Average customer rating:
- An Enduring & Engaging Historical Yarn
- Good Follow-up to My Favorite All-time Book
- At least as great as "I, Claudius"
- Absolutely brilliant!
- Not as captivating as I, Claudius, but still good.
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Claudius the God: And His Wife Messalina
Robert Graves
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Graves, Robert
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Graves, Robert
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Similar Items:
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I, Claudius : From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 54 (Vintage International)
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The Twelve Caesars (Penguin Classics)
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Augustus: A Novel
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I, Claudius
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King Jesus: A Novel
ASIN: 0679725733
Release Date: 1989-10-23 |
Amazon.com
Picking up where the extraordinarily interesting I, Claudius ends, Claudius the God tells the tale of Claudius' 13-year reign as Emperor of Rome. Naturally, it ends when Claudius is murdered--believe me, it's not giving anything away to say this; the surprise is when someone doesn't get poisoned. While Claudius spends most of his time before becoming emperor tending to his books and his writings and trying to stay out of the general line of corruption and killings, his life on the throne puts him into the center of the political maelstrom.
Book Description
Robert Graves begins anew the tumultuous life of the Roman who became emporer in spite of himself. Captures the vitality, splendor, and decadence of the Roman world at the point of its decline.
Customer Reviews:
An Enduring & Engaging Historical Yarn.......2007-10-03
Being neither particularly well read nor well versed in history, I came to this work after listening to an audio tape of "I, Claudius." I had never heard of Robert Graves before, but found both books well-written and entertaining. Not wishing to repeat what has already been noted in the longer reviews posted here, I offer a few observations that may be of interest to those considering reading Claudius The God:
First, Graves is an exceptionally good story teller. Speaking through the character of Claudius, Graves weaves an abundance of minor tales, presumably based on historical sources, through the major story line. Some of these minor tales provide added details that support the characters and plot development, and some serve as pure diversions. But nearly all are crisply told, many are humorous or tragic, and many contain surprising historical details. Gratuitous physical descriptions of scenes and characters were refreshingly absent; these are sparkling tales that might be swapped over the water-cooler. Overall the storytelling style is a bit reminiscent of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, although not quite as masterful.
Second, Claudius alludes to events and characters from the birth of Christianity in a way that smells of a pro-Christian bias. There's nothing wrong with having a pro-Christian bias, but Claudius would not have had one, and so the narrator's credibility is undermined slightly. These allusions are sparse and the bias subtle, so the overall impact is not too distracting. Perhaps in the same vein, the description of events, attitudes and mores of the characters will not leave the reader nostalgic for the Roman Empire, nor admiring of the main character. There is certainly no pro-pagan bias operating here. Claudius is presented in a sympathetic way, but in the end does not behave heroically. Such are the demands of history.
Third, the writing style is not as compressed as we are used to with most modern authors, whom adhere more closely to the Elements of Style. Graves' style is a bit antiquated in ways probably not intended to convey a Claudian voice. For example, sentences were sometimes longer than necessary and hard to follow. Given the age of the work and its many strong points, this stylistic weakness can be readily forgiven.
If you like historical fiction, try Robert Graves. If you are like me, you will be both entertained and educated.
Good Follow-up to My Favorite All-time Book.......2007-10-02
This book is the sequel to "I Claudius" which is my all-time favorite book. Though not quite up to that first book in intrigue and overall flow, it is still a great book in its own right.
There is a lot of rich descriptions of battles undertaken by the now Emperor Claudius that stretch for many pages. Also, Claudius has to deal with the betrayal of his friend Herod as well as his scheming wife Messalina (along with her debaucheries) while Claudius' advisor Pallus is also trying to usurp him.
Claudius' grand scheme to eliminate the monarchy and restore the Republic spawns the evil Nero (though he is not quite as evil as Caligula). Should not be missed!
At least as great as "I, Claudius".......2007-09-05
I wouldn't recommend reading this work without its predecessor, which also deserves (and has duly received) many five-star reviews. If you loved "I, Claudius," you should definitely read this second part, which also abounds with larger-than-life characters, endless webs of plotting and scheming, and Robert Graves' narrative brilliance. But I wouldn't think of the two works as forming one big novel in two parts. "Claudius the God" is a very different work, and maybe even a better novel than "I, Claudius." Though longer in length, it covers fewer events: don't expect the same breathless succession of bloody twists and turns.
The BBC series dedicated fewer than a fourth of the episodes to this book, and for good reason: "Claudius the God" is chiefly concerned with the emperor's approach to the challenges of ruling the empire, and Robert Graves takes his time with this task. Slowing down from the intrigue-driven rhythm of "I, Claudius," Robert Graves beautifully conveys the fatality of Claudius' journey, from the excitement of his early idealistic days as a ruler bent on restoring the Republic to the last years of his reign. The book is full of nuanced emotion and even contains some surprisingly lyrical passages, which would have been quite out-of-place in its predecessor. The last few chapters are beautiful and tragic, in a way "I, Claudius" never attempts to be, as the old emperor comes face-to-face with the immutable fate of Rome and the absurdity of his own role as Caesar. Seen as a true tragedy, this novel is a real success.
Other cool elements include a brilliantly paced glance at early Christianity from Claudius' perspective, and the unpredictable and fascinating character of Herod Agrippa. Though much more complex and likeable, he electrifies (and occasionally dominates) the story as powerfully as Livia does in "I, Claudius." Messalina adds further spice, intrigue (more sexual, less bloody, than Livia), and an unexpected touch of pathos to the book. This novel is also much richer than its predecessor in its evocation of political and military maneuvers, since the management of the empire is the central foundation of the plot.
Overall, both books are brilliant. But if "I, Claudius" is lots of fun (more fun, technically speaking, I suppose, than "Claudius the God"), this book raises more questions, develops more themes, and ultimately tells a much richer story: the tragic story of what boundless power does to a man who never wanted it.
Absolutely brilliant!.......2007-07-10
I Claudius and its sequel Claudius the God are I think some of the most brilliant historical novels that I've read: informative, gripping, done with just the right flavour of setting and intentionality thrown in.
I also think they've been a bit underrated - I would say Claudius the God is at least as good as I Claudius. However the two books serve different purposes. Whilst the first describes the machinations and cruelties of the Caesars from the outside, this book does it brilliantly from within. You need to read one to appreciate the other and it is together that they present a cogent worldview. This novel makes us sympathise and empathise with Claudius but it undeniably also makes us see that from a certain perspective there is no essential difference between an "enlightened" autocrat like Claudius and a mad "tyrant" like Caligula.
Graves recreates the setting wonderfully: not only in terms of historical fact but we can see how the society influenced even a "benevolent" one like Claudius to do some hairy things. And it all reads like the most colourful fairy tale despite its historical accuracy, because both in content and presentation this novel is amazing.
Not as captivating as I, Claudius, but still good........2007-06-28
I, Claudius was one of the finest books I've ever read. Unfortunately, some of the magic is lost when Claudius changes from observer to actor.
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Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina
Robert Graves
Manufacturer: Harrison Smith and Robert Haas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Graves, Robert
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ASIN: B000HK42TS |
Average customer rating:
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Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina
Manufacturer: Harrison Smith and Robert Haas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Graves, Robert
| Classics
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ASIN: B000BGMPBU |
Amazon.com
Beautiful young widow Sara Lawrence has vowed to foil her brothers' plans to marry her off again. Her first marriage was a disaster and she's determined to pick a biddable husband who will leave her to her own devices. But her exasperating, adoring, and interfering five older brothers are determined to protect her. Sara is just as determined to choose her own husband, but possible candidates are few in Bath--until the scandalous Nicholas Montrose, the Earl of Bridgeton, arrives. Nicholas takes one look at Sara and wants her in his bed, but she clearly desires marriage, and wedded bliss is not in Nicholas's plans. Furthermore, Nicholas has set his sights on establishing respectability, while Sara doesn't care a fig if she scandalizes society. Despite their differences, he can't resist the lovely Sara and agrees to aid her in her search for a pliable husband. Sara's brothers are irate when they realize that Nicholas is squiring Sara about town, and when they catch the two in a compromising position, they demand that they marry. Will Nicholas give up his rakish ways for Sara and, even if he will, is Sara willing to marry a man whom she's sure will be possessive and worse, will surely endanger her vulnerable heart? Author Karen Hawkins has a way with witty repartee and this fast-paced battle of the sexes is Regency romance at it's best. There's nothing quite so much fun as a tale of a strong-willed woman taming a bad-boy hero. Don't miss this one. --Lois Faye Dyer
Book Description
A young widow who's determined to ruin herself to avoid marriage again strikes a bargain with the notorious lord who's only too glad to help her洮til they're caught in a compromising position and forced to wed.
All those readers who have been clamouring for Nick's story since he appeared in The Abduction Of Julia can rejoice!
Customer Reviews:
A nice wrap up to this trilogy, and sister-book to the next set, The St. John's brothers .......2006-01-15
I very much liked this book. It's important to read "The Abduction of Julia" first, though, to get a good introduction into the hero's
shady background. As you'll find in that book, he is a misunderstood kind of guy, so when you read this book, you'll understand what his roots are.
I really liked Sara, the fiesty heroine to the St. John's brothers.
One of my favorite parts of the book is her brother's (Marcus, and
especially Anthony) reluctance towards Nick.
One thing I did think that was odd, though, was how no one in the book ever mentioned seeing a doctor for Nick's migraines! Evidently, he never thought of it, his servants never thought of it, she never thought of it ... I know this was so she'd truly be the heroine of the story, would single-handidly take care of his
headaches herself, but it only stands to reason that a doctor would have been working on this.
Other than this one oddity, I thought it was a great read.
1-10 scale: 9.8 Stars: 4 3/4
Nick is Hottie McHot.......2005-05-10
I fell in love with Nick myself. This is my absolute favorite book of the series
I absolutely loved this book!.......2004-10-08
Wow - I did not expect to like Nick even a little bit - not so much because he was a rake - but he just seemed to be totally lacking in any true feelings for anyone or anything. Along comes Sara - and though he thought he would just seduce her for his mistress - she was not interested in that role -- actually she was not interested in any role. Sara had already had one disasterous marriage to a faithless husband. And did not mourn his death at all.She wanted to be free and on her own. However after each encounter Nick and Sara seemed to have this connection and finally they give into their attraction and of course Sara is compromised. Nick, trying to be more of a gentleman and work his way back into society agrees to marry - actually he is quite willing. But there are the demons that plague Nick - headaches that capture the very sole of his being for days at a time. He is convinced that he will eventually die because of these headaches and is determined to never have children and to keep the lovely Sara at arms length. Well of course she is determined to have her love cure him from himself. These demons were the cause of much of Nicks lifelong behavior. One feels almost heartbroken for him. And this story really does show how the love of the right woman does perhaps give one reason to hope and believe in true love!!
Really 3 & 1/2, but as part of the series, I give it 4.......2004-04-28
While not my favorite of the series, "The Seduction of Sara" is an enjoyable romp. Sara is not my favorite heroine; she's too bent on mischief without concern for the consequences. You'd think her ex-husband's escapades would push her into greater propriety. But Nick is an excellent character; his bouts with excruciating migraines are an interesting twist. Unfortunately, that problem is never really dealt with in any final way; only the accompanying problem of pain killers is addressed--and that without certainty.
However, secondary characters Anthony & Anna and Delphi & Henri help make up for those deficiencies, as do the many incidents of comic relief. There is a poignancy to Nick & Sara's romance that also tugs at the reader's emotions.
Not the best of the series, certainly, but welcome within the context of them all. Because of that, I'd recommend reading it in order.
Great Book.......2004-02-11
I have so far enjoyed each book of Karen Hawkins but so far The Seduction of Sara is my favorite. I was excited once I realized that Nick would be the main character in this book after reading about him in The Abduction of Julia. I can't wait to start reading the next book in the series.
Book Description
What is prim and proper Miss Vivianna Greentree to do when her precious haven for orphans is threatened? She has no choice but to turn to the owner of the property, Sir Oliver Montegomery—yet the heartless scoundrel refuses to be swayed by reason. So Vivianna must resort to other means of persuasion ...
Under the tutelage of Madame Aphrodite, London's most notorious courtesan, Vivianna is determined to learn the sensuous secrets that will render a man weak with desire, to melt Oliver's stony heart with a kiss, a caress and a promise. But as her encounters with Oliver become more intense, Vivianna unexpectedly discovers a fiery passion that leaves her breathless. And soon it becomes unclear exactly who is seducing whom ...
Customer Reviews:
Competent and Able Frothy Read.......2007-04-17
Well plotted, good balance between wit and spice, Sara Bennett does a fine job of keeping the reader interested in "Lessons in Seduction." While the plot follows the normative narrative arc of many texts before it, the author paces the narrative and character development in fine form, to create a frothy reading romp.
Let's eat Dessert !.......2006-03-19
'Lessons in Seduction' by Sara Bennett was a very good historical mystery romance novel. Vivianna Greentree goes to London to save her orphanage from Oliver Montegomery. Vivianna decides to seduce Oliver. There are many twist and turns and over all this was a very good novel. I plan to read more of Sara Bennett novels.
new writer.......2005-10-18
I was a little scared to read this book by someone that I had never heard of. Thank goodness I did. I not only enjoyed this refreshing romance, but she wasn't afraid to get down and dirty. No shy helpless heroine for this author. BRAVO Sara Bennett. I will continue to look for more books with your name on them. You really brightened up my weekend with Lessons in Seduction.
Never made it past the second chapter...........2005-10-13
I gave up on page 30 and just quit reading. The heroine came across as a silly, flighty little girl and I just could not take anything she said or did seriously. I couldn't force myself to keep reading.
Don't waste your money!.......2005-10-09
I bought this book because of the good reviews. I read it last week (i.e. less than 7 days ago) already I couldn't remember anything about the story even to the extend the names of the hero! It is so forgettable that I feel I had wasted 4 hours of my life reading it. Could I demand a refund on my time, please? I gave this book 2 stars only because I am a sucker for the Lylic colour on the cover.
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The Seduction Trap (Harlequin Presents)
Sara Wood
Manufacturer: Harlequin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0373187106 |
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A Forbidden Seduction (Mills & Boon)
Sara Wood
Manufacturer: Ulverscroft Large Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0263145549 |
Average customer rating:
- The Seduction Game by Sara Craven (Large Print Harlequin Hardcover)
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The Seduction Game
Sara Craven , and
Charlotte Lamb
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Lamb, Charlotte | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Romance | Large Print | Formats | Books
ASIN: 0263161358
Release Date: 2099-09-01 |
Customer Reviews:
The Seduction Game by Sara Craven (Large Print Harlequin Hardcover).......2006-06-09
Description from the book back cover:
Seducing Adam ... After a disastrous relationship, career girl Tara Lyndon had almost given up on men. But then she met Adam Barnard ... The devastatingly sexy hunk could have stepped straight out of her fantasies. Unfortunately, it also seemed as if this perfect man had a 'perfect fiancee' waiting in the wings. Tara knew it was wrong to want him - only she couldn't help herself. Wanting another woman's man was bad enough, but did Tara also have the courage to seduce him?
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Seduction of Sara
Joanna Mansell
Manufacturer: Harlequin Mills & Boon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0263122239 |
Book Description
The Novrosk Peninsula, the Soviet naval base, has been abandoned, and the nuclear submarines are rusting and rotting. Cold, isolated, forgotten until the Russian Special Forces arrive - and discover that the Doctor and his companions are here too. But there is something else in Novrosk. Something that predates everything else, even the stone circle on the cliff top. Something that is at last waking, hunting, killing... Can the Doctor and his friends stay alive long enough to learn the truth? With time running out, they must discover who is really responsible for the Deviant Strain...
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining.......2006-08-07
Justin Richards writes pretty entertaining Doctor Who novels. This one, featuring the 9th Doctor, is not as complex in plot as his The Burning, but it has its moments. Campy, featuring glowing, tentacled monsters and the living dead, he and Rose once more work their magic in solving a mystery and saving the world from destruction.
Opening with Captain Jack responding to a distress signal, the three become "morally obliged" to find the source of the problem and help those in trouble. The signal leads them to an isolated village in northern Russia not long after the fall of the Soviet Union. It's a time of paranoia following another time of paranoia, with weapons lying about from the latter. However, the ensuing struggle is not one over opposing ideologies, unless one includes the simple desire to survive.
More like a novella, The Deviant Strain is a quick read, fun and sometimes witty. These small BBC hardbacks are fun to have, although often hard to come by in local bookstores. For those who enjoyed the TV production with the 9th Doctor, they continue the adventures we've grown fond of.
Fantastic!!.......2006-07-05
This, like all the ninth doctor books is a quick read. It moves along at a pretty good pace (sort of like an extended episode), won't bore you with too many details (i.e. the science behind stuff), and let's you get a little more Capt. Jack.
This one takes place in modern times and has the most "X Files" feel to it then the previous ones. I do like that they are mixing up eras in the books, and visiting more different planets then the series.
If you like the series, you'll enjoy the books.
Runaround.......2006-02-03
A fairly standard runaround from Justin Richards. Although aimed at a younger audience than the Eighth Doctor and Past Doctor books, ther eis still a lot of pleasure to be had here.
As good as any other Who novel, if not better.......2005-11-26
I was never a really big fan of Who books, prefering the tv series instead. But my brother has the newer books-and a few old ones-and got me back into the 'verse of Who novels. This book is a great read, passing into post-Cold War Russia. Captain Jack is, as always, a great laugh, not afraid to show off for humans and aliens alike. Rose shows that not all of the Doctor's female Assistants and Companions scream, run or faint at the sight of something with a third eye or slightly too big a head. The perfect model for the modern girl. The Doctor shows yet again his happy, somewhat 'bouncy' way of handling things, that leaves most people who don't know him stumped.
A great read and a must have for all Who Fans.
Deviant Strain is a no pain read........2005-09-29
Justin Richards has written a good solid Who novel that at times contained moments of brilliance, but other times were Same old, same old Who bits of running away from the monster over and over down long corridors. The Doctor is written well, and Rose is really starting to grow on me. Capt. Jack is lots of fun to. Set in a far away part of Russia, this book had a setting different enough from other who novels to make it interesting.
My biggest problem that bothered me through the whole book is that the Doctor has some sort of magical paper that gives him credintials in any situation. Boy, would this have solved a lot of problems over the last 40 years of Who stories. I don't know if this is something from the new TV show, or just an invention of the author, but it really is a cop out to the age old Who problem of showing up and immediately being thrown in jail.
Anyway, a good Who novel that I paid to much for, but I love the new hardback books. Enjoy!
Book Description
An easy-to-read, Bible-based overview of the various doctrines of Scripture. Targeted to the layman who wants to understand what they Bible teaches.
Customer Reviews:
Review, Survey of Bible Doctrines.......2006-03-15
This book covers several Biblical doctrines that most people enjoy discussing. The research with scripture references are well outlined and easy to follow. This book makes for a great Wed.night bible study or small group study.
Survey of Bible Doctrine.......2004-10-06
Charles Ryrie does an excellent job of wading through some difficult subject matter and making it readable. It is by no means as thorough as some Bible surveys; however, for the vast majority of people, it is excellent for explaining what the Bible says about the character of God, the doctrine of sin, angels and demons, election vs. free will, etc. Since Ryrie is a dispensationalist, some of his bias does show through in the area of eschatology. This being said, the book is worth reading.
If you've never read the Bible before OR if you have read the Bible, but don't understand what it really teaches, I recommend this book as a great start. As with all books on the Bible, check out the verses (quoted by the author) in the Bible. You may disagree with some, but your position will be better defined and you'll come out knowing a lot more about the Bible.
There are much better surveys..........2002-12-28
This was required reading for a Bible class I took. It was OK, but Ryrie is a dispensationalist, cessationist, and occasionally anti-nomian. The book is well written and easy to follow, but I still must pick up a pair of those "secret decoding eschatology glasses" so I can understand the premillenial madness suggested by dispensationalists... start with Revelation and go backward? For better doctrine I would recommend Wayne Grudem's "Bible Doctrine" or Bruce Milne's "Know the Truth", or even "Concise Theology" by JI Packer.
Outstanding Bible Survey.......2000-02-23
I was handed this book by my Youth pastor in high school, and it helped me form the foundation of my personal faith. I am currently leading a group of high school guys through the book and they also are loving. Great for new or old christians who want to start their learning in the bible and theology.
Customer Reviews:
Penetrating look at the successor to the Modern World.......2003-10-10
Father Guardini has a matchless ability to "get under the skin" of a culture, to define its essence, to elaborate what makes it tick. He turns his penetrating gaze briefly on Antiquity and the Middle Ages, but spends most time analyzing the Modern Age. For him, the keys aspects of the Modern world were a rich and expressive humanity, exemplified by the genius; a warm relationship with nature in which man is embedded; and a seemingly inexhaustible culture which man created.
He contends that the wellsprings of the Modern World have run dry. A new age is being born, the outlines of which are still very indistinct. The new age will foster a more frugal personality; it will view nature more from a distance and as something which man is called to master; the culture will be defined less by artistic expression than by the use of the enormous power over nature made possible by technology.
For the Christian, this means that a different set of virtues come to the fore. Guardini identifies 3 key ones: earnestness, gravity and asceticism, all springing from a deep humility. They are vital because we must be able to discipline ourselves before we can profitably use the enormous power at our disposal.
The book is vastly more penetrating, more challenging than my little overview can suggest. There is not a wasted word. On the contrary, ideas are almost underdeveloped. The book is meant to be read, and then read again. Each reading brings forth different aspects of this most profound book.
And the Beginning of a New One.......2002-04-10
Written shortly after the end of World War II, The End of the Modern World is a bracing, sometimes bleak jeremiad against the dehumanizing dangers of what we now call postmodernism. Guardini is not a pessimist, but he is vitally concerned about the potential loss of human dignity and individual responsibility in a world culture dominated by technological utilitarianism.
Occasionally Guardini is off target (e.g., about all future wars being world wars), but mostly he is penetrating and prophetic in his analysis of contemporary society. After a brief review of the major epochs in Western history, he focuses on power as the defining problem of our age, and proposes that virtues such as humility, self-control, and faith are more crucial than ever.
After more than 50 years, this thought-provoking book still serves as one of the best introductions to the fundamental ethical and theological issues of our times.
Scorching Criticism.......2001-06-03
Guardini has written, in a small space, what amounts to one of the most incisive, blistering critiques of the modern world that I've ever read. Beautifully abstract yet precise, this masterwork will leave you nearly breathless with its forceful prose and unwavering criticism. After reading this book, one may wonder how one has remained asleep for all this time. Wake up, world, Guardini is calling you! A fierce read that's about the most painfully honest thing a human being can read these days. Save your propaganda, your agenda, and your polemics for another time. Guardini will work on your last nerve until you are driven to action. Again, WAKE UP, WORLD!
A book that will change how you look at the world.......1998-12-07
The End of The Modern World will change the way you look at the world. Since first reading it twenty years ago, the daily events of the world constantly bring me back to Guardini's prophetic words. Beyond changing you view, it may also change your life.
This is a prophetic book for the times in which we live........1998-11-13
The End of the Modern World, by Romano Guardini, is a short masterpiece on the problems of the age in which we now live - and which is now drawing to a close. Modern man is faced for the first time in his history with "mass" man. This "mass" affects everything - human dignity, right relationship with God, individuality, freedom, quality of life. The very nature of man can be called into question, with shattering consequences for our faith and our "home" in the universe. Guardini understood very well the "warehousing" concept of human life, where amongst crowds of men, the human person can lose significance, spiritual autonomy, and his bearings, feeling both crushed by these masses, and at the same time unable to escape them. He also understood the reality and trends toward totalitarianism, having resisted, been silenced by, and gone into hiding to escape the Nazis, himself. In my opinion, Guardini's writings (prophetic as they were) on the times in which we live are his most brilliant. He is a voice of God crying out in a world that is escalating ever more surely to annihilation of all that the human person has always considered fundamental to human life - dignity, right relationship with God, freedom. His other books which touch on this subject, The World and the Person, The Virtues, Power and Responsibility, and Letters from Lake Como, are also indispensable reading for facing and grappling with the problems of The End of the Modern World. I highly recommend Romano Guardini.
Book Description
The debate about evolution and creationism is striking evidence of the tensions between biblical and philosophical-scientific explanations of the origins of the universe. For most of the past twenty centuries, important historical context for the debate has been supplied by the relation (or "counterpoint") between two monumental texts: Plato's Timaeus and the Book of Genesis.
In What Has Athens to Do with Jerusalem?, Jaroslav Pelikan examines the origins of this counterpoint. He reviews the central philosophical issues of origins as posed in classical Rome by Lucretius, and he then proceeds to an examination of Timaeus and Genesis, with Timaeus' Plato representing Athens and Genesis' Moses representing Jerusalem. He then follows the three most important case studies of the counterpoint--in the Jewish philosophical theology of Alexandria, in the Christian thought of Constantinople, and in the intellectual foundations of the Western Middles Ages represented by Catholic Rome, where Timaeus would be the only Platonic dialogue in general circulation.
Whatever Plato may have intended originally in writing Timaeus, it has for most of the intervening period been read in the light of Genesis. Conversely, Genesis has been known, not in the original Hebrew, but in Greek and Latin translations that were seen to bear a distinct resemblance to one another and to the Latin version of Timaeus. Pelikan's study leads to original findings that deal with Christian doctrine in the period of the church fathers, including the Three Cappadocians (Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa) in the East, and in the West, Ambrose, Augustine, and Boethius. All of these vitally important authors addressed the problem of the "counterpoint," and neither they nor these primary texts can become fully intelligible without attention to the central issues being explored here.
What Has Athens to Do with Jerusalem? will be of interest to historians, theologians, and philosophers and to anyone with interest in any of the religious traditions addressed herein.
Jaroslav Pelikan is Sterling Professor Emeritus of History, Yale University and President of The American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
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Measures of Our Faith: A Survey of Major Bible Doctrines
J. Mark Jordan
Manufacturer: Word Aflame Pr
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0932581145 |
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Doctrine Of Creation (Academic Paperback)
Colin E. Gunton
Manufacturer: T. & T. Clark Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
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ASIN: 056708079X |
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- Excellent linking of trad. Bible reading & modern herm'ntcs
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THE BIBLICAL KIERKEGAARD
Timothy Houston Polk
Manufacturer: Mercer University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0865545391 |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent linking of trad. Bible reading & modern herm'ntcs.......1998-04-15
Polk accepts the various insights of modern hermeneutics, especially the idea that at the heart of interpretation is the notion of 'imaginative construal' where we construe a text as a particular speech act. He finds this in Stanley Fish, where the reading community makes the meaning, and sees it exemplified in Kierkegaard, who allowed this process to be governed everywhere by the rule of faith. Polk notes that even Fish saw Augustine's rule of faith as a model for how interpretation works. Following K, Polk then provides readings of James and Job to show how it works. Very helpful for providing examples of what happens when hermeneutical insights are pursued to the actual text of scripture.
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The Household of Caesar and the Body of Christ
James R. Hollingshead
Manufacturer: University Press of America
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0761812148 |
Book Description
The Household of Caesar and the Body of Christ addresses the writings of the Apostle Paul in the political context of the Roman Near East of the first century for the first time. The author begins by addressing Paul's worldview, placing special emphasis on his conception of time and human history. Then he explores Paul's most common images of community beginning with the household, which Paul uses as a metaphor in a way that is at times consistent with and at times critical of Roman social practices. The next discussion involves "the body of Christ" which is not strictly metaphorical, but in some sense literal, goes beyond the social critique of his household imagery and poses a deep threat to the Roman world view, and thus to the Roman order, when understood in combination with Paul's conception of time and history.
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- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: A Novel
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