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act, Alexandre Dumas

I did not know that Alexander Dumas was interested in antiquity, I discovered through this novel. Acte recounts several episodes from the life of the Emperor Nero, who has fascinated many writers, probably because of its unique character, combining the love of the arts - Nero played various musical instruments, singing and reciting of poetry - a great evil related to dementia. Whether it's how he got rid of all the members of his family who could prevent him from ascending the throne until his own mother Agrippina, the burning of Rome which he s is reveled, and has perhaps even raised, or the cruelty of the circus games under his reign, marked in particular by the sacrifice of the early Christians that it was devoured by wild beasts, Nero appears as a cruel and cynical man, with a refinement that seems unparalleled.

Dumas addresses to begin a seductive aspect of the emperor, who under the false name of Lucius, carries all the events in the games at Corinth. Dumas describes in detail the gladiator fights, chariot race, and the test song. The man appears to be very attractive by its physical appearance as by his many talents, almost supernatural, and meets all the requirements of aesthetics as the bravery required at the time. It also attracted the young Acte, a beautiful young girl Corinthian, he literally remove his father to bring her back to Rome. There, the girl finally realizes who she is dealing with, and discovered with horror the depravity of her lover. This is the time of the murder of Agrippina by her son that she will end ignoble follow Paul, one of the apostles of Christ, who will return to Rome to live in the catacombs housing the early Christians, who had to hide to practice their religion.

We find in this book disturbing parallels with the Quo Vadis? of Sienkiewicz, although I have not identified the sources of Dumas in the Polish author. But without doubt the historical elements, sufficient to create these similarities. The description of the circus games in particular seems to be equally fascinated both authors. Dumas seemed more specific in the geographical descriptions, unless it is my knowledge of ancient Rome that has improved since my reading Quo Vadis? . In any case I could fairly accurately locate on the map of ancient ruins the various actions taking place in Rome. I still have not visited the Domus Aurea, Nero's home, so I put on my list for next trip to Rome, but I have good memories of the catacombs. Dumas says if the circus was already the Coliseum, but remnants of it anyway give a very good idea of the layout of a circus, to the Cross of the Christian martyrs installed at the site of the old lodge Vestal, who had the power to decide the fate of Christians who had survived the first onslaught of the beasts which they were delivered, or the outcome of a battle of gladiators ... Imagine the scene gives even more life to the novel, fascinating and chilling at a time. Dumas seems to have slightly more recoil than Sienkiewicz, and I do not think he wanted to defend a particular point of view, religious or political as was the case of the Polish author. This enables better understanding probably ancient times, with its good and bad sides, without getting carried away by a romantic vision of a "golden age", which obviously was not gold everyone ... Thanks to Rene

Depasse introducing me to this interesting work, which accompanied a part of my stay in Rome during the Christmas holidays. Can be found playing on Literature audio.com. I also want to note that this site gives its written sources for each reading, which you can retrieve a text for your electronic reading lights if you prefer to read for yourself. I also discovered the site of the League of Friends Dumas, great wealth, both on the life of the author and analysis of his works that its electronic library, which allows you to access to almost all of the work of this prolific author.