Book Description

Customer Reviews (83)

The Egyptian: A Novel
Well written and historically accurate.Many of the main character's decisions were not logical given the events at that time.Interesting and worth reading if you enjoy historical fiction.

Good Read
Good book, funny to think that in the 1940's it was banned for being to graphic . . tame by todays standards!

Get Yours Hands on any of Waltari's Work!
How I wish that all of Waltari's works would be reprinted and easily available! The Egyptian is simply one of the all-time best pieces of historical ficion ever written. If you're a fan of this genre, then grab this author's books. The Etruscan is a bit more mystical, but is an excellent read and Secret of the Kingdom takes a Roman viewpoint of the times leading up to Jesus's death. The Dark Angel is just that - a bit darker than the other novels, but all are chock full of unforgettable characters and settings. I can't recommend this man's works any more highly!

Why cut it?
I loved this book when reading it in my language, but after getting an english copy for a friend I noticed it is about half as long (some 300 pages missing) and heavily edited. Having read the original this seemed to completely ruin the book, leaving out way too many nuances from the story. I haven't found an uncut english version yet.

A wonderful book where you can escape into the past.
I first read this book when I was sixteen and saw it on my Grandmother's book shelf.Having nothing else to read at the time, I decided to give it a go and it instantly became one of my favorite books ever. Over the ensuing years I have read it about five times and recommended it to many friends.My husband is currently halfway through and is enjoying the book a great deal as well.

If you are a fan of historical novels, Egyptian history, or just good books in general, you will love this story.My imagination is richer for having read Mr. Waltari's fascinating tale. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Iron Age Odyssey
Review of "The Etruscan" by Mika Waltari

I loved this story.

This book follows the travels and exploits of Lars Turms as he searches the ancient world.He searches for his origin and for the meaning of his life.The search takes him to: rebellion, to war, to piracy, to asceticism and to the sophistication of his homeland. As the adventure unfolds he looks for understanding in politics, in religion, in nature and in love.

The story introduces the reader to the civilizations of the Mediterranean during the Iron Age.Early in the book Turms is involved in the Ionian Revolts against Darius the King of Persia.The result of this disastrous rebellion is an odyssey of action, excitement, adventure, romance and religion.The ensuing travels contrast the cultures of the time.

It was very realistic.I could just imagine the Iron Age people behaving just as they were portrayed.

The pace of the story never slowed.There was action and suspense from beginning to end.

It was easy to sympathize with the plight of the characters.I could identify with Turms and his entire cohort.

The book gave a sense of the timelessness of the human condition.The questions posed by Turms are very much like questions we all ask today.The book presented timeless answers to questions asked by the main character.Seek and yea shall find.

Open your mind to the possible.Expand your consciousness into the past and find a magical world of the past.Read and enjoy this book.

I recommend this book.

Interesting look at a little known period....
Mika Waltari's "The Etruscan" held my interest from start to finish, but it did not strike me with the same intensity as his better known manuscript "The Egyptian."It has encouraged me to press on with "The Roman."Waltari does a fine job weaving together a handful of key historical and better known people and events that helps put this in perspective.For example, you will cross paths -- though briefly -- with Persian King Xerxes and the Battle of Thermopylae.You will learn about the very early days of Rome as well.

The strength of this book is Waltari's style.Of course I've come to learn that my perception of a book penned in a language other than English depends a lot on the translation.This one did justice to the author.The prose flows smoothly from the pages and tempts the reader to continue even when the story slows.

As other reviewers point out, Waltari's main characters are always influenced by the women in their lives.Each is always under the spell of a strong temptress, and each manages to escape her grasp on the strength of his personal, moral character.

This is a good book and can be enjoyed on many levels from the prose to the characters to the historical insights.Another good effort from the Finn.

ANOTHER ONE I HOPE WE DON'T LOSE.
This is another wonderful historical novel by the master, Mika Waltari.The novel takes place in ancient Rome and Greece.It is simply the story of one man's ups and downs in life.This is a great adventure story just stuffed with wonderful historical facts.I will grant you, as other reviewer's have pointed out, that this story can indeed be a bit gloomy at times and at some points, down right depressing.That is okay, it is about life and who of us don't face those situations?The story moves well in it's brooding way and is an absolute delight to read.I do hope that this is not one of those that will go permanently out of print and be lost on the bottom shelves of old books stores.Some times older is indeed better and this novel, like all of this author's work, falls into that category.I cannot recommend this one highly enough. Actually, from a personal point of view, I feel this was probably the author's best, if not most popular work.

Ancient Greece and Rome
Mika Waltari's The Etruscan is one of the better books about ancient civilization that I have read. Dividing it's time between Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome, the book reveals the story of Lars Turms, who can remember nothing of his life before being 'delivered to the earth from a thunderbolt.' Turms travels from city to city, seeking a place to call home, and all the while turning his back on his destiny.

Bewitched by the Goddess of Eryx, Turms falls in love with the mortal form that the Goddess inhabits, and spirits her away from the city to make her his wife. But, her heart and soul being ruled by position and wealth, Arsinoe betrays him time and again, until Turms finds himself alone and wandering, again seeking his place in the world.

Wars are fought, cities are overtaken, friends come and go, and wealth is gained and lost as Turms moves from city to city. But no matter what misfortunes befall him, Turms simply moves from one circumstance to the next, taking is losses and griefs in stride, praising the Gods when some small token of good fortune comes his way.

It is in the last 100 pages of the book that Turms' destiny is revealed. Though a wonderful conclusion to the story, it seems a bit slighted in terms of development and description, when the rest of the book thrives upon both and delivers them in abundance. The bulk of the book moves along at a meandering pace, such as a person with no particular destination might, but picks up in terms of pacing and content at the end. And while the climax of the book is exciting, it might have benefited from a bit more development.

Some of the characters suffer from this underdevelopment as well, save for Arsinoe, whose treachery and passion kept her an engaging read throughout the book. The rest of the characters, no matter what role they play in the story, all seem secondary, and pale in comparison to the hero and heroine of the tale.

Although Rome has never really been a subject of historical interest for me, as closely tied to the history of Greece as it is, I did find the explanation of ancient time, setting, custom, and tradition an entertaining read.

A Gripping Story With Amazing Depth
Few books have made me think as much as "The Etruscan" by Mika Waltari.Although some of the characters might have been a bit two dimensional, the engrossing story and the vividness of details more than make up for it.In addition, one can feel a strong subtext of spiritual seeking and devotion to a faith akin to Christianiaty, even if it is camouflaged in the beliefs of an era long before Christ.All in all, some of the topics that the book raise such as the power of the gods, free-will versus fate, and self-determination, are bound to keep the reader thinking long after finishing the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

prudish old book showing its age
Up to page 200, there is still some suspense on whether this will be a book about a "Roman of the Romans" or simply yet another Quo Vadis remake. Unfortunately, it is the latter:
The author resources to the trite narrative trick of presenting the early Christians first as eccentric, and ending up being seduced by them.

The narrative is for the most part fluid, but the character development flat and unconvincing.
There seems to be an intention of parading as many historical characters of the period in question as possible through personal acquaintance with the protagonist, but that, instead of adding historical interest, strains the plot verisimilitude.

Living in Rome during Nero's reign
If you enjoy well researched historical novels, I would recommend this one to you.The fly on the wall is fictional character, Minutus, a friend of Nero's.What I enjoyed was getting to meet Nero, Seneca, St. Paul, and St. Peter and what it was like to see the Druids and the early Christians.Before I read this book I only knew 4 things about ancient Rome:that Nero fiddled while Rome burned, that the early Christians were thrown to the lions, that Nero's mother killed her husband so that Nero could become emperor, and that Nero had his male lover's genitals removed and then married him.This book put all those things in context for me.At times the reading was a bit slow and difficult to follow, but on the whole I found it an enjoyable and educational experience.Not as good as I remember "the Egyptian" being, but nevertheless very worthwhile.

Gripping
A gripping story.The narrative is so powerful, I could not sleep for two days after reading the book.The book is cruel without being macabre

Gripping historical drama
Minutus, son of Marcus ("Hero" of the Secret Kingdom) tells us about his life in the Rome of Nero, the Burning of the city and the killing of the Christians. Meanwhile he himself pursues his own business, love-affairs and political intrigues. I've read this book a few times now and it grows with each reading. It is very cleverly constructed, the details of roman life are breathtaking and Minutus himself offers a new side of his character each time you pick up this book. Very worthwhile reading.

THE FANTASTIC ANCIENT ROME
MIKA TAKES US TO A JOURNEY THROUGHT THE ANCIENT ROME IN THE FANTASTICADVENTURES OF MINUTO LAUSO MANILIANO A GREAT ANTI-HERO: GREEDY, STUPI ANDLOVELY. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

ANOTHER SOMEWHAT FORGOTTEN TREASURE
First published in 1951 (I can remember my mother reading it to me) this work is on par with the Egyptian and in fact is probably even more of a page turner.So many of these wonderful old books are all but forgotten, and that is truely a pity as we are missing some great reading.This particular story takes place in the Sixteenth Century.A young Finnish scholar is the reader and hero who spins this wonderful tale.The book more or less opens with the hero and his brother setting off on a pilgrims journey to the Holy Land... It is pure historical adventsure after this.The author has well researched his subject and is a natural story teller.The author has the ability to put you in the middle of the story and keeps you there page after page.I hate to get into the plot deeper as I am not overly fond of spoilers.If you like and injoy well written, well researched historyical fiction, then I feel quite sure you will enjoy this one as I have over the years (several rereads after mom gave the the start).Recommend this one highly.

Fabulous Read
I cannot add anything to the review from the reader in Vancouver who says it all.Both "The Adventurer" and "The Wanderer" are terrific stories from beginning to end.Can never guess where they are heading.And as in "The Adventurer" a lot is learned about the history of the time, in this case, Islam and the Moslem way of life in the early 1500s.Not a bad thing to know in these times.I am very sorry that there is not another one of these books about Michael, as he and his buddy Andy led picturesque and exciting lives, to say the least.It makes for great and fun reading, with a tad of learning thrown in for good measure.You won't go wrong by picking these up, believe me.

Medieval Adventure
Ever since reading The Egyptian, I have been checking out used book stores for anything by Mika Waltari, wish more of his books were still in print. He wrote superb medieval fiction and it was well worth the search to find a copies of both The Adventurer and The Wanderer.The first part, The Adventurer is an
adventure novel set in various parts Europe in the early sixteenth century with rich descriptions of both characters and places, it is the story of one man's life Michael, a bastard born in Abo, Finland sometime in the year 1502 or 1503 he believes.Book Two, The Wanderer continues the adventures of Michael the Finn from Aboand this time the settings are throughout the extensive kingdom of Suleiman the Magnificent, supreme ruler of the Ottoman Turks.

After setting out from Vienna at the end of The Adventurer, Michael and his friend Andy are captured by pirates and compelled to convert to Islam to avoid death, he eventually ends up as the slave of Ibrahim, the Grand Vizier, second most powerful ruler after Suleiman.Michael's skill with languages is his gift and propels him to the front of the action again and again, traveling to Istanbul, Baghdad, Tunis and Budapest and experiencing many battles and sieges.A great deal of the action also takes place in the shadier, behind the scenes world of the harem, where concubines and eunuchs take power by more subtle means.

I highly recommend both or either of these books to anyone who enjoys medieval fiction with detailed and vivid scene descriptions and characters with depth.The Wanderer is particularly unique as instead of the usual Crusades style story of Christians fighting Moslems, these characters embrace the other religion and move through the other world.

Great book-fun adventure read
I Loved this book, I do a lot of reading and I now have found a new author I love! I must read all Mika Waltari books, they are fun reads!

The Wonderer
I have read many of Mika Waltari's books, and I wouldn't be able to decide which is the best. When you are reading any of the books, you feel as if you were part of the story, and even though it is fiction you learn muchabout that historical period. I would make his books a must in high school. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Iron Age Odyssey
Review of "The Etruscan" by Mika Waltari

Iron Age Odyssey

I loved this story.

This book follows the travels and exploits of Lars Turms as he searches the ancient world.He searches for his origin and for the meaning of his life.The search takes him to: rebellion, to war, to piracy, to asceticism and to the sophistication of his homeland. As the adventure unfolds he looks for understanding in politics, in religion, in nature and in love.

The story introduces the reader to the civilizations of the Mediterranean during the Iron Age.Early in the book Turms is involved in the Ionian Revolts against Darius the King of Persia.The result of this disastrous rebellion is an odyssey of action, excitement, adventure, romance and religion.The ensuing travels contrast the cultures of the time.

It was very realistic.I could just imagine the Iron Age people behaving just as they were portrayed.

The pace of the story never slowed.There was action and suspense from beginning to end.

It was easy to sympathize with the plight of the characters.I could identify with Turms and his entire cohort.

The book gave a sense of the timelessness of the human condition.The questions posed by Turms are very much like questions we all ask today.The book presented timeless answers to questions asked by the main character.Seek and yea shall find.

Open your mind to the possible.Expand your consciousness back in time and find a magical world of the past.Read and enjoy this book.

See other books by Mika Waltari:

The Egyptian: A Novel

and

The Roman

I highly recommend this book.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

THIS IS ONE THAT SHOULD BE IN REPRINT.
The Adventurer was first published in or about 1950 in this country.It is the first of a two part historical novel which continues with "The Wanderer."Like other Waltari books, once you start the first page, it is quite difficult to stop and when the novel is finished, your left wanting more.This particular tale takes place in Europe in the early 1500's.Yes, as one reviewer pointed out, there is quite a lot of sex and violance but it is certainly not gratuitous, and certainly adds to the story and more or less "tells it how it was."This is an adventure story but the author, due to some fantastic research, has filled the pages with historical facts.I have yet to find one of Waltari's stories which gave a historical fact that did not check out all the way.It is truely a shame this one has not been reprinted as theyounger generation are missing some great reading.I first read this one in the late 1950s and have given it several reads since that time.I assure you, it is no worse for the wear.Recommend this one highly.

FABULOUS!!!!!
If you enjoy historical fiction, look no further; this is the one for you.Set in Europe between 1508 and 1525, you will find yourself learning a great deal of its history while reading one terrific story.Everything I looked up in the World Book from Waltari's portrayal was true.I am soooo sorry to have finished it.But good news; there is a sequel, "The Wanderer", which I immediately sought in my library, and will eagerly devour until the one I bought to set beside "The Adventurer" comes.To be honest, for about the first one-third of the book, I thought the story only mildly disguised history, but then, wow! did it pick up.As another reviewer has mentioned, you are always in suspense.Why this was never made into a movie I cannot imagine, for there is certainly enough sex and violence and battle scenes for any one to relish in.Plus all the costume drama in the world.I can't wait to start the sequel.Waltari shows a very compassionate nature here, somehow making the priests who ran the Inquisition into understandable figures, no mean feat.And Michael, basically a real blockhead who would have perished long ago without Andy.All in all, I felt I have spent time in the 1500's and come away with a good yarn to boot.

When books were books and readers were glad of it
Europe in the 1500s was a fascinating time of tumultuous, pivotal events.Mika Walteri captures that time in The Adventurer with the color, the flavor and the feel, and through a piece of fiction that takes the reader through lives, travels, experiences so foreign to the 21st Century as to almost be nearer science fiction or fantasy than real life.But real life, it was, and The Adventurer will make it real for you.It's a fast-paced, action packed story that will throw the reader off-balance and keep him there, start to finish.

Great Tale of Adventure at the time of the Reformation
Ever since reading the Egyptian, I have been checking out used book stores for anything by Mika Waltari, wish more of his books were still in print.The Adventurer is a real gem of medieval fiction, well worth the search to find a copy of this great historical novel set in various parts Europe in the early sixteenth century with rich descriptions of both characters and places. A few of the historical events covered are King Christian of Denmark and his attempt to unite all Scandinavia and the north under his rule, the early years of the Reformation with Luther himself making an appearance in the novel, and wars through the German and Italian states involving the Emperor Charles and the Pope.

Most of all it is the story of one man?s life Michael, a bastard born in Abo, Finland sometime in the year 1502 or 1503 he believes.His father is unknown, his mother died, and his remaining family killed during a raid by the Jutes when he is still very young.He is brought up by the town ?witch? and is somewhat isolated in his childhood.Because of his intelligence, he is noticed by a priest and learns to read and write, receiving an education at the Cathedral school, and showing an aptitude for languages.In spite of his intellect though, Michael is emotionally naive and often is a gullible simpleton when it comes to being manipulated.The complications in his life compel him to move from one place to another and the reader is taken with him all the way on his journeys through Sweden, France, Germany, Hungary and Italy.His inner nature changes as well, at the start he has absolute faith in whatever the priests teach him, as he matures he begins to look more within for his answers.

Highly recommend finding a used copy of this book for all lovers of historical fiction set in medieval scenes.

A Graphic 1st hand account of tumultuos 16th century Europe.
This down to earth adventure recounts the experiences of two Fins wandering through Europe in the 16th century just trying to survive while struggling with moral and religious issues. I enjoyed the day to day, down to earth description of the effort to survive an extremely dangerous world from a naive yet logically inquistive point of view. Much attention is paid to history, and there is no shortage of action, as is often found in the novels of the 40's and 50's. Sometimes shocking as it reveals the cheapness of human life during this period, yet easy to identify with the protagonists from a 20th century perspective. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesante
E aqui la historia de Juan, un hombre que desde la mas tierna adolescencia las ansias de conocimiento y sus conflictos religiosos y morales le marcaron la vida.En su busqueda del conocimiento se ve envuelto en los concilios de Basilea y Florencia donde los debates teologicos van de la mano del poder, la gloria y el dinero; en el viaje a Constantinopla donde es enviado para pactar con el emperador de Bizancio la union de las iglesias y su captura y esclavitud a manos de los sultanes otomanos hacen que cierre los ciclos de la adolescencia y juventud de este Juan que aun despues de tanto pelegrinaje no ha encontrado la verdad.
Una novela donde se mezcla la historia, la teologiía y la ficcion ideal para aquellos que les encanta el genero de novela historica. ... Read more

Product Description
I, Michael of Finlandia, started life a nameless orphan brought up by a witch...before I was twenty, I had tasted power and barely escaped the headsman's ax. They called me The Adventurer, and no man better deserved the name. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

True first class historical fiction.
One of my favorite novels by this wonderful author. If you liked the Egyptian you will also like The Roman. In the line of I, Claudius. A great lesson in both history and Fiction.

Wonderful Historical Fiction
I found this book at a Library Sale.I provides an insight into the life and times of Rome at the time of about 50 AD and interweves Christ's story into the life of Rome.The book is written from the voice of a Roman Knight and is his autobiography.Insight is provided on the Roman Senate, Emperors Claudius and Nero.I wish I could obtain the other books in this series.In our fast paced lives, we often neglect religion and faith.This book shows the how important religion and faith are to us without being preachy ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Mika (Toimi) Waltari, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thomson Gale. The length of the entry is 1312 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author