The Abyss by Marguerite Yourcenar


finished 12/24.......... 20th cent. Euro/Amer "classic" ....... rating 8

I'm sure this is a wonderful book for some folks. I know I have the history background for it but it's the philosophical background I'm lacking. I wasn't too fond of the way Yourcenar invented her characters by amalgamating them and using "typical" situations for them. She was obviously more focused on the philosophy and the ideas of a renegade philosopher/alchemist/renaissance man and his adventures in the bloody battles of the Reformation - especially the legal ones. Overall I'm glad I read it because it helps me clarify what I appreciate and in historical fiction. Some she does wonderfully, inventing characters rather than putting words in the mouths and thoughts in the heads of historical ones reflects a respect for the historiocity. Nevertheless, Yourcenar added a branch to the Fugger family tree and that's pretty similar, imo. The story was fiction but the ideas were real, probably important.

Posted: Wed - December 24, 2008 at 02:06 PM        

©