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螚 蟺蟻慰尉蔚谓萎蟿蟻伪
螣 螛蠈蟻谓蟿慰谓 螣蠀维喂位谓蟿蔚蟻, 伪渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓蠈蟼 胃蔚伪蟿蟻喂魏蠈蟼 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 魏伪喂 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂慰纬蟻维蠁慰蟼, 纬蔚谓谓萎胃畏魏蔚 蟽蟿喂蟼 17 螒蟺蟻喂位委慰蠀 1897. 惟蟼 纬喂慰蟼 未喂蟺位蠅渭维蟿畏, 蟺苇蟻伪蟽蔚 蟿伪 蟺伪喂未喂魏维 蟿慰蠀 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪 蟽蔚 蟺蠈位蔚喂蟼 蟿畏蟼 螝委谓伪蟼, 蔚渭蟺蔚喂蟻委伪 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 蔚蟺畏蟻蔚维蟽蔚喂 尾伪胃蠉蟿伪蟿伪 蟿畏 胃蔚伪蟿蟻喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀 伪喂蟽胃畏蟿喂魏萎. 螒蟻蠂喂魏维, 蟽蟺慰蠀未维味蔚喂 蟽蟿慰 螕苇畏位, 蟽蔚 蟺蔚蟻喂慰未喂魏蠈 蟿慰蠀 慰蟺慰委慰蠀 胃伪 未畏渭慰蟽喂蔚蠉蟽蔚喂 蟿慰 蟺蟻蠋蟿慰 蟿慰蠀 胃蔚伪蟿蟻喂魏蠈 苇蟻纬慰 渭蔚 蟿委蟿位慰 螚 蟽维位蟺喂纬纬伪 胃伪 畏蠂萎蟽蔚喂, 魏伪喂 伪蟻纬蠈蟿蔚蟻伪 蟽蟿畏谓 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓喂魏萎 螒蟻蠂伪喂慰位慰纬喂魏萎 危蠂慰位萎 蟿畏蟼 巍蠋渭畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟽蟿慰 围维蟻尾伪蟻谓蟿. 螒蟺蠈 蟿慰 1930 渭苇蠂蟻喂 蟿慰 1951 未喂未维蟽魏蔚喂 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪 魏伪喂 蟺慰委畏蟽畏 蟽蟿伪 蟺伪谓蔚蟺喂蟽蟿萎渭喂伪 危喂魏维纬慰蠀 魏伪喂 围维蟻尾伪蟻谓蟿. 螝伪蟿维 蟿畏谓 未喂维蟻魏蔚喂伪 蟿慰蠀 螔' 螤伪纬魏慰蟽渭委慰蠀 螤慰位苇渭慰蠀 蠀蟺畏蟻蔚蟿蔚委 蠅蟼 伪尉喂蠅渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟼 蟿畏蟼 蠀蟺畏蟻蔚蟽委伪蟼 蟺位畏蟻慰蠁慰蟻喂蠋谓 蟿畏蟼 伪蔚蟻慰蟺慰蟻委伪蟼. 螛伪 纬委谓蔚喂 蔚蠀蟻苇蠅蟼 纬谓蠅蟽蟿蠈蟼 渭蔚蟿维 蟿畏 尾蟻维尾蔚蠀蟽萎 蟿慰蠀 渭蔚 蟿慰 Pulitzer 纬喂伪 蟿慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭维 蟿慰蠀 螚 纬苇蠁蠀蟻伪 蟿慰蠀 危伪谓 螞慰蠉喂蟼 巍苇蠀 (1927). 螒魏慰位慰蠀胃慰蠉谓 魏伪喂 维位位伪 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿慰蟻萎渭伪蟿伪 蠈蟺蠅蟼 螚 纬蠀谓伪委魏伪 蟿畏蟼 螁谓未蟻慰蠀, 螣 螤伪蟻维未蔚喂蟽慰蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 蟺蟻慰慰蟻喂蟽渭蠈蟼 渭慰蠀, 螚 蠈纬未慰畏 渭苇蟻伪, 魏伪喂 胃蔚伪蟿蟻喂魏苇蟼 蟽蠀位位慰纬苇蟼 蠈蟺蠅蟼 螣 螁纬纬蔚位慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟿维蟻伪尉蔚 蟿伪 谓蔚蟻维, 韦慰 渭伪魏蟻蠉 蠂蟻喂蟽蟿慰蠀纬蔚谓谓喂维蟿喂魏慰 未蔚委蟺谓慰 魏伪喂 维位位伪 苇蟻纬伪, 螣 苇渭蟺慰蟻慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 螕喂蠈谓魏蔚蟻蟼. 螠蔚 蟿伪 胃蔚伪蟿蟻喂魏维 苇蟻纬伪 螚 渭喂魏蟻萎 渭伪蟼 蟺蠈位畏 (1938) 魏伪喂 螠蔚 蟿伪 未蠈谓蟿喂伪 (1942) 尾蟻伪尾蔚蠉蔚蟿伪喂 魏伪喂 蟺维位喂 渭蔚 蟿慰 Pulitzer.
螌位伪 蟿慰蠀 蟿伪 苇蟻纬伪 未喂伪蟺谓苇慰谓蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 渭喂伪 蟽蠀纬魏喂谓畏蟿喂魏萎 伪纬维蟺畏 纬喂伪 蟿畏 味蠅萎, 渭喂伪 伪胃蠅蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 蠂伪胃蔚委 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏 尾委伪 蟿慰蠀 螔' 螤伪纬魏慰蟽渭委慰蠀 螤慰位苇渭慰蠀. 螤苇胃伪谓蔚 蟿慰 1975, 蟽蔚 畏位喂魏委伪 78 蔚蟿蠋谓, 蟽蟿慰 螝慰谓苇魏蟿喂魏伪蟿 蟿蠅谓 螚螤螒.
螌位伪 蟿慰蠀 蟿伪 苇蟻纬伪 未喂伪蟺谓苇慰谓蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 渭喂伪 蟽蠀纬魏喂谓畏蟿喂魏萎 伪纬维蟺畏 纬喂伪 蟿畏 味蠅萎, 渭喂伪 伪胃蠅蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 蠂伪胃蔚委 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏 尾委伪 蟿慰蠀 螔' 螤伪纬魏慰蟽渭委慰蠀 螤慰位苇渭慰蠀. 螤苇胃伪谓蔚 蟿慰 1975, 蟽蔚 畏位喂魏委伪 78 蔚蟿蠋谓, 蟽蟿慰 螝慰谓苇魏蟿喂魏伪蟿 蟿蠅谓 螚螤螒.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1926
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253 people want to read
About the author
Thornton Wilder
193听books493听followersThornton Niven Wilder was an American playwright and novelist. He received three Pulitzer Prizes, one for his novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey and two for his plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth, and a National Book Award for his novel The Eighth Day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 18, 2015
What a refreshing change to read something so vastly different from anything written nowadays! Yes, this book is extremely dated, totally immersed in the language and outlook of the 1920s, but that's much of its charm. And what a delightfully bizarre menagerie of improbable exotic characters Wilder has presented here! So strange and unbelievable are they that I doubt he could have just imagined them, truth being stranger than fiction. They must have really existed, if not individually, then organically, as composites -- the last remaining artifacts left behind following the destruction of empires in The Great War. Apart from their shared connection to a bygone world they each possess some unique attribute that makes them exceptional and intriguing.
Wilder draws a parallel between these displaced characters and the demise of the gods of classical antiquity, after they too were swept away by the rise of Christianity.
Wilder's wickedly satiric humour skillfully sends up the absurdities and ridiculous conceits of his protagonists, yet he does so in a kind manner, because at heart he loves them for their eccentricity and we share his sorrow at their ultimate demise.
Reading this short novel, I was struck by the fact that Wilder himself also represents a bygone era, one where an education in the classics was considered mainstream.
Wilder draws a parallel between these displaced characters and the demise of the gods of classical antiquity, after they too were swept away by the rise of Christianity.
Wilder's wickedly satiric humour skillfully sends up the absurdities and ridiculous conceits of his protagonists, yet he does so in a kind manner, because at heart he loves them for their eccentricity and we share his sorrow at their ultimate demise.
Reading this short novel, I was struck by the fact that Wilder himself also represents a bygone era, one where an education in the classics was considered mainstream.
March 30, 2021
O 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓蠈蟼 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 Thordon Wilder 蔚委谓伪喂 魏蠀蟻委蠅蟼 纬谓蠅蟽蟿蠈蟼 蠅蟼 胃蔚伪蟿蟻喂魏蠈蟼 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 蟽蟿慰 蔚位位畏谓喂魏蠈 伪谓伪纬谓蠅蟽蟿喂魏蠈 魏慰喂谓蠈 魏伪喂 喂未委蠅蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 苇蟻纬慰 蟿慰蠀 ''螚 渭喂魏蟻萎 渭伪蟼 蟺蠈位畏". 韦慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿慰蟻畏渭伪蟿喂魏蠈 蟿慰蠀 苇蟻纬慰, 蔚谓蟿慰蠉蟿慰喂蟼, 蔚委谓伪喂 蔚蟺委蟽畏蟼 伪尉喂蠈位慰纬慰, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 畏 "螝伪渭蟺维位伪" 蟿慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭伪 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 伪喂谓喂纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈 蟿委蟿位慰 蟺慰蠀 蟺伪蟻伪蟺苇渭蟺蔚喂 蟽蟿慰谓 渭蠀蟽蟿喂魏喂蟽渭蠈. 危蟿畏谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺蟻蠈魏蔚喂蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 伪位位畏纬慰蟻喂魏蠈 魏伪喂 蟺慰位蠀未喂维蟽蟿伪蟿慰 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪胃苇蟿蔚喂 蟺慰位蠉 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻蔚蟼 未喂伪蟽蟿维蟽蔚喂蟼 魏伪喂 蟺蟻慰蔚魏蟿维蟽蔚喂蟼 伪蟺' 蠈蟽蔚蟼 伪谓喂蠂谓蔚蠉慰谓蟿伪喂 蔚魏 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏蟼 蠈蠄蔚蠅蟼, 蠈蟿伪谓 未喂伪尾维味蔚喂 魏伪谓蔚委蟼 蟿畏谓 蟺蔚蟻委位畏蠄畏 蟽蟿慰 慰蟺喂蟽胃蠈蠁蠀位位慰.
螠蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蔚蟻蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚 蟽蟿畏 巍蠋渭畏 蟿慰蠀 1926, 苇蟿慰蟼 蟽蟿慰 慰蟺慰委慰 蟿慰蟺慰胃蔚蟿蔚委蟿伪喂 蔚蟺委蟽畏蟼 畏 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁萎 魏伪喂 畏 苇魏未慰蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀. 螆谓伪蟼 谓蔚伪蟻蠈蟼 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓蠈蟼, 慰 危伪渭慰蠀苇位蔚, 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿畏谓 螒喂蠋谓喂伪 螤蠈位畏 谓喂蠋胃慰谓蟿伪蟼 谓慰蟽蟿伪位纬委伪 纬喂伪 蟿慰 蟺伪位喂蠈 伪蟻蠂伪喂慰位伪蟿喂谓喂魏蠈 蟿畏蟼 渭蔚纬伪位蔚委慰. 螘魏蔚委 胃伪 纬谓蠅蟻委蟽蔚喂 伪蟺蠈 魏慰谓蟿维 蟿伪 渭苇位畏 渭委伪蟼 伪喂谓喂纬渭伪蟿喂魏萎蟼 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻慰蠁喂维蟼 渭蔚 伪蟺蟻慰蟽未喂蠈蟻喂蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蟿蠈蠂慰蠀蟼, 蟿畏谓 螝伪渭蟺维位伪. 螣 危伪渭慰蠀苇位蔚 胃伪 尾蟻蔚胃蔚委 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 魏蠈位蟺慰蠀蟼 蟿畏蟼, 纬谓蠅蟻委味慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿伪 维蟿慰渭伪 蟺慰蠀 蟿畏谓 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位慰蠉谓, 蟿伪 慰蟺慰委伪 未蔚谓 蠁伪委谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 苇蠂慰蠀谓, 蟺伪蟻伪未蠈尉蠅蟼, 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 蟺慰位位维 魏慰喂谓维.
螤维谓蠅 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 伪魏蟻喂尾蠋蟼 未蟻维蟿蟿蔚蟿伪喂 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蠀魏伪喂蟻委伪蟼 谓伪 渭伪蟼 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻维蠄蔚喂 伪谓伪位蠀蟿喂魏维 蟿伪 蟺蟻蠈蟽蠅蟺伪 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻慰蠁喂维蟼 伪蟺慰魏伪位蠉蟺蟿慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟽蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏 蟿喂蟼 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏苇蟼 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻伪蠁喂魏苇蟼 蟿慰蠀 喂魏伪谓蠈蟿畏蟿蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻畏 纬蟻伪蠁萎 蟿慰蠀: 蠈蠂喂 渭蠈谓慰 蟿畏谓 蔚尉蠅蟿蔚蟻喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀蟼 蔚渭蠁维谓喂蟽畏, 蟿伪 蟺喂蟽蟿蔚蠉蠅 蟿慰蠀蟼, 蟿喂蟼 喂未苇蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟿喂蟼 蔚蟺喂蟻蟻慰苇蟼 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂慰蠀谓 未喂伪渭慰蟻蠁蠋蟽蔚喂 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿维 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪位位维, 魏蠀蟻委蠅蟼, 蟿畏谓 尉蔚蠂蠅蟻喂蟽蟿萎 喂未喂蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪胃苇蟿慰蠀谓 魏伪喂 苇蠂慰蠀谓 蔚尉伪喂蟿委伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 伪蠀蟿慰蠂蟻喂蟽蟿蔚委 渭苇位畏 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻慰蠁喂维蟼. 螣 螠伪蟻魏伪谓蟿蠈谓喂慰, 畏 螒位委尉, 畏 渭喂蟼 螕魏维喂蔚蟻, 慰 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻喂蠋未畏蟼 螝伪蟻未喂谓维位喂慰蟼, 蠈位慰喂 蟿慰蠀蟼, 渭苇位畏 渭喂伪蟼 喂蟿伪位喂魏萎蟼, 纬伪位位喂魏萎蟼 魏伪喂 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓喂魏萎蟼 蔚位委蟿 蟺慰蠀 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 蟺伪蟻伪魏渭萎, 未喂伪胃苇蟿慰蠀谓 魏维蟿喂 蟿慰 尉蔚蠂蠅蟻喂蟽蟿蠈 魏伪喂 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位慰蠉谓 伪蟺慰未苇魏蟿蔚蟼 蔚谓蠈蟼 胃蔚蠆魏慰蠉 蠂伪蟻委蟽渭伪蟿慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂蔚喂 渭蔚蟿伪尾喂尾伪蟽蟿蔚委 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻喂蠅未蠋蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 螛蔚慰蠉蟼 蟿畏蟼 伪蟻蠂伪喂蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼.
螘未蠋 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 魏伪喂 畏 位蠉蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻委慰蠀 蟿畏蟼 螝伪渭蟺维位伪: 蟿伪 渭苇位畏 蟿畏蟼 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺伪蟻维 蟿伪 慰蠂萎渭伪蟿伪 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 慰蟺慰委伪 蔚蟺喂尾喂蠋谓蔚喂 慰 蟺伪位喂蠈蟼 魏蠈蟽渭慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪蟻蠂伪委慰蠀 蟻蠅渭伪蠆魏慰蠉 渭蔚纬伪位蔚委慰蠀 伪谓维 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪喂蠋谓蔚蟼. 螆蟿蟽喂 慰 危伪渭慰蠀苇位蔚 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿畏蟻委味蔚蟿伪喂 蠅蟼 谓苇慰蟼 螘蟻渭萎蟼, 伪纬纬蔚位喂慰蠁蠈蟻慰蟼 魏伪喂 蠄蠀蠂慰蟺慰渭蟺蠈蟼 纬喂伪 蠈位慰蠀蟼 蔚魏蔚委谓慰蠀蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚纬魏伪蟿伪位蔚委蟺慰蠀谓 蟺蟻蠈蠅蟻伪 蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟿慰蠀 螠蔚蟽慰蟺慰位苇渭慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀 蟿苇位慰蠀蟼 蟿畏蟼 Belle epoque, 苇谓伪谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟺慰蠀 渭蔚蟿伪蟽蠂畏渭伪蟿委味蔚蟿伪喂 蟿伪蠂蠉蟿伪蟿伪 渭蟺蟻慰蟽蟿维 蟽蟿畏谓 伪谓伪蟺蠈蟿蟻蔚蟺蟿畏 苇位蔚蠀蟽畏 蟿蠅谓 螡苇蠅谓 螜未蔚蠋谓. 螤蟻蠈魏蔚喂蟿伪喂 蔚蟺委蟽畏蟼 纬喂伪 苇谓伪谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟽蟿慰谓 慰蟺慰委慰 未蔚谓 胃伪 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿萎蟼 畏 螒喂蠋谓喂伪 螤蠈位畏, 蟺蠈位畏 蟺喂伪 蟺伪蟻畏魏渭伪蟽渭苇谓畏 魏伪喂 未喂蔚蠁胃伪蟻渭苇谓畏 魏伪喂 畏 蟺伪位喂维 螘蠀蟻蠋蟺畏, 伪位位维 畏 螡苇伪 违蠈蟻魏畏, 伪蠁慰蠉 蟽蟿畏谓 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏萎 蠂蟿蠀蟺维 蟺位苇慰谓 慰 蟺伪位渭蠈蟼 蟿畏蟼 谓苇伪蟼 伪谓蔚蟻蠂蠈渭蔚谓畏蟼 未喂伪谓蠈畏蟽畏蟼.
韦慰 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位蔚委 苇谓伪谓 蠉渭谓慰 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟽蟿畏谓 委未喂伪 蟿畏 巍蠋渭畏 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 喂蟿伪位喂魏萎 蠉蟺伪喂胃蟻慰 渭蔚 蟿喂蟼 伪蟻蠂伪委蔚蟼 蟻蠅渭伪蠆魏苇蟼 尾委位蔚蟼 蟿畏蟼 蠈蟺慰蠀 未喂伪未蟻伪渭伪蟿委味蔚蟿伪喂 渭蔚纬维位慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀, 蠈蟽慰 魏伪喂 蟽蔚 蠈位慰 蟿慰 蠁维蟽渭伪 蟿畏蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓畏蟼 蟺谓蔚蠀渭伪蟿喂魏萎蟼 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬委伪蟼, 伪蠁慰蠉 蟿伪 纬蟻维渭渭伪蟿维 蟿慰蠀 蠂慰蟻蔚蠉慰蠀谓 蠀蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 萎蠂慰蠀蟼 蟽蟺慰蠀未伪委蠅谓 蟽蠀谓胃蔚蟿蠋谓 魏伪喂 蟿蟻伪谓慰委 味蠅纬蟻维蠁慰喂 味蠅谓蟿伪谓蔚蠉慰蠀谓 渭蔚 蟿伪 蠂蟻蠋渭伪蟿维 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟿喂蟼 蟽蔚位委未蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀. 螒魏蠈渭畏, 未喂维蟽蟺伪蟻蟿蔚蟼 蟽蔚 蠈位慰 蟿慰 魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰 蔚委谓伪喂 慰喂 伪谓伪蠁慰蟻苇蟼 蟽蔚 渭蔚纬维位慰蠀蟼 蟽蠉纬蠂蟻慰谓慰蠀蟼 位慰纬慰蟿苇蠂谓蔚蟼, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟽蔚 伪蟻蠂伪委慰蠀蟼 螆位位畏谓蔚蟼 魏伪喂 螞伪蟿委谓慰蠀蟼 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁蔚委蟼, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 慰 螌渭畏蟻慰蟼 魏伪喂 慰 螔喂蟻纬委位喂慰蟼, 伪蟺慰魏伪位蠉蟺蟿慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿畏谓 魏伪位萎 纬谓蠋蟽畏 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 伪蟻蠂伪委慰 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪胃苇蟿蔚喂 慰 Wilder.
韦伪 渭苇位畏 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻慰蠁喂维蟼 渭喂位慰蠉谓, 伪位位畏位蔚蟺喂未蟻慰蠉谓, 未喂伪蟺位畏魏蟿委味慰谓蟿伪喂, 蠁喂位喂蠋谓慰蠀谓, 纬位蔚谓蟿慰蠉谓 渭苇蠂蟻喂 蟿慰 蟺喂魏蟻蠈 蟿苇位慰蟼, 蟿慰 位蠀魏蠈蠁蠅蟼 蟿蠅谓 胃蔚蠋谓, 蟿蠈蟿蔚 蟺慰蠀 畏 伪蠀位伪委伪 纬喂' 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 胃伪 蟺苇蟽蔚喂 慰蟻喂蟽蟿喂魏维. 螣 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 蠈渭蠅蟼 未蔚谓 伪蠁萎谓蔚喂 蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏 谓伪 谓喂蠋蟽蔚喂 蟺喂魏蟻委伪 纬喂' 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪谓伪蟺蠈蟿蟻蔚蟺蟿畏 蟺伪蟻伪魏渭萎, 蟺伪蟻维 渭蠈谓慰 蔚位蟺委未伪 纬喂伪 苇谓伪 谓苇慰 尉蔚魏委谓畏渭伪, 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 伪蠁蔚蟿畏蟻委伪 蟿畏蟼 谓苇伪蟼 未喂伪谓蠈畏蟽畏蟼, 畏 慰蟺慰委伪 胃伪 蔚尉伪魏慰位慰蠀胃萎蟽蔚喂 蠈渭蠅蟼 谓伪 未蟻伪 蠀蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蔚蟺萎蟻蔚喂伪 蟿畏蟼 伪蟻蠂伪喂慰蔚位位畏谓喂魏萎蟼 魏伪喂 位伪蟿喂谓喂魏萎蟼 纬蟻伪渭渭伪蟿蔚委伪蟼 蟽蟿慰 蟺苇蟻伪蟽渭伪 蟿蠅谓 伪喂蠋谓蠅谓.
韦蠈蟽慰 畏 纬蟻伪蠁萎, 魏慰渭蠄萎, 蟽蟿喂尾伪蟻萎, 渭蔚 纬位伪蠁蠀蟻苇蟼 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻伪蠁苇蟼, 蠁慰蟻苇伪蟼 渭喂伪蟼 蟺位畏胃蠋蟻伪蟼 喂未蔚蠋谓, 蠈蟽慰 魏伪喂 畏 胃蔚渭伪蟿喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀, 未蔚委蠂谓慰蠀谓 蟿畏 尾伪胃喂维 魏伪位位喂苇蟻纬蔚喂伪 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪纬维蟺畏 蟿慰蠀 纬喂伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 螞伪蟿委谓慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 螒喂蠋谓喂伪 螤蠈位畏. H "螝伪渭蟺维位伪" 蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蟿渭慰蟽蠁伪喂蟻喂魏蠈, 蟿蟻蠀蠁蔚蟻蠈 魏伪喂 蔚谓委慰蟿蔚 蠈渭慰蟻蠁伪 渭蔚位伪纬蠂慰位喂魏蠈, 蟿慰 慰蟺慰委慰 伪蟺慰魏伪位蠉蟺蟿蔚喂 魏伪喂 蔚尉蠀渭谓蔚委 蟿喂蟼 蟺蟿蠀蠂苇蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓慰蠀 蟺谓蔚蠉渭伪蟿慰蟼 蟽蔚 蠈位蔚蟼 蟿喂蟼 未喂伪蟽蟿维蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀.
螠蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蔚蟻蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚 蟽蟿畏 巍蠋渭畏 蟿慰蠀 1926, 苇蟿慰蟼 蟽蟿慰 慰蟺慰委慰 蟿慰蟺慰胃蔚蟿蔚委蟿伪喂 蔚蟺委蟽畏蟼 畏 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁萎 魏伪喂 畏 苇魏未慰蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀. 螆谓伪蟼 谓蔚伪蟻蠈蟼 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓蠈蟼, 慰 危伪渭慰蠀苇位蔚, 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿畏谓 螒喂蠋谓喂伪 螤蠈位畏 谓喂蠋胃慰谓蟿伪蟼 谓慰蟽蟿伪位纬委伪 纬喂伪 蟿慰 蟺伪位喂蠈 伪蟻蠂伪喂慰位伪蟿喂谓喂魏蠈 蟿畏蟼 渭蔚纬伪位蔚委慰. 螘魏蔚委 胃伪 纬谓蠅蟻委蟽蔚喂 伪蟺蠈 魏慰谓蟿维 蟿伪 渭苇位畏 渭委伪蟼 伪喂谓喂纬渭伪蟿喂魏萎蟼 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻慰蠁喂维蟼 渭蔚 伪蟺蟻慰蟽未喂蠈蟻喂蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蟿蠈蠂慰蠀蟼, 蟿畏谓 螝伪渭蟺维位伪. 螣 危伪渭慰蠀苇位蔚 胃伪 尾蟻蔚胃蔚委 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 魏蠈位蟺慰蠀蟼 蟿畏蟼, 纬谓蠅蟻委味慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿伪 维蟿慰渭伪 蟺慰蠀 蟿畏谓 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位慰蠉谓, 蟿伪 慰蟺慰委伪 未蔚谓 蠁伪委谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 苇蠂慰蠀谓, 蟺伪蟻伪未蠈尉蠅蟼, 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 蟺慰位位维 魏慰喂谓维.
螤维谓蠅 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 伪魏蟻喂尾蠋蟼 未蟻维蟿蟿蔚蟿伪喂 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蠀魏伪喂蟻委伪蟼 谓伪 渭伪蟼 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻维蠄蔚喂 伪谓伪位蠀蟿喂魏维 蟿伪 蟺蟻蠈蟽蠅蟺伪 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻慰蠁喂维蟼 伪蟺慰魏伪位蠉蟺蟿慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟽蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏 蟿喂蟼 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏苇蟼 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻伪蠁喂魏苇蟼 蟿慰蠀 喂魏伪谓蠈蟿畏蟿蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻畏 纬蟻伪蠁萎 蟿慰蠀: 蠈蠂喂 渭蠈谓慰 蟿畏谓 蔚尉蠅蟿蔚蟻喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀蟼 蔚渭蠁维谓喂蟽畏, 蟿伪 蟺喂蟽蟿蔚蠉蠅 蟿慰蠀蟼, 蟿喂蟼 喂未苇蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟿喂蟼 蔚蟺喂蟻蟻慰苇蟼 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂慰蠀谓 未喂伪渭慰蟻蠁蠋蟽蔚喂 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿维 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪位位维, 魏蠀蟻委蠅蟼, 蟿畏谓 尉蔚蠂蠅蟻喂蟽蟿萎 喂未喂蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪胃苇蟿慰蠀谓 魏伪喂 苇蠂慰蠀谓 蔚尉伪喂蟿委伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 伪蠀蟿慰蠂蟻喂蟽蟿蔚委 渭苇位畏 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻慰蠁喂维蟼. 螣 螠伪蟻魏伪谓蟿蠈谓喂慰, 畏 螒位委尉, 畏 渭喂蟼 螕魏维喂蔚蟻, 慰 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻喂蠋未畏蟼 螝伪蟻未喂谓维位喂慰蟼, 蠈位慰喂 蟿慰蠀蟼, 渭苇位畏 渭喂伪蟼 喂蟿伪位喂魏萎蟼, 纬伪位位喂魏萎蟼 魏伪喂 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓喂魏萎蟼 蔚位委蟿 蟺慰蠀 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 蟺伪蟻伪魏渭萎, 未喂伪胃苇蟿慰蠀谓 魏维蟿喂 蟿慰 尉蔚蠂蠅蟻喂蟽蟿蠈 魏伪喂 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位慰蠉谓 伪蟺慰未苇魏蟿蔚蟼 蔚谓蠈蟼 胃蔚蠆魏慰蠉 蠂伪蟻委蟽渭伪蟿慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂蔚喂 渭蔚蟿伪尾喂尾伪蟽蟿蔚委 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻喂蠅未蠋蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 螛蔚慰蠉蟼 蟿畏蟼 伪蟻蠂伪喂蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼.
螘未蠋 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 魏伪喂 畏 位蠉蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻委慰蠀 蟿畏蟼 螝伪渭蟺维位伪: 蟿伪 渭苇位畏 蟿畏蟼 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺伪蟻维 蟿伪 慰蠂萎渭伪蟿伪 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 慰蟺慰委伪 蔚蟺喂尾喂蠋谓蔚喂 慰 蟺伪位喂蠈蟼 魏蠈蟽渭慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪蟻蠂伪委慰蠀 蟻蠅渭伪蠆魏慰蠉 渭蔚纬伪位蔚委慰蠀 伪谓维 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪喂蠋谓蔚蟼. 螆蟿蟽喂 慰 危伪渭慰蠀苇位蔚 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿畏蟻委味蔚蟿伪喂 蠅蟼 谓苇慰蟼 螘蟻渭萎蟼, 伪纬纬蔚位喂慰蠁蠈蟻慰蟼 魏伪喂 蠄蠀蠂慰蟺慰渭蟺蠈蟼 纬喂伪 蠈位慰蠀蟼 蔚魏蔚委谓慰蠀蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚纬魏伪蟿伪位蔚委蟺慰蠀谓 蟺蟻蠈蠅蟻伪 蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟿慰蠀 螠蔚蟽慰蟺慰位苇渭慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀 蟿苇位慰蠀蟼 蟿畏蟼 Belle epoque, 苇谓伪谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟺慰蠀 渭蔚蟿伪蟽蠂畏渭伪蟿委味蔚蟿伪喂 蟿伪蠂蠉蟿伪蟿伪 渭蟺蟻慰蟽蟿维 蟽蟿畏谓 伪谓伪蟺蠈蟿蟻蔚蟺蟿畏 苇位蔚蠀蟽畏 蟿蠅谓 螡苇蠅谓 螜未蔚蠋谓. 螤蟻蠈魏蔚喂蟿伪喂 蔚蟺委蟽畏蟼 纬喂伪 苇谓伪谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟽蟿慰谓 慰蟺慰委慰 未蔚谓 胃伪 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿萎蟼 畏 螒喂蠋谓喂伪 螤蠈位畏, 蟺蠈位畏 蟺喂伪 蟺伪蟻畏魏渭伪蟽渭苇谓畏 魏伪喂 未喂蔚蠁胃伪蟻渭苇谓畏 魏伪喂 畏 蟺伪位喂维 螘蠀蟻蠋蟺畏, 伪位位维 畏 螡苇伪 违蠈蟻魏畏, 伪蠁慰蠉 蟽蟿畏谓 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏萎 蠂蟿蠀蟺维 蟺位苇慰谓 慰 蟺伪位渭蠈蟼 蟿畏蟼 谓苇伪蟼 伪谓蔚蟻蠂蠈渭蔚谓畏蟼 未喂伪谓蠈畏蟽畏蟼.
韦慰 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位蔚委 苇谓伪谓 蠉渭谓慰 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟽蟿畏谓 委未喂伪 蟿畏 巍蠋渭畏 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 喂蟿伪位喂魏萎 蠉蟺伪喂胃蟻慰 渭蔚 蟿喂蟼 伪蟻蠂伪委蔚蟼 蟻蠅渭伪蠆魏苇蟼 尾委位蔚蟼 蟿畏蟼 蠈蟺慰蠀 未喂伪未蟻伪渭伪蟿委味蔚蟿伪喂 渭蔚纬维位慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀, 蠈蟽慰 魏伪喂 蟽蔚 蠈位慰 蟿慰 蠁维蟽渭伪 蟿畏蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓畏蟼 蟺谓蔚蠀渭伪蟿喂魏萎蟼 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬委伪蟼, 伪蠁慰蠉 蟿伪 纬蟻维渭渭伪蟿维 蟿慰蠀 蠂慰蟻蔚蠉慰蠀谓 蠀蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 萎蠂慰蠀蟼 蟽蟺慰蠀未伪委蠅谓 蟽蠀谓胃蔚蟿蠋谓 魏伪喂 蟿蟻伪谓慰委 味蠅纬蟻维蠁慰喂 味蠅谓蟿伪谓蔚蠉慰蠀谓 渭蔚 蟿伪 蠂蟻蠋渭伪蟿维 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟿喂蟼 蟽蔚位委未蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀. 螒魏蠈渭畏, 未喂维蟽蟺伪蟻蟿蔚蟼 蟽蔚 蠈位慰 蟿慰 魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰 蔚委谓伪喂 慰喂 伪谓伪蠁慰蟻苇蟼 蟽蔚 渭蔚纬维位慰蠀蟼 蟽蠉纬蠂蟻慰谓慰蠀蟼 位慰纬慰蟿苇蠂谓蔚蟼, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟽蔚 伪蟻蠂伪委慰蠀蟼 螆位位畏谓蔚蟼 魏伪喂 螞伪蟿委谓慰蠀蟼 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁蔚委蟼, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 慰 螌渭畏蟻慰蟼 魏伪喂 慰 螔喂蟻纬委位喂慰蟼, 伪蟺慰魏伪位蠉蟺蟿慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿畏谓 魏伪位萎 纬谓蠋蟽畏 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 伪蟻蠂伪委慰 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪胃苇蟿蔚喂 慰 Wilder.
韦伪 渭苇位畏 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻慰蠁喂维蟼 渭喂位慰蠉谓, 伪位位畏位蔚蟺喂未蟻慰蠉谓, 未喂伪蟺位畏魏蟿委味慰谓蟿伪喂, 蠁喂位喂蠋谓慰蠀谓, 纬位蔚谓蟿慰蠉谓 渭苇蠂蟻喂 蟿慰 蟺喂魏蟻蠈 蟿苇位慰蟼, 蟿慰 位蠀魏蠈蠁蠅蟼 蟿蠅谓 胃蔚蠋谓, 蟿蠈蟿蔚 蟺慰蠀 畏 伪蠀位伪委伪 纬喂' 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 胃伪 蟺苇蟽蔚喂 慰蟻喂蟽蟿喂魏维. 螣 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 蠈渭蠅蟼 未蔚谓 伪蠁萎谓蔚喂 蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏 谓伪 谓喂蠋蟽蔚喂 蟺喂魏蟻委伪 纬喂' 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪谓伪蟺蠈蟿蟻蔚蟺蟿畏 蟺伪蟻伪魏渭萎, 蟺伪蟻维 渭蠈谓慰 蔚位蟺委未伪 纬喂伪 苇谓伪 谓苇慰 尉蔚魏委谓畏渭伪, 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 伪蠁蔚蟿畏蟻委伪 蟿畏蟼 谓苇伪蟼 未喂伪谓蠈畏蟽畏蟼, 畏 慰蟺慰委伪 胃伪 蔚尉伪魏慰位慰蠀胃萎蟽蔚喂 蠈渭蠅蟼 谓伪 未蟻伪 蠀蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蔚蟺萎蟻蔚喂伪 蟿畏蟼 伪蟻蠂伪喂慰蔚位位畏谓喂魏萎蟼 魏伪喂 位伪蟿喂谓喂魏萎蟼 纬蟻伪渭渭伪蟿蔚委伪蟼 蟽蟿慰 蟺苇蟻伪蟽渭伪 蟿蠅谓 伪喂蠋谓蠅谓.
韦蠈蟽慰 畏 纬蟻伪蠁萎, 魏慰渭蠄萎, 蟽蟿喂尾伪蟻萎, 渭蔚 纬位伪蠁蠀蟻苇蟼 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻伪蠁苇蟼, 蠁慰蟻苇伪蟼 渭喂伪蟼 蟺位畏胃蠋蟻伪蟼 喂未蔚蠋谓, 蠈蟽慰 魏伪喂 畏 胃蔚渭伪蟿喂魏萎 蟿慰蠀, 未蔚委蠂谓慰蠀谓 蟿畏 尾伪胃喂维 魏伪位位喂苇蟻纬蔚喂伪 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪纬维蟺畏 蟿慰蠀 纬喂伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 螞伪蟿委谓慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 螒喂蠋谓喂伪 螤蠈位畏. H "螝伪渭蟺维位伪" 蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蟿渭慰蟽蠁伪喂蟻喂魏蠈, 蟿蟻蠀蠁蔚蟻蠈 魏伪喂 蔚谓委慰蟿蔚 蠈渭慰蟻蠁伪 渭蔚位伪纬蠂慰位喂魏蠈, 蟿慰 慰蟺慰委慰 伪蟺慰魏伪位蠉蟺蟿蔚喂 魏伪喂 蔚尉蠀渭谓蔚委 蟿喂蟼 蟺蟿蠀蠂苇蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓慰蠀 蟺谓蔚蠉渭伪蟿慰蟼 蟽蔚 蠈位蔚蟼 蟿喂蟼 未喂伪蟽蟿维蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀.
September 21, 2017
The Cabala by Thornton Wilder is set in Rome in the early 1920鈥檚 and is a story that centers on of a group of 鈥淔ierce intellectual snobs鈥� who are 鈥渧ery rich and influential.鈥� Thornton divided the novel into Five Books. The first is 鈥淔irst Encounters鈥� in which the characters are introduced by James Blair, a young American scholar and friend of the narrator, known only as Samuele. Among the cabalists there is Miss Elizabeth Grier, wealthy American spinster; Her Highness Leda Matilda Colonna Duchessa d鈥橝quilanera (The Black Queen) and her troubled son, Marcantonio; French Princess Alix d鈥橢spoli; fanatically devout Mlle. Astree-Luce de Monfontaine; and the wise Cardinal Vaine, former missionary promoted to the heights of Vatican administration. There is even a cameo appearance, one hundred years out of sync, of poet John Keats. Book Two 鈥淢arcantonio鈥� is a tale of a desperate young man, his sexual confusions and the attempted intervention by his mother. Book Three 鈥淎lix鈥� focuses on the loneliness of the French Princess and her desperate search for escape from isolation. Book Four 鈥淎ustree-Luce and The Cardinal鈥� is a religious sermon/debate about faith and the power of prayer that suddenly changes into a potentially deadly showdown. Book Five 鈥淭he Dusk of the Gods鈥� is a dreamlike visitation in which Elizabeth Grier projects the characters of the cabala into a classical background each portrayed as a pagan god or goddess. The narrator is visited by Virgil, Prince of Poets, who evokes Milton and Shakespeare
As one might guess, not much happens in The Cabala. It is a novel of characterization not of plot. It is also a display of exceptionally good writing. Wilder provides the reader with realism accompanied by splash of fantasy. Wilder is a literary stylist who uses precisely detailed descriptions, elaborate similes and a wide array of classical and artistic allusions. The aristocratic members of the Cabala are certainly well-versed in religion, art, music and literature. On every level The Cabala is intellectual, academic and erudite, without being pompous or condescending.
As one might guess, not much happens in The Cabala. It is a novel of characterization not of plot. It is also a display of exceptionally good writing. Wilder provides the reader with realism accompanied by splash of fantasy. Wilder is a literary stylist who uses precisely detailed descriptions, elaborate similes and a wide array of classical and artistic allusions. The aristocratic members of the Cabala are certainly well-versed in religion, art, music and literature. On every level The Cabala is intellectual, academic and erudite, without being pompous or condescending.
September 24, 2021
Wilder鈥檚 first novel, the story of a young American writer in Rome in the early 1920s. While the plot is slight, the series of character studies of the set of people he comes to know are masterfully brought to life. At times he鈥檚 a bit heavy-handed with the 鈥渘aive but commonsensical Protestant democratic American in the midst of slightly decadent and occasionally insane upper-class Europeans鈥� story line, but this is still a very enjoyable read.
May 17, 2022
Free download available at
3* The Bridge of San Luis Rey
3* The Eighty Day
3* The cabala
I made the proofing of this book for Free Literature and Project Gutenberg will publish it.
Book One: First Encounters
Book Two: Marcantonio
Book Three: Alix
Book Four: Astree-Luce and the Cardinal
Book Five: The Dusk of the Gods
3* The Bridge of San Luis Rey
3* The Eighty Day
3* The cabala
I made the proofing of this book for Free Literature and Project Gutenberg will publish it.
Book One: First Encounters
Book Two: Marcantonio
Book Three: Alix
Book Four: Astree-Luce and the Cardinal
Book Five: The Dusk of the Gods
September 6, 2015
袚谢褍锌械泄褕懈泄, 薪芯 芯斜邪褟褌械谢褜薪褘泄 写械斜褞褌薪褘泄 褉芯屑邪薪 芯褔械薪褜 屑芯谢芯写芯谐芯 懈 芯褔械薪褜 薪邪懈胁薪芯谐芯 孝芯褉薪褌芯薪邪 校邪泄谢写械褉邪))
小 薪芯胁芯泄 褋懈谢芯泄 蟹邪褋泻褍褔邪谢邪 锌芯 袪懈屑褍.
小 薪芯胁芯泄 褋懈谢芯泄 蟹邪褋泻褍褔邪谢邪 锌芯 袪懈屑褍.
March 25, 2019
Ironic and self-ironic, unapologetically literary, urbane and heady. Reads, for the most part, like Woolf or Forster, occasionally reaching wry delights: "When the bourgeoisie discovered that she was accepting invitations there was a tumult as of many waters."
This is a book where you get the feeling that the trees, as it were, are more important than the forest. And then, after weaving this glittering verbal spell, the story pounces from behind it and flexes: does things that I not only haven't seen done but still can't imagine being done in serious literature.
This is absolutely a hidden gem of American lit.
I think you should read it and see what I mean.
This is a book where you get the feeling that the trees, as it were, are more important than the forest. And then, after weaving this glittering verbal spell, the story pounces from behind it and flexes: does things that I not only haven't seen done but still can't imagine being done in serious literature.
This is absolutely a hidden gem of American lit.
I think you should read it and see what I mean.
March 24, 2015
Holy cow. What an amazing writer.
December 17, 2024
Wilder really loves to craft exquisitely kooky characters, huh.
It felt like a series of interconnected short stories as opposed to one cohesive narrative. I loved the Astr茅e-Luce and the Cardinal chapter.
It felt like a series of interconnected short stories as opposed to one cohesive narrative. I loved the Astr茅e-Luce and the Cardinal chapter.
January 13, 2025
螘尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏维 蠂伪蟻喂蟿蠅渭苇谓慰, 魏蠀蟻委蠅蟼 纬喂伪蟿委 渭慰蠀 胃蠉渭喂蟽蔚 渭喂伪 蟺苇蟻位伪 位伪蠆魏萎蟼 蟽慰蠁委伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟿蠈蟺慰蠀 渭慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 位苇蔚喂 螚 蟺蟻慰尉蔚谓萎蟿蟻伪 畏 伪谓蠉蟺伪谓蟿蟻畏 纬喂伪 蟺维蟻蟿畏 蟿味畏蟼 纬蠀蟻蔚蠉纬蔚喂.
May 29, 2012
It must have been the influence of high school where we were required to read Our Town and The Bridge of San Luis Rey that gave me the idea that familiarity with Wilder was necessary for a liberal education. In any case, I went on to read his Ides of March, and wasn't impressed, and The Cabala, and was even less impressed.
May 7, 2020
An uneventful and plotless but beautifully written story of a young American who is befriended by a group of well-to-do socialites in 1920's Rome. It was Wilders first book and hinted at the enormous talent that he would demonstrate in his later writings.
February 3, 2021
I read this thirty years ago and enjoyed it much more this time. Wilder was a master.
October 24, 2017
"Gloom at the Top"
A polite New Englander somehow penetrates a top hat society of aristocrats, pale poets and princesses, and Cardinals in Rome, who are really hapless, caught forever in the coils of wealth and privilege, able to escape daily toil, but not vacuity. They are rather ironically known as the Cabala. [*Note: this book has nothing to do with Jewish mysticism. Nothing!] Our narrator describes a series of Cabala members individually and we learn how they are connected.. Having money is tough, you know. You wind up having to keep the hoi polloi away from the gates. But they still might get in. So best bring back kings, divine right, and the Almighty Church. How are you going to do that? Don't let "them" catch wind of it. Well, you might form a secret group of the "best people" (i.e. richest and most conservative) and talk incessantly, so seriously unserious. Whether they have really created such a group is doubtful. The word "cabala" ties them together in our imaginations.
THE CABALA was Wilder's first novel. It shows promise, but it shows. He went on to become a most worthy novelist and playwright. It is full of wryly humorous, ironic portraits of this group or cabal of mostly non-Italian socialites while vaguely admiring of their physical surroundings---the palaces, the villas, the accoutrements. I wouldn't call this the best novel I've ever read, but it is a fairly charming period piece from a time that was already over when it was written.
A polite New Englander somehow penetrates a top hat society of aristocrats, pale poets and princesses, and Cardinals in Rome, who are really hapless, caught forever in the coils of wealth and privilege, able to escape daily toil, but not vacuity. They are rather ironically known as the Cabala. [*Note: this book has nothing to do with Jewish mysticism. Nothing!] Our narrator describes a series of Cabala members individually and we learn how they are connected.. Having money is tough, you know. You wind up having to keep the hoi polloi away from the gates. But they still might get in. So best bring back kings, divine right, and the Almighty Church. How are you going to do that? Don't let "them" catch wind of it. Well, you might form a secret group of the "best people" (i.e. richest and most conservative) and talk incessantly, so seriously unserious. Whether they have really created such a group is doubtful. The word "cabala" ties them together in our imaginations.
THE CABALA was Wilder's first novel. It shows promise, but it shows. He went on to become a most worthy novelist and playwright. It is full of wryly humorous, ironic portraits of this group or cabal of mostly non-Italian socialites while vaguely admiring of their physical surroundings---the palaces, the villas, the accoutrements. I wouldn't call this the best novel I've ever read, but it is a fairly charming period piece from a time that was already over when it was written.
June 18, 2017
小谢邪胁邪 袘芯谐褍, 褔褌芯 泻薪懈卸泻邪 芯泻邪蟹邪谢邪褋褜 泻芯褉芯褌泻芯泄. 袨褌 褌邪泻芯谐芯 薪邪蟹胁邪薪懈褟 褟 芯卸懈写邪谢邪 锌芯胁械褋褌胁芯胁邪薪懈褟, 械褋谢懈 懈 薪械 芯斜 褍褔械薪懈懈 泻邪斜斜邪谢褘, 褌芯 褏芯褌褟 斜褘 薪械褔褌芯 褌懈锌邪 芦袦邪褟褌薪懈泻邪 肖褍泻芯禄 协泻芯. 袧芯 褝褌芯 胁芯芯斜褖械 薪械 锌芯薪褟褌薪芯 褔褌芯 鈥� 褔褌芯-褌芯 褌懈锌邪 薪械锌褍褌械胁褘褏 蟹邪屑械褌芯泻 校邪泄谢写械褉邪 芯 锌褍褌械褕械褋褌胁懈懈 胁 袠褌邪谢懈褞 懈 胁褋褌褉械褔懈 褋 薪械泻芯褌芯褉褘屑懈 谢褞写褜屑懈.
袙芯芯斜褖械 褋褌褉邪薪薪邪褟 泻薪懈谐邪 鈥� 芯薪 谐芯胁芯褉懈褌 芯 谐褉褍锌锌械 谢褞写械泄, 泻芯褌芯褉褘械 芯斜褗械写懈薪械薪褘 屑械卸写褍 褋芯斜芯泄 薪械泻懈屑 锌褉懈薪褑懈锌芯屑 褌邪懈薪褋褌胁械薪薪芯褋褌懈, 芯斜褖械谐芯 锌褉械蟹褉械薪懈褟 泻 谢褞写褟屑, 褔械屑-褌芯 械褖械 薪械锌芯薪褟褌薪褘屑. 袙 懈褌芯谐械 褝褌懈 谢褞写懈 芯泻邪蟹褘胁邪褞褌褋褟 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁懈褌械谢褟屑懈 斜芯屑芯薪写邪, 褍 泻芯褌芯褉褘褏 屑薪芯谐芯-屑薪芯谐芯 写械薪械谐, 懈 泻芯褌芯褉褘屑 薪械 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪芯 锌褉芯卸懈谐邪褌褜 褋胁芯褞 卸懈蟹薪褜 泻邪泻 芯褋褌邪谢褜薪褘屑 斜芯谐邪褔邪屑. 袠 芯薪懈 胁械写褍褌 芦懈薪褌械谢谢械泻褌褍邪谢褜薪褘械禄 褉邪蟹谐芯胁芯褉褘 鈥� 锌褉懈褔械屑 薪懈 芯写薪芯泄 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪芯泄 写谢褟 屑械薪褟 屑褘褋谢懈 薪邪 褋褌褉邪薪懈褑邪褏 泻薪懈谐懈 褟 褌邪泻 懈 薪械 芯斜薪邪褉褍卸懈谢邪. 袣邪卸写邪褟 懈蟹 谐谢邪胁 锌芯褋胁褟褖械薪邪 泻邪泻芯屑褍-褌芯 芯写薪芯屑褍 褔谢械薪褍 泻邪斜斜邪谢褘. 袙 锌芯褋谢械写薪械泄 写械谢邪械褌褋褟 锌芯锌褘褌泻邪 芯斜褗褟褋薪懈褌褜, 褔褌芯 褝褌芯 胁 泻芯薪械褔薪芯屑 懈褌芯谐械 褌邪泻芯械. 袨泻邪蟹褘胁邪械褌褋褟, 褋 锌褉懈褏芯写芯屑 褏褉懈褋褌懈邪薪褋褌胁邪 写褉械胁薪懈械 斜芯谐懈 薪械 褍屑械褉谢懈, 邪 褋褌邪谢懈 胁褋械谢褟褌褜褋褟 胁 谢褞写械泄. 袠 褌邪泻 芯薪懈 懈 斜褉芯写褟褌 锌芯 褋胁械褌褍.
袛邪, 械褖械 斜褘谢邪 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪邪褟 褎褉邪蟹邪, 泻芯褌芯褉芯泄, 褟 写褍屑邪褞, 斜褍写械褌 写芯褋褌芯泄薪褘屑 芯褌胁械褌芯屑 袝谐芯褉芯胁褋泻芯谐芯 芦袙芯褌 芯薪邪, 泻芯褉芯谢械胁邪 胁泻褍褋邪, 褕邪褉屑邪 懈 芯斜邪褟薪懈褟!禄.
芦Eccolo, questo figliolo di Vitman, di Poe, di Vilson, di Gugliemo James -- di Emerson, che dico!禄 袠 锌芯-褉褍褋褋泻懈: 芦袙芯褌 芯薪, 褝褌芯褌 褋褘薪 校懈褌屑械薪邪, 袩芯, 校懈谢褋芯薪邪, 校懈谢褜褟屑褋邪 袛卸械泄屑褋邪 -- 褔褌芯 褟 谐芯胁芯褉褞 -- 协屑械褉褋芯薪邪!禄. 袦懈谢芯 )
袙芯芯斜褖械 褋褌褉邪薪薪邪褟 泻薪懈谐邪 鈥� 芯薪 谐芯胁芯褉懈褌 芯 谐褉褍锌锌械 谢褞写械泄, 泻芯褌芯褉褘械 芯斜褗械写懈薪械薪褘 屑械卸写褍 褋芯斜芯泄 薪械泻懈屑 锌褉懈薪褑懈锌芯屑 褌邪懈薪褋褌胁械薪薪芯褋褌懈, 芯斜褖械谐芯 锌褉械蟹褉械薪懈褟 泻 谢褞写褟屑, 褔械屑-褌芯 械褖械 薪械锌芯薪褟褌薪褘屑. 袙 懈褌芯谐械 褝褌懈 谢褞写懈 芯泻邪蟹褘胁邪褞褌褋褟 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁懈褌械谢褟屑懈 斜芯屑芯薪写邪, 褍 泻芯褌芯褉褘褏 屑薪芯谐芯-屑薪芯谐芯 写械薪械谐, 懈 泻芯褌芯褉褘屑 薪械 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪芯 锌褉芯卸懈谐邪褌褜 褋胁芯褞 卸懈蟹薪褜 泻邪泻 芯褋褌邪谢褜薪褘屑 斜芯谐邪褔邪屑. 袠 芯薪懈 胁械写褍褌 芦懈薪褌械谢谢械泻褌褍邪谢褜薪褘械禄 褉邪蟹谐芯胁芯褉褘 鈥� 锌褉懈褔械屑 薪懈 芯写薪芯泄 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪芯泄 写谢褟 屑械薪褟 屑褘褋谢懈 薪邪 褋褌褉邪薪懈褑邪褏 泻薪懈谐懈 褟 褌邪泻 懈 薪械 芯斜薪邪褉褍卸懈谢邪. 袣邪卸写邪褟 懈蟹 谐谢邪胁 锌芯褋胁褟褖械薪邪 泻邪泻芯屑褍-褌芯 芯写薪芯屑褍 褔谢械薪褍 泻邪斜斜邪谢褘. 袙 锌芯褋谢械写薪械泄 写械谢邪械褌褋褟 锌芯锌褘褌泻邪 芯斜褗褟褋薪懈褌褜, 褔褌芯 褝褌芯 胁 泻芯薪械褔薪芯屑 懈褌芯谐械 褌邪泻芯械. 袨泻邪蟹褘胁邪械褌褋褟, 褋 锌褉懈褏芯写芯屑 褏褉懈褋褌懈邪薪褋褌胁邪 写褉械胁薪懈械 斜芯谐懈 薪械 褍屑械褉谢懈, 邪 褋褌邪谢懈 胁褋械谢褟褌褜褋褟 胁 谢褞写械泄. 袠 褌邪泻 芯薪懈 懈 斜褉芯写褟褌 锌芯 褋胁械褌褍.
袛邪, 械褖械 斜褘谢邪 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪邪褟 褎褉邪蟹邪, 泻芯褌芯褉芯泄, 褟 写褍屑邪褞, 斜褍写械褌 写芯褋褌芯泄薪褘屑 芯褌胁械褌芯屑 袝谐芯褉芯胁褋泻芯谐芯 芦袙芯褌 芯薪邪, 泻芯褉芯谢械胁邪 胁泻褍褋邪, 褕邪褉屑邪 懈 芯斜邪褟薪懈褟!禄.
芦Eccolo, questo figliolo di Vitman, di Poe, di Vilson, di Gugliemo James -- di Emerson, che dico!禄 袠 锌芯-褉褍褋褋泻懈: 芦袙芯褌 芯薪, 褝褌芯褌 褋褘薪 校懈褌屑械薪邪, 袩芯, 校懈谢褋芯薪邪, 校懈谢褜褟屑褋邪 袛卸械泄屑褋邪 -- 褔褌芯 褟 谐芯胁芯褉褞 -- 协屑械褉褋芯薪邪!禄. 袦懈谢芯 )
March 30, 2025
I re-read Thornton Wilder's first novel, The Cabala, for the Thornton Wilder Society Zoom reading and discussion series (basically a Thornton Wilder book/play club). I first read it 10 years ago, and at that point had only read a couple of Wilder's novels: The Bridge of San Luis Rey and The Eighth Day. It did have some similarities to The Bridge of San Luis Rey but now that I have read all Wilder's novels I realize it compares most to his final novel, Theophilus North. After the narrator meets the members of the Cabala, most of the chapters are him helping out various members with family members or unfortunate situations, which is what also happens in Theophilus North, though in Rhode Island, not Italy. I do like this book, even though it's very much a first novel, but my big issue with it is that it functions like a television pilot. The last chapter is a big twist/reveal, which makes you go, OH MY GOD! I SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE! And it makes me want to watch the next episode. But there is no next episode. I won't give anything else away, but if you are a fan of Wilder's more well-known work, The Cabala is a great book to check out and understand his origins.
October 18, 2020
I was curious what Thorton Wilder's first novel would be like. This before he got famous with The Bridge of San Luis Rey, which I read way back in ninth grade, or his memorable play Our Town, which I read in ninth. Those were two very different books yet they entertained with detail in language and the provoking of philosophical musings. And we see some of that here in this semi-autobiographical portrait of a small group of conservative monarchist types gathered in Rome, representatives of an earlier and clearly disappearing age, seen from the perspective of an impressionable young American expat, clearly based on Wilder himself.
He is a bit full of himself here, and sometimes the urge to show off with purple prose gets the better of him, but at other times, I have to tell you, the language soars, and there are wonderful plays of word choice in details and flourishes of Classical or literary references on point and instructive, the likes of which you won't see in contemporary writing.
He is a bit full of himself here, and sometimes the urge to show off with purple prose gets the better of him, but at other times, I have to tell you, the language soars, and there are wonderful plays of word choice in details and flourishes of Classical or literary references on point and instructive, the likes of which you won't see in contemporary writing.
April 12, 2021
don't get me wrong, there are glimmers of Wilder's delicate, heartbreaking sensibilities in these pages especially in the final chapter, but this is one of the most "first novel" novels I've come across. It's completely in a time out of joint. It's a book in love with Henry James's Italian adventures, but also trying to shed its ornamentation. A fumbling, self-conscious love face forward and backward across two centuries not long after the cataclysm of the great war shuttered the 19th century for good. And so the spectator of modernism looms large in this text, to the point where proust and joyce even get name-dropped, but it's reactive and anxious. Flashes of the Pound's "make it new" are here and there, but they're all second-hand. When Thornton brings in the old, he tries to make it seem new, and when he tries to be new, it's already been done.
There's deep feeling here, but not on a sturdy foundation. Thankfully, for Wilder and us, that would come not too long after this.
There's deep feeling here, but not on a sturdy foundation. Thankfully, for Wilder and us, that would come not too long after this.
January 9, 2023
Picked this up randomly at the used bookstore and loved it. The synopsis on the edition I bought is not even close, but in a good way. Basically, you get a very Great Gatsby feeling narration from an American in Rome in the '20s, dealing with wealthy members of the "Cabala." These are members of powerful families who formerly ruled the region pre-enlightenment. They still think they have the means to place a Holy Roman Catholic Emperor by their influence. But they do not...
Told as three short stories, each focused on one character interaction, it's beautiful and thoughtful prose that flips the idea of powerful secret societies on its head. It's deep and often unintentionally or darkly humorous. Very thought provoking with many religious themes.
Told as three short stories, each focused on one character interaction, it's beautiful and thoughtful prose that flips the idea of powerful secret societies on its head. It's deep and often unintentionally or darkly humorous. Very thought provoking with many religious themes.
February 16, 2019
Affluenza is defined as the negative psychological or behavioral effects of having or pursuing wealth, per dictionary.com. This story excellently demonstrates that concept, as it explores the lives of a group of individuals whose wealth has insulated them from the world, while convincing them that it's their job to run the world.The exploration of the idea is absorbing, especially given the "contemporary" post-WWI setting, which allows a 21st century reader to see outcomes that the author (and characters) could not.
September 11, 2021
This book felt like it was 800 pages long. I struggled to pick it up and it left me a bit slumpy. It doesn't really have much of a plot, nor does it have very interesting or engaging characters. The language is good at times but I felt it too over the top for me. The lack of quotation marks was infuriating and it was very difficult to get through. I found no part of this book enjoyable and only finished it because I convinced myself that DNFing a 150 page book was borderline pathetic. Silly, silly me.
June 9, 2022
Meh. I listened to an audio version, and may not have been as sensitive to style. But there were plot developments that weren't credible, and others that seemed to peter out into nothing. With one exception, I didn't quite get the feeling the members of the Cabala were grand or fascinating characters. The cardinal's story was interesting and a bit more memorable than that of the others.
August 7, 2022
decent read, but not extraordinary
August 22, 2023
袨褔械褉械写薪邪褟 泻薪懈卸泻邪 锌褉芯 械胁褉芯锌械泄褋泻褍褞 邪褉懈褋褌芯泻褉邪褌懈褞 懈 械褢 褋褌褉邪写邪褕泻懈... 袧芯 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪芯 卸懈胁械薪褜泻芯.
November 13, 2024
The words glide across the page effortlessly and fantastically. The book is a drama, an absurdity, a fantasy. I could reread this in one day.
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August 19, 2020Always interesting to go back and visit debut books from prized authors, and inside this one you can already see The Bridge of San Luis Rey forming.
December 2, 2014
El choque inicial es poderoso: lo m谩s natural es que el lector llegue a 鈥淟a C谩bala鈥� (editada ahora en nuestro pa铆s por Autom谩tica) esperando un relato misterioso que, a trav茅s de la figura protag贸nica del reci茅n llegado, vaya desvelado poco a poco las luces y las sombras de esta organizaci贸n secreta, tan similiar a los Masones pero en versi贸n europe铆sta. Sorprendentemente, Thornton Wilder aniquila completamente el misterio en las primeras p谩ginas, dejando al descubierto qu茅 es exactamente la C谩bala鈥�: 鈥淟os imagino as铆, 驴has o铆do algo acerca de los cient铆ficos que trabajan en Australia y llegan a regiones donde los animales y las plantas dejaron de evolucionar eras atr谩s? Encuentran un reducto de tiempo arcaico en mitad del mundo que ha avanzado mucho m谩s all谩. Bueno, la C谩bala debe ser algo parecido a esto. Aqu铆 tenemos a un grupo de gente perdiendo el sue帽o por un sinf铆n de ideas que el resto del mundo super贸 hace siglos: la prioridad de una duquesa para cruzar una puerta antes que otra; el orden de ls palabras en un dogma de la Iglesia; la designaci贸n de los reyes por gracia de Dios, especialmente en el caso de los Borbones. Siguen estando profundamente apasionados por cuestiones que el resto de nosotros vemos como elementos m谩s bien propios de anticuarios鈥�.
A la mierda con el misterio y, sobre todo, con la fascinaci贸n del lector: desde un buen principio, Wilder presenta la C谩bala como algo anacr贸nico鈥� Y, aun as铆, es incapaz de extirpar en el lector el deseo primitivo de saber m谩s, de ser seducido de la misma forma en la que el protagonista es seducido por esta 鈥渙rganizaci贸n鈥� (entrecomillada) que le abraza como un miembro m谩s y que empieza a exhibir en su presencia todo un conjunto de miserias que parecen llegadas de otros siglos. La estructura de 鈥淟a C谩bala鈥� va clarific谩ndose poco a poco: Thornton Wilder podr铆a haber optado por bordar un relato de viaje a la forma de E.M. Forster, en la que el protagonista se ve inmerso en una trama narrativa en la que el principal peso recae sobre su condici贸n de turista en una ciudad extranjera (en este caso, una Roma magn谩nima).
Pero la intenci贸n de Wilder nunca es establecer una trama narrativa 煤nica con una presentaci贸n, un nudo y un desenlace: por el contrario, 鈥淟a C谩bala鈥� pronto se estructura de forma capitular, de tal forma que cada cap铆tulo se corresponde a un miembro de la C谩bala y a su cantar de gesta particular. Al principio, el protagonista cae en el epicentro de una extra帽a situaci贸n cuando uno de los pilares de la organizaci贸n, una vieja dama preocupada por la preservaci贸n de una moral anticuada, le pide que aleccione a su hijo para que este deje de comportarse como un Casanova del mont贸n que va saltando de mujer a mujer, de relaci贸n sexual a relaci贸n sexual. Una vez cerrado (dram谩ticamente) este episodio, el protagonista se ver谩 envuelto en una historia de amor no correspondida en la que otra dama, no tan vieja en esta ocasi贸n, ver谩 c贸mo sus propias emociones le desgarran por dentro hasta hacerle perder la raz贸n. Y, finalmente, el 煤ltimo tramo del libro se ve ocupado por la lucha de contrarios entre una beata integrista y un obispo que sabe que para ser virtuoso en la religi贸n antes has de conocer el pecado de primera mano.
La lucha entre sexo y moral, entre amor y raz贸n, entre la fe y sus m煤ltiples claroscuros鈥� 鈥淟a C谩bala鈥� muestra todo un conjunto de luchas de contrarios que se circunscriben perfectamente al entorno greco-romano cl谩sico en el que se desarrolla toda la acci贸n. Y, precisamente cuando el lector haya abandonado cualquier atisbo de fascinaci贸n hacia la C谩bala, cuando haya sucumbido ante la idea de que en esta organizaci贸n hay poco misterio y mucho anquilosamiento intelectual, Thornton Wilder le da un magistral vuelco a su novela en un sublime retru茅cano a modo de conversaci贸n final que fulmina al lector gracias a una elocuencia fant谩stica que te obliga a pensar que, al fin y al cabo, Roma no s贸lo fue hogar de Dioses, sino que estos mismos Dioses siempre fueron una efectiva met谩fora de la misma lucha de contrarios en la que la C谩bala parece inmersa ad infinitum.
A la mierda con el misterio y, sobre todo, con la fascinaci贸n del lector: desde un buen principio, Wilder presenta la C谩bala como algo anacr贸nico鈥� Y, aun as铆, es incapaz de extirpar en el lector el deseo primitivo de saber m谩s, de ser seducido de la misma forma en la que el protagonista es seducido por esta 鈥渙rganizaci贸n鈥� (entrecomillada) que le abraza como un miembro m谩s y que empieza a exhibir en su presencia todo un conjunto de miserias que parecen llegadas de otros siglos. La estructura de 鈥淟a C谩bala鈥� va clarific谩ndose poco a poco: Thornton Wilder podr铆a haber optado por bordar un relato de viaje a la forma de E.M. Forster, en la que el protagonista se ve inmerso en una trama narrativa en la que el principal peso recae sobre su condici贸n de turista en una ciudad extranjera (en este caso, una Roma magn谩nima).
Pero la intenci贸n de Wilder nunca es establecer una trama narrativa 煤nica con una presentaci贸n, un nudo y un desenlace: por el contrario, 鈥淟a C谩bala鈥� pronto se estructura de forma capitular, de tal forma que cada cap铆tulo se corresponde a un miembro de la C谩bala y a su cantar de gesta particular. Al principio, el protagonista cae en el epicentro de una extra帽a situaci贸n cuando uno de los pilares de la organizaci贸n, una vieja dama preocupada por la preservaci贸n de una moral anticuada, le pide que aleccione a su hijo para que este deje de comportarse como un Casanova del mont贸n que va saltando de mujer a mujer, de relaci贸n sexual a relaci贸n sexual. Una vez cerrado (dram谩ticamente) este episodio, el protagonista se ver谩 envuelto en una historia de amor no correspondida en la que otra dama, no tan vieja en esta ocasi贸n, ver谩 c贸mo sus propias emociones le desgarran por dentro hasta hacerle perder la raz贸n. Y, finalmente, el 煤ltimo tramo del libro se ve ocupado por la lucha de contrarios entre una beata integrista y un obispo que sabe que para ser virtuoso en la religi贸n antes has de conocer el pecado de primera mano.
La lucha entre sexo y moral, entre amor y raz贸n, entre la fe y sus m煤ltiples claroscuros鈥� 鈥淟a C谩bala鈥� muestra todo un conjunto de luchas de contrarios que se circunscriben perfectamente al entorno greco-romano cl谩sico en el que se desarrolla toda la acci贸n. Y, precisamente cuando el lector haya abandonado cualquier atisbo de fascinaci贸n hacia la C谩bala, cuando haya sucumbido ante la idea de que en esta organizaci贸n hay poco misterio y mucho anquilosamiento intelectual, Thornton Wilder le da un magistral vuelco a su novela en un sublime retru茅cano a modo de conversaci贸n final que fulmina al lector gracias a una elocuencia fant谩stica que te obliga a pensar que, al fin y al cabo, Roma no s贸lo fue hogar de Dioses, sino que estos mismos Dioses siempre fueron una efectiva met谩fora de la misma lucha de contrarios en la que la C谩bala parece inmersa ad infinitum.
December 27, 2020
A stronger read than I remember. Wilder comes out of the gate strong in terms of talent. The writing remains beautiful and the characters fascinating. However the story is more or less non-existent and the various streams that he pursues are uninteresting.
August 4, 2010
Wilder's first novel, written at age 26 after he had spent a year at the American school in Rome. A portrait of bored and decadent aristocracy in Rome between the wars. Characters drawn in great detail, but somehow they never came alive for me. The tone of the narrator is irritating--a very young man trying very hard to persuade the reader of his immense erudition by describing all the art and artists he encounters with barely concealed condescension. But then in what amounts to an afterword entitled "The Dusk of the Gods" we are given the suggestion that all the characters we have seen are the worn-out incarnations of ancient Roman deities, and that the narrator himself is the incarnation of Mercury, the founder of language and eloquence, and also the guide of souls to the underworld. Suddenly all that has gone before becomes enlarged. And there is a beautiful evocation of Virgil's poetry in a long description of nightfall on the Mediterranean, as the narrator sails away from Rome on his way back to America.
February 21, 2011
While I like Wilder's writing style, which to me seems fairly fresh considering how old it is, this story didn't compel me. I did get through it, but it took a while, as every other book I was reading took precedence. I found it hard to care about rich and powerful (okay, maybe only in their own minds) people in Italy who throw parties and histrionic fits in equal measure. This is Wilder before he matured as a writer, rather full of himself, but giving us a peek of the promise that would produce Our Town and Bridge of San Luis Rey. An interesting picture of high society "doing the European Tour" post-WWI, but not as engaging as it could be.
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