Imatge de l'autor

David Blixt

Autor/a de The Master of Verona

18 obres 427 Membres 41 Ressenyes 2 preferits

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Inclou el nom: David Blixt

Crèdit de la imatge: Brian McConkey

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Obres de David Blixt

The Master of Verona (2007) 230 exemplars
Her Majesty's Will (2012) 56 exemplars
Colossus: Stone and Steel (2012) 26 exemplars
Voice Of The Falconer (2013) 25 exemplars
Fortune's Fool (2012) 16 exemplars
Colossus: The Four Emperors (2013) 13 exemplars
A Sea of Sorrow (2017) — Col·laborador — 13 exemplars
The Prince's Doom (2014) 5 exemplars
We All Fall Down (2020) 4 exemplars
Eve of Ides (2013) 3 exemplars
Fighting Words (2015) 3 exemplars
Charity Girl (2020) 3 exemplars

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In 1314, Verona’s master, Cangrande della Scala, extends patronage to Dante Alighieri, who has been banished from Florence, and his two surviving sons, Pietro, seventeen, and Jacopo, fourteen. The poet has recently published Inferno, to great renown and no little fear of heresy or impiety. But della Scala quickly realizes that Dante’s not the only gifted member of the family, nor the most useful.

Rather, he fixes on Pietro, who longs to escape his father’s shadow (while hoping pater will actually notice him one day and approve). And when Pietro falls in with two other youths — one noble, one from a merchant family pretending nobility — military adventure offers. Della Scala, a twenty-three-year-old wunderkind, dreams of uniting Italy under his banner. His approach to war, diplomacy, and familial politics has much to do with an ancient prophecy that says a figure called the Greyhound will realize that far-fetched scheme. He’s magnetic, generous, and apparently scrupulous, a rare combination. Pietro’s enthralled, and his passion takes him places, often alongside his new friends, the first he’s ever had in his life.

Between the derring-do, battle scenes, court intrigue, and the question of occupying many thinkers on the cusp of the Renaissance — do the stars foretell fate, or does free will have influence? —The Master of Verona makes for epic adventure. The thrumming plot, larger-than-life characters and perilous twists and turns evoke an approach like that of Dumas. The pages turn rapidly, numerous though they are. Astrology, poetry, chivalry, prophecy, and love figure here, all entertaining subjects, and I enjoy many of the characters, who take them seriously.

Besides Pietro and della Scala’s sister, Katerina, I particularly like Dante himself, who unfortunately drops out of the narrative. Blixt portrays him as a self-absorbed narcissist conscious of his genius who has little time for his children, except when they disappoint him. The exception? His daughter, Antonia, who, at thirteen, keeps the booksellers in line and acts as self-appointed caretaker of her father’s career. In letters, he calls her Beatrice, which she treasures. Katerina and Antonia are women ahead of their time, seeking power and influence denied them because of their gender.

Otherwise, the novel has wars, a horse race through the streets, trysts, duels, and every action conceivable. Not all are credible, and Pietro’s powers can test belief, especially as he’s received little schooling in the martial arts; but never mind. As an added conceit, Shakespearean characters and situations waft through the narrative, whether the plays belong to Vienna Romeo and Juliet), or not (Othello, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing). Note that Blixt is an actor and director, and you can tell: His approach is theatrical, to say the least.

As a storyteller, he offers brio, panache, and a command of historical detail, sometimes wielded with a trowel, drawing back the authorial focus and distancing the reader. This narrative technique, which can seem static, undermines the drive he achieves with the storyline and makes you work to stay connected. The author also indulges in information dumps, swelling the dialogue with facts and background, at which the reader’s eye grows impatient. Or this reader’s does. If these facts matter to the story, and I’m not sure they always do, better to show them through action, rather than have people explain them to each other.

I doubt fourteenth-century people, or those anytime, would speak the way Blixt has it, unless they’re all pedants. Then again, these folk often think like moderns, however intently they hew to the philosophical framework of their era. Present-day vocabulary dots the dialogue, and when characters discourse on various subjects, they occasionally refer to knowledge that lies in the future. They also speak incorrect French, admittedly a minor quibble, though indicative of carelessness of writer or editor that emerges elsewhere.

But it’s the discursive, lecturing quality that hampers the novel most. The final chapters are particularly striking for that, as the narrative struggles to wrap up convolutions and contradictions through speechmaking. It’s an unsatisfying, melodramatic conclusion.

For a wild, evocative ride, in which action carries the day, The Master of Verona makes for entertaining reading. Less would have achieved more.
… (més)
 
Marcat
Novelhistorian | Hi ha 13 ressenyes més | Jan 25, 2023 |
The author has cleverly made a good and entertaining story out of interesting history. The characters are well drawn. The comprehensive research has informed the setting and props admirably. The writing is good.
 
Marcat
BridgitDavis | Aug 14, 2022 |
En 1314, el poeta Dante, entonces desterrado y de triste fama, y sus dos hijos, Pietro Alaghieri de diecisiete años, y su hermano menor, Jacopo («Poco»), viajan a Verona por invitación de su autoridad principal, el legendario Francesco Cangrande della Scala. Un ataque sorpresa hace intervenir a Pietro casi de inmediato en su primera batalla, y lo convierte en partícipe de las confidencias del carismático Cangrande, a la vez que comienza una estrecha amistad con Mariotto (Mari) Montecchio y Antonio Capuletto. Sin embargo, fuerzas ocultas conspiran contra Cangrande: una serie de atentados para terminar con la vida de un niño que se cree que es el hijo ilegítimo y posible heredero de Cangrande. A todas estas dificultades se suma la creciente rivalidad entre los mejores amigos de Pietro por una mujer que está prometida en matrimonio con uno de ellos, pero que ama al otro, incidente que romperá una amistad, dividirá a una ciudad y, finalmente, conducirá al romance trágico más conocido de la literatura.… (més)
 
Marcat
Natt90 | Hi ha 13 ressenyes més | Jun 23, 2022 |
Did not finish.

This will primarily be a review of the audiobook.

So this book features a lot of characters from the Christian? Bible? Don’t know, don’t care. I’m not into religious dogma. I’m also unfamiliar with much of Roman history or the many names. I have a hard time with names in general. Which led to me struggling to follow along.

I was fucking lost the entire time I was listening to this book. Every few minutes, I felt myself getting confused, bored, and zoning out. Then I’d realize I was lost and had no idea what the hell was going on again. So I’d try to start paying attention again, only for it to happen again.

I want it known, I tried to continue on with this book. I listened to a few hours worth (stopping somewhere in the 9-hour range, listening at 2.0 – 2.55x speed.) I ended up leaving the book out of boredom and with a desire to review something shorter to not fall behind on reviews. Nine days and 9 reviews later, I returned to this book out of obligation to the author…. and I lasted another couple of hours before finally accepting defeat.

The reason I went so in detail about why I couldn’t get into this book is that I don’t think it’s a bad book, it’s just not for me. I also can’t stand reviews that are just “I got this as a review copy. This book good! / this book bad!” That’s just lazy and disrespectful to the person that gave them a review copy. The book is very descriptive. It seems well written, planned, and researched. Not that I’d know otherwise. As I said, I know little of Roman history or Bible characters.

Overall, the narrator does a great job. Somebody should tell him there’s no e in apricot. It’s not an “Ape-ricot”. Other than that annoyance, his voices and acting were excellent. You can tell he takes his job seriously.

NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
… (més)
 
Marcat
Korra_II_Royal | Hi ha 3 ressenyes més | Nov 23, 2021 |

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Estadístiques

Obres
18
Membres
427
Popularitat
#57,179
Valoració
4.0
Ressenyes
41
ISBN
39
Llengües
2
Preferit
2

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