and not try to compare it too much to modern discourse on heritage and use of allegory. I think overall, this book provided a wonderful opportunity to read more literature from classic Greek authors.
'Yes he is!' Aristodemus said stubbornly. 'We'll become wise men, too.'
'Wise? No, we shouldn't do that. You can gain wisdom from life, but that's no life. We should become wise? Maybe one day. But not now.'
'Why not?'
'Why not? Don't you get it? Life is running ahead and we have to catch it. What we need right now is strength, not wisdom. Strong arms and sharp claws. We'll keep up with it like a wildcat with a galloping horse. We'll run alongside it, we'll spring to the finish. Got it?'"
This book, while a product of its time, is a great allegory questioning the role of the past and heritage in identity formation. While the role of the archaeologist is one which idealizes and romanticizes the past, it remains interesting how a product of some nationalist archaeologies have historically (and in some places still do) work to corroborate a national identity. The book illustrates some of the limitations of national heritage: promulgation of exclusive and segregating nationalism, idealization and romanticization of "great" individuals whose greatness is attributed to their existence in the unknown and mysterious past (ancestors), the unreliability of oral histories, the celebration of "heroic" moments of the past, and many more. These questions in heritage and identity formation still exist today, which is why something like the Elgin Marbles still makes the news. Who does the past belong to and why do we incorporate it in our identity to the extent we do? Is this necessary? All good questions with many implications. But essentially, one can look to the past perhaps as a continuum into the present, the fact that the past does not exist and we are not separate from natural processes. This is best summed when Dimitrikas (whose character is a metaphor for embracing modernity) proposes to Elpida:
"'I think that the struggle is long and our lives are short. What's one life compared with such a purpose! I will fight, yes. But I'm afraid, Elpida, I'm afraid. If all that I manage is to change the look of our yard, I'll be content. I don't believe I'll do any more. I, too, am a sinner. I, too, have my people in my blood. I'm a dreamer, Elpida.... That, then, is why I want you to be my wife: to give me children, healthy and strong children, children endowed with your deep way of feeling, your practical thinking and tour greatness of soul. I'll gather up the stones one by one. Then they will come along and build our new Parthenon. Yes?'"
In terms of format and content, I feel as though the translation could have been a bit better. I really enjoyed the introduction which placed the novel into its historical context, but I also feel as though this publication may have been rushed to publish for the bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence. One should also look to this novel as a product of its time, and not try to compare it too much to modern discourse on heritage and use of allegory. I think overall, this book provided a wonderful opportunity to read more literature from classic Greek authors.
muuske's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
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