What do you think?
Rate this book
Mikael #1
El Aventurero
El ingenuo y malicioso Miguel, protagonista de esta historia, queda huérfano trágicamente desde muy temprana edad en la lejana Finlandia. Recogido por una piadosa mujer es educado por religiosos y pronto se verá inmerso en las luchas de su país. A partir de entonces numerosas aventuras le esperan a Miguel en la España, Francia, Alemania e Italia del siglo XVI y nos explica cómo se vio obligado a usar turbante y convertirse en un seguidor de Mahoma.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1948
79 people are currently reading
1201 people want to read
About the author
Mika Waltari
235 books711 followersMika Toimi Waltari was a Finnish historical novelist, best known for his magnum opus The Egyptian.
Waltari was born in Helsinki and lost his father, a Lutheran pastor, at the age of five. As a boy, he witnessed the Finnish Civil War in Helsinki. Later he enrolled in the University of Helsinki as a theology student, according to his mother's wishes, but soon abandoned theology in favour of philosophy, aesthetics and literature, graduating in 1929. While studying, he contributed to various magazines and wrote poetry and stories, getting his first book published in 1925. In 1927 he went to Paris where he wrote his first major novel Suuri illusioni ('The Grand Illusion'), a story of bohemian life. In terms of style, the novel is considered to be the Finnish equivalent to the works of the American writers of the Lost Generation. (In Waltari's historical novel The Adventurer, taking place in the 16th century, the hero is a Finn who goes to Paris during his twenties and lives there a rather bohemian life). Waltari also was, for a while, a member of the liberal literary movement Tulenkantajat, though his political and social views later turned conservative. He was married in 1931 and had a daughter, Satu, who also became a writer.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Waltari worked hectically as a journalist and critic, writing for a number of newspapers and magazines and travelling widely in Europe. He directed the magazine Suomen Kuvalehti. At the same time, he kept writing books in many genres, moving easily from one literary field to another. He had a very busy schedule and strict work ethic. It has been claimed that he also suffered from insomnia and depression, sometimes to the extent of needing hospital treatment. He participated, and often succeeded, in literary competitions to prove the quality of his work to critics. One of these competitions gave rise to one of his most popular characters, Inspector Palmu, a gruff detective of the Helsinki police department, who starred in three mystery novels, all of which were filmed (a fourth one was made without Waltari involved). Waltari also scripted the popular cartoon Kieku ja Kaiku and wrote Aiotko kirjailijaksi, a guidebook for aspiring writers that influenced many younger writers such as Kalle Päätalo.
During the Winter War (1939–1940) and the Continuation War (1941–1944), Waltari worked in the government information center, now also placing his literary skills at the service of political propaganda. 1945 saw the publication of Waltari's first and most successful historical novel, The Egyptian. Its theme of the corruption of humanist values in a materialist world seemed curiously topical in the aftermath of World War II, and the book became an international bestseller, serving as the basis of the 1954 Hollywood movie of the same name. Waltari wrote seven more historical novels, placed in various ancient cultures, among which The Dark Angel, set during the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 is probably the best. In these novels, he gave powerful expression to his fundamental pessimism and also, in two novels set in the Roman Empire, to his Christian conviction. After the war, he also wrote several novellas, showing particular mastery in this genre. He became a member of the Finnish Academy in 1957 and received an honorary doctorate at the University of Turku in 1970.
Waltari was one of the most prolific Finnish writers. He wrote at least 29 novels, 15 novellas, 6 collections of stories or fairy-tales, 6 collections of poetry and 26 plays, as well as screenplays, radioplays, non-fiction, translations, and hundreds of reviews and articles. He is also the internationally best-known Finnish writer, and his works have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Waltari was born in Helsinki and lost his father, a Lutheran pastor, at the age of five. As a boy, he witnessed the Finnish Civil War in Helsinki. Later he enrolled in the University of Helsinki as a theology student, according to his mother's wishes, but soon abandoned theology in favour of philosophy, aesthetics and literature, graduating in 1929. While studying, he contributed to various magazines and wrote poetry and stories, getting his first book published in 1925. In 1927 he went to Paris where he wrote his first major novel Suuri illusioni ('The Grand Illusion'), a story of bohemian life. In terms of style, the novel is considered to be the Finnish equivalent to the works of the American writers of the Lost Generation. (In Waltari's historical novel The Adventurer, taking place in the 16th century, the hero is a Finn who goes to Paris during his twenties and lives there a rather bohemian life). Waltari also was, for a while, a member of the liberal literary movement Tulenkantajat, though his political and social views later turned conservative. He was married in 1931 and had a daughter, Satu, who also became a writer.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Waltari worked hectically as a journalist and critic, writing for a number of newspapers and magazines and travelling widely in Europe. He directed the magazine Suomen Kuvalehti. At the same time, he kept writing books in many genres, moving easily from one literary field to another. He had a very busy schedule and strict work ethic. It has been claimed that he also suffered from insomnia and depression, sometimes to the extent of needing hospital treatment. He participated, and often succeeded, in literary competitions to prove the quality of his work to critics. One of these competitions gave rise to one of his most popular characters, Inspector Palmu, a gruff detective of the Helsinki police department, who starred in three mystery novels, all of which were filmed (a fourth one was made without Waltari involved). Waltari also scripted the popular cartoon Kieku ja Kaiku and wrote Aiotko kirjailijaksi, a guidebook for aspiring writers that influenced many younger writers such as Kalle Päätalo.
During the Winter War (1939–1940) and the Continuation War (1941–1944), Waltari worked in the government information center, now also placing his literary skills at the service of political propaganda. 1945 saw the publication of Waltari's first and most successful historical novel, The Egyptian. Its theme of the corruption of humanist values in a materialist world seemed curiously topical in the aftermath of World War II, and the book became an international bestseller, serving as the basis of the 1954 Hollywood movie of the same name. Waltari wrote seven more historical novels, placed in various ancient cultures, among which The Dark Angel, set during the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 is probably the best. In these novels, he gave powerful expression to his fundamental pessimism and also, in two novels set in the Roman Empire, to his Christian conviction. After the war, he also wrote several novellas, showing particular mastery in this genre. He became a member of the Finnish Academy in 1957 and received an honorary doctorate at the University of Turku in 1970.
Waltari was one of the most prolific Finnish writers. He wrote at least 29 novels, 15 novellas, 6 collections of stories or fairy-tales, 6 collections of poetry and 26 plays, as well as screenplays, radioplays, non-fiction, translations, and hundreds of reviews and articles. He is also the internationally best-known Finnish writer, and his works have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
July 19, 2015
کتابی دو جلدی که بخاطر نویسنده سینوهه خواندم.نخواندنش را پیشنهاد میدم
ميكائيل مردي است كه زنش را دادگاه تفتیش عقائد محکوم و فک کنم در آتش سوزانده بودند
در قرون وسطي ،این سوزاندن مجازات کسانی بود که به مرتدی و جادوگر بودن و .. محکوم می شدند
حتی به مردگانی که به ایمانشان شک داشتند رحم نمی شد و از گور بیرون
!!!آورده شده و سوزانده می شدند
...ميكائيل بخاطر اين خشونت هاي غیر انسانی به شرق سفر می کند
حیفم آمد خطابه زیر را که در کتاب دیگری آنرا خوانده ام را رد ایجا نیاورم.در این خطابه ویکتور هوگو به کلیسا و روحانیونی حمله می کند که باعث کشته شدن هزاران یا میلیون ها نفر انسان بی گناه شدند
:خطابه ویکتور هوگو در مجلس ملی فرانسه
من شما را بجای دین قبول نمی کنم،شما انگل و آفت دینید...نفرتی که شما به
...خود جلب می کنید به دین هم تاثیر می بخشد و مردم را از آن بیزار می کند
کلیسا بود که پرینلی را به خاطر این سخن که ستارگان از جای خود نمیافتند! با ضربات شلاق مجروح کرده، کامپانلا را به خاطر آن که از وجود دنیاهای بیشمار دم زده بود، به جرم دخالت در امر آفرینش بیست و هفت بار به زندان و شکنجه محکوم کرد
هاروی را برای اثبات جریان خون را در بدن، سخت آزار کرد، گالیله را به خاطر اعتقادش به گردش زمین به زندان افکند، کریستف کلمب را به خاطر کشف سرزمینی که در تورات ذکر نشده بود زندانی ساخت
و پاسکال را به نام دین، مونتنیه را به نام اخلاق و مولیر را به نام دین و اخلاق تکفیر کرد
پروردگانتان را نشان بدهید،یکی از پروردگان شما ایتالیا است و دیگری اسپانیا
شما که چندین قرن سرنوشت این دو ملت بزرگ پر استعداد را دست گرفتید و در مدارس خود پروردید، آنها را به چه روز انداختید؟
،ایتالیا که مهد تمدن بود،امروز مردمش خواندن و نوشتن نمی دانند
اسپانیا که یکجا از رومیان تمدن آموخت و یکجا از مسلمین معرفت اندوخت و خداوند کشوری مانندآمریکا باو اعطا فرمود،از دولت سر شما تمدنی را که از روم گرفته بود و استعدادی را که از مسلمانان دریافته بود و کشوری را خداوند باو داده بود همه را از دست داد و بجای همه این نعمت ها محکمه تفتیش عقاید را دارا شد،همان محکمه که ۵ میلیون نفوس محترم را با آتش سوزانید یا در زندان خفه کرد و حتی مردگان را بعنوان کفر الحاد از گور به
...در آورد و سوزانید
...این است هنر های شما
ميكائيل مردي است كه زنش را دادگاه تفتیش عقائد محکوم و فک کنم در آتش سوزانده بودند
در قرون وسطي ،این سوزاندن مجازات کسانی بود که به مرتدی و جادوگر بودن و .. محکوم می شدند
حتی به مردگانی که به ایمانشان شک داشتند رحم نمی شد و از گور بیرون
!!!آورده شده و سوزانده می شدند
...ميكائيل بخاطر اين خشونت هاي غیر انسانی به شرق سفر می کند
حیفم آمد خطابه زیر را که در کتاب دیگری آنرا خوانده ام را رد ایجا نیاورم.در این خطابه ویکتور هوگو به کلیسا و روحانیونی حمله می کند که باعث کشته شدن هزاران یا میلیون ها نفر انسان بی گناه شدند
:خطابه ویکتور هوگو در مجلس ملی فرانسه
من شما را بجای دین قبول نمی کنم،شما انگل و آفت دینید...نفرتی که شما به
...خود جلب می کنید به دین هم تاثیر می بخشد و مردم را از آن بیزار می کند
کلیسا بود که پرینلی را به خاطر این سخن که ستارگان از جای خود نمیافتند! با ضربات شلاق مجروح کرده، کامپانلا را به خاطر آن که از وجود دنیاهای بیشمار دم زده بود، به جرم دخالت در امر آفرینش بیست و هفت بار به زندان و شکنجه محکوم کرد
هاروی را برای اثبات جریان خون را در بدن، سخت آزار کرد، گالیله را به خاطر اعتقادش به گردش زمین به زندان افکند، کریستف کلمب را به خاطر کشف سرزمینی که در تورات ذکر نشده بود زندانی ساخت
و پاسکال را به نام دین، مونتنیه را به نام اخلاق و مولیر را به نام دین و اخلاق تکفیر کرد
پروردگانتان را نشان بدهید،یکی از پروردگان شما ایتالیا است و دیگری اسپانیا
شما که چندین قرن سرنوشت این دو ملت بزرگ پر استعداد را دست گرفتید و در مدارس خود پروردید، آنها را به چه روز انداختید؟
،ایتالیا که مهد تمدن بود،امروز مردمش خواندن و نوشتن نمی دانند
اسپانیا که یکجا از رومیان تمدن آموخت و یکجا از مسلمین معرفت اندوخت و خداوند کشوری مانندآمریکا باو اعطا فرمود،از دولت سر شما تمدنی را که از روم گرفته بود و استعدادی را که از مسلمانان دریافته بود و کشوری را خداوند باو داده بود همه را از دست داد و بجای همه این نعمت ها محکمه تفتیش عقاید را دارا شد،همان محکمه که ۵ میلیون نفوس محترم را با آتش سوزانید یا در زندان خفه کرد و حتی مردگان را بعنوان کفر الحاد از گور به
...در آورد و سوزانید
...این است هنر های شما
November 14, 2012
OK, first things: Uh ... the Thirty Years War? No, the book is set a century earlier, in the 1500s. A large part of the background coems from the Italian wars between the Habsburg emperor of Spain and Germany, and the terrier-like king of France.
The protagonist is a bastard, as in the son of an unwed mother and unknown father, and signs his name as Mikael Bast. Karvajalka (which I guess could be translated as Fuzzy-/Furryfoot; the version he uses in Germany is Pelzfuss). He grew up as the foster-child of a town-witch in the main Finnish city, with dreams of making it into the priesthood and living nicely on an income while studying. Mikael is really a bookworm with hubris, perpetually convinced of his own excellence and knowledge while largely incapable of taking care of himself. A big subtext of the book is reading his explanations, shifting the blame for disasters from him and to others, usually:
Antti ("Andy"), his childhood friend and object of abuse. A massive giant of a drunkard with the intellect of a peanut (or so Mikael would tell you), he tags along as the book travels from Finland to France, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy -- through misplaced love and bloody war, scholarly wonders and gruesome executions, ever forced to move on by events utterly unrelated to anything Mikael may have said or done. (Though he is a very self-centred character, and does all he can to blame everyone else but him.) Mikael wants to live in ease on the basis of his enormous brain and knowledge, while poor Antti drifts between heavy manual labour and worse service as a mercenary soldier.
I used to like the book for its humour and historical background, which I first took for inventions and exaggerations. But as I grew up I noted more and more that the events were actually true, though modified via Mikael's perceptions. Places, people and events mentioned here and in the sequel (The Wanderer) keep popping up in my real historical studies, and I love the books more for seeing what Waltari did with things.
The protagonist is a bastard, as in the son of an unwed mother and unknown father, and signs his name as Mikael Bast. Karvajalka (which I guess could be translated as Fuzzy-/Furryfoot; the version he uses in Germany is Pelzfuss). He grew up as the foster-child of a town-witch in the main Finnish city, with dreams of making it into the priesthood and living nicely on an income while studying. Mikael is really a bookworm with hubris, perpetually convinced of his own excellence and knowledge while largely incapable of taking care of himself. A big subtext of the book is reading his explanations, shifting the blame for disasters from him and to others, usually:
Antti ("Andy"), his childhood friend and object of abuse. A massive giant of a drunkard with the intellect of a peanut (or so Mikael would tell you), he tags along as the book travels from Finland to France, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy -- through misplaced love and bloody war, scholarly wonders and gruesome executions, ever forced to move on by events utterly unrelated to anything Mikael may have said or done. (Though he is a very self-centred character, and does all he can to blame everyone else but him.) Mikael wants to live in ease on the basis of his enormous brain and knowledge, while poor Antti drifts between heavy manual labour and worse service as a mercenary soldier.
I used to like the book for its humour and historical background, which I first took for inventions and exaggerations. But as I grew up I noted more and more that the events were actually true, though modified via Mikael's perceptions. Places, people and events mentioned here and in the sequel (The Wanderer) keep popping up in my real historical studies, and I love the books more for seeing what Waltari did with things.
March 14, 2024
Al doilea roman istoric al scriitorului finlandez, publicat în 1948, la trei ani distanță de celebrul Egipteanul, este o carte cu adevărat copleșitoare, o cronică plină de viață și de oroare a Europei Occidentale din secolul al XVI-lea. Din punctul meu de vedere, fraza care descrie cel mai bine acest roman extraordinar este reprezentată de reproșul pe care eroul principal îl adresează socrului său, tatăl Barbarei, în momentul în care înțelege cât de mult își urăște acesta propria fiică, convins fiind de faptul că Barbara este vrăjitoare: "nebunia lumii este mult mai mare decât credeam!" Mika Waltari reușește în acest roman să descrie grozăviile acelei epoci, plasându-l în centrul evenimentelor pe "naivul și sentimentalul" (pentru a cita unul dintre marii scriitori contemporani) Mikael Karvajalka, un orfan născut în 1502 sau 1503 în afara căsătoriei, a cărui mamă s-a sinucis, fiind crescut de doamna Pirjo, o vrăjitoare bună la suflet din Turku, orașul natal al lui Mikael.
Pe scena romanului se perindă numeroase personalități istorice - conducători politici și militari, lideri religioși, artiști, filosofi și gânditori de tot felul etc. - însă la fel de remarcabil este modul în care autorul descrie mișcările colective, personajele secundare, extrem de numeroase, de altfel, fiind foarte puternic conturate.
Așa cum spuneam, acțiunea romanului surprinde numeroase evenimente istorice relevante din epocă, în care Mikael și Antti Kallenpoika, prietenul său ce are rol de Sancho Panza, sunt implicați, fie din pură întâmplare, fie pentru că au un talent deosebit în a căuta necazurile cu lumânarea. Astfel, romanul conține:
- luptele dintre suedezi și danezi;
- mediul academic din Paris, unde studiile se puteau întinde de-a lungul a cincisprezece ani (drumul până la Paris al eroului nostru este împănat de descoperiri înspăimântătoare: "nu era zi de la Dumnezeu să nu trecem pe lângă o spânzurătoare. Fiecare spânzurătoare ne spunea că prin apropiere se află un oraș în care legile sunt prețuite");
- asediul Stockholmului (un veritabil masacru, în realitate: "era o atât de mare confuzie și dezordine în piața centrală a Stockholmului, încât unii oameni ce veniseră din întâmplare să privească execuția au fost luați din mulțime și decapitați. Că a fost o eroare sau o intenție, n-aș putea spune. Această sălbatică orgie a morții depășea orice închipuire nebunească, iar cei care fuseseră târâți la eșafod fără nicio judecată erau descumpăniți și lipsiți de vlagă, ca vitele duse la tăiere");
- asediul fortăreței din Turku de către armata condusă de nobilul Gustav, ce dorea să elibereze Finlanda de dominația regelui Cristian al Danemarcei: "Toată iarna am respirat duhoarea putredă a cadavrelor celor spânzurați și am auzit în urechi croncănitul corbilor. Fata pe care o iubeam a pierit spânzurată, iar pe buna mea mamă oamenii au învinuit-o că-i vrăjitoare și au omorât-o cu pietre";
- șocul provocat de publicarea celor 95 de Teze ale lui Luther;
- vânătoarea de vrăjitoare (câteva detalii înfiorătoare: victima acuzată de vrăjitorie trebuia să plătească costurile incarcerării și judecării sale, indiferent dacă era achitată sau nu; inclusiv animalele erau interogate/torturate, deoarece Satana poate să ia orice chip dorește);
- bătălia de la Pavia, în urma căreia regele Franței, Francisc I, este capturat și devine prizonierul lui Carol I, împăratul Spaniei: "După două ore, totul se isprăvise. Douăzeci de mii de bărbați zăceau morți în parc: francezi, elvețieni, germani, spanioli, italieni, nobili și plebei, cavaleri cu armuri aurite și simpli sulițași. Prada de război era mare, victoria și mai mare, așa că, de bucurie, am cântat, am urlat, am jefuit, am mâncat și ne-am uitat suferințele, deși, după aceea, mulți au murit din rănile cumplite căpătate în timpul bătăliei";
- războaiele țărănești din Germania, în care figurile dominante la nivel dogmatic sunt Thomas Müntzer și Martin Luther, căruia autorul îi face un portret deloc flatant; iată o mostră din pledoaria lui Luther la adresa revoltei țăranilor: "Înjunghiați, loviți, ucideți pe cine puteți! Gândiți-vă că nimic nu este mai otrăvitor, mai criminal și mai satanic decât un om rebel. El trebuie omorât ca un câine turbat. Zdrobiți-l! Dacă nu, el vă va zdrobi, iar împreună cu voi, va zdrobi întreaga națiune";
- moartea lui Thomas Müntzer: "Călăul a retezat capul lui Müntzer, fiindcă, orice s-ar spune, el fusese hirotonisit preot odinioară și se putea bucura de acest privilegiu, dar Pfeiffer a fost spânzurat ca oamenii de rând. Acest zdrăngănitor de sabie de Pfeiffer a sfidat moartea, nu s-a pierdut cu firea în fața călăului și i-a amuzat teribil pe soldați";
- victoria armatei sultanului asupra ungurilor la Mohács: "Tânărul rege Ludwig murise, iar împreună cu el muriseră și nobilii, arhiepiscopii și episcopii Ungariei care-l urmaseră în luptă. Timp de o săptămână plutiseră pe Dunăre cadavrele umflate și, după ce trecuseră orașul Buda prin sabie și foc, turcii ajunseseră la porțile Vienei". În realitate, niciunul dintre eroii noștri nu va participa la acest dezastru.
- "la începutul lunii ianuarie am plecat împreună cu oastea ducelui de Bourbon spre Roma. Astfel a început pentru mine sângerosul an de neuitat 1527". Devastarea Romei este descrisă în aceleași culori sumbre, dar pe deplin elocvente: "Jaful a ținut opt zile și opt nopți, iar eu, dacă vreau acum să-mi imaginez cum este în infern, n-am decât să închid ochii și să-mi amintesc acele zile. Nu există crimă, profanare, viciu, sălbăticie, orgie, pe care sufletele bolnave ale oamenilor să și le imagineze, să nu se fi săvârșit în acele zile". Este posibil să-mi fi scăpat unele evenimente, însă și așa sunt destule. Modul în care s-a documentat Mika Waltari pentru acest roman îți taie răsuflarea. Iar scriitura este, fără doar și poate, un alt atuu al cărții.
În final, există totuși un regret și anume faptul că, deși au trecut 19 ani de la apariția acestui volum, editura Polirom nu a publicat încă partea a doua a aventurilor inegalabile ale eroului nostru, astfel încât cititorii de la noi să vadă modul în care Mikael și Antti au ajuns în slujba sultanului Soliman Magnificul. Dar, cine știe, poate o să apară la un moment dat. Lectură plăcută!
Pe scena romanului se perindă numeroase personalități istorice - conducători politici și militari, lideri religioși, artiști, filosofi și gânditori de tot felul etc. - însă la fel de remarcabil este modul în care autorul descrie mișcările colective, personajele secundare, extrem de numeroase, de altfel, fiind foarte puternic conturate.
Așa cum spuneam, acțiunea romanului surprinde numeroase evenimente istorice relevante din epocă, în care Mikael și Antti Kallenpoika, prietenul său ce are rol de Sancho Panza, sunt implicați, fie din pură întâmplare, fie pentru că au un talent deosebit în a căuta necazurile cu lumânarea. Astfel, romanul conține:
- luptele dintre suedezi și danezi;
- mediul academic din Paris, unde studiile se puteau întinde de-a lungul a cincisprezece ani (drumul până la Paris al eroului nostru este împănat de descoperiri înspăimântătoare: "nu era zi de la Dumnezeu să nu trecem pe lângă o spânzurătoare. Fiecare spânzurătoare ne spunea că prin apropiere se află un oraș în care legile sunt prețuite");
- asediul Stockholmului (un veritabil masacru, în realitate: "era o atât de mare confuzie și dezordine în piața centrală a Stockholmului, încât unii oameni ce veniseră din întâmplare să privească execuția au fost luați din mulțime și decapitați. Că a fost o eroare sau o intenție, n-aș putea spune. Această sălbatică orgie a morții depășea orice închipuire nebunească, iar cei care fuseseră târâți la eșafod fără nicio judecată erau descumpăniți și lipsiți de vlagă, ca vitele duse la tăiere");
- asediul fortăreței din Turku de către armata condusă de nobilul Gustav, ce dorea să elibereze Finlanda de dominația regelui Cristian al Danemarcei: "Toată iarna am respirat duhoarea putredă a cadavrelor celor spânzurați și am auzit în urechi croncănitul corbilor. Fata pe care o iubeam a pierit spânzurată, iar pe buna mea mamă oamenii au învinuit-o că-i vrăjitoare și au omorât-o cu pietre";
- șocul provocat de publicarea celor 95 de Teze ale lui Luther;
- vânătoarea de vrăjitoare (câteva detalii înfiorătoare: victima acuzată de vrăjitorie trebuia să plătească costurile incarcerării și judecării sale, indiferent dacă era achitată sau nu; inclusiv animalele erau interogate/torturate, deoarece Satana poate să ia orice chip dorește);
- bătălia de la Pavia, în urma căreia regele Franței, Francisc I, este capturat și devine prizonierul lui Carol I, împăratul Spaniei: "După două ore, totul se isprăvise. Douăzeci de mii de bărbați zăceau morți în parc: francezi, elvețieni, germani, spanioli, italieni, nobili și plebei, cavaleri cu armuri aurite și simpli sulițași. Prada de război era mare, victoria și mai mare, așa că, de bucurie, am cântat, am urlat, am jefuit, am mâncat și ne-am uitat suferințele, deși, după aceea, mulți au murit din rănile cumplite căpătate în timpul bătăliei";
- războaiele țărănești din Germania, în care figurile dominante la nivel dogmatic sunt Thomas Müntzer și Martin Luther, căruia autorul îi face un portret deloc flatant; iată o mostră din pledoaria lui Luther la adresa revoltei țăranilor: "Înjunghiați, loviți, ucideți pe cine puteți! Gândiți-vă că nimic nu este mai otrăvitor, mai criminal și mai satanic decât un om rebel. El trebuie omorât ca un câine turbat. Zdrobiți-l! Dacă nu, el vă va zdrobi, iar împreună cu voi, va zdrobi întreaga națiune";
- moartea lui Thomas Müntzer: "Călăul a retezat capul lui Müntzer, fiindcă, orice s-ar spune, el fusese hirotonisit preot odinioară și se putea bucura de acest privilegiu, dar Pfeiffer a fost spânzurat ca oamenii de rând. Acest zdrăngănitor de sabie de Pfeiffer a sfidat moartea, nu s-a pierdut cu firea în fața călăului și i-a amuzat teribil pe soldați";
- victoria armatei sultanului asupra ungurilor la Mohács: "Tânărul rege Ludwig murise, iar împreună cu el muriseră și nobilii, arhiepiscopii și episcopii Ungariei care-l urmaseră în luptă. Timp de o săptămână plutiseră pe Dunăre cadavrele umflate și, după ce trecuseră orașul Buda prin sabie și foc, turcii ajunseseră la porțile Vienei". În realitate, niciunul dintre eroii noștri nu va participa la acest dezastru.
- "la începutul lunii ianuarie am plecat împreună cu oastea ducelui de Bourbon spre Roma. Astfel a început pentru mine sângerosul an de neuitat 1527". Devastarea Romei este descrisă în aceleași culori sumbre, dar pe deplin elocvente: "Jaful a ținut opt zile și opt nopți, iar eu, dacă vreau acum să-mi imaginez cum este în infern, n-am decât să închid ochii și să-mi amintesc acele zile. Nu există crimă, profanare, viciu, sălbăticie, orgie, pe care sufletele bolnave ale oamenilor să și le imagineze, să nu se fi săvârșit în acele zile". Este posibil să-mi fi scăpat unele evenimente, însă și așa sunt destule. Modul în care s-a documentat Mika Waltari pentru acest roman îți taie răsuflarea. Iar scriitura este, fără doar și poate, un alt atuu al cărții.
În final, există totuși un regret și anume faptul că, deși au trecut 19 ani de la apariția acestui volum, editura Polirom nu a publicat încă partea a doua a aventurilor inegalabile ale eroului nostru, astfel încât cititorii de la noi să vadă modul în care Mikael și Antti au ajuns în slujba sultanului Soliman Magnificul. Dar, cine știe, poate o să apară la un moment dat. Lectură plăcută!
February 26, 2025
1.5⭐
Okrutnie to było słabe.
Okrutnie to było słabe.
March 29, 2018
والتاری در این داستان تاریخی, دنیای قرون سیزده و چهارده قلمرو عثمانی را مجسم میسازد .(میکاییل حکیم) قهرمان داستان, راوی ماجراهاست .او پس از مرگ همسرش تصمیم میگیرد که به مسیحیت پشت کند .فطرت الهی میکاییل, بیخدایی را برنمیتابد و از این رو, وی برای یافتن حقیقت و دور شدن از محیطی که همسرش را در آتش جهل فرو افکند به قلمروی میرود که در آن جا از شکنجه و آزار نشانی نباشد .میکاییل با این هدف, راهی مشرق زمین و دنیای اسلام میشود .سرانجام در پی یک سلسله حوادث ابتدا به دربار حاکم فاسد الجزایر راه مییابد و سپس به دربار سلطان سلیم ـ سلطان عثمانی ـ وارد میشود .مشاهدات میکاییل از دربار عثمانی و دسیسههای حرم نشینان و مداخلههای ایشان در امور مملکت ماجراهایی را پدید میآورد که در روند کلی داستان موثر است.
October 27, 2014
another reread occasioned by my Istanbul trip and seeing the monumental tombs of Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hurrem Sultan (known as Roxelana in the West) at the superb Suleymaniye Mosque built by them - for this novel maybe the 10th or so - as the second series book Wanderer takes place precisely there and then (Istanbul during Suleiman and Roxelana's reigns)
still one of my all time favorites as the picaresque anti-hero Michael the Finn and his sidekick, the giant and not that bright but faithful friend Andy have one (mis) adventure after anothe
if you read any of the awesome Waltari novels, you will know the pattern, but still each of the books has a unique flavor and this one is covering the Scandinavian troubles of the 16th century as the Danish king tried to impose his rule on Swden and Finland - unwittingly helped by Michael who becomes a traitor to his people in consequence and has to flee - the Reformation and the Anabaptist movement, the sack of Rome, the call for Crusades and the scams beyond such and then Barbarossa and the pirates of the Mediterranean with volume 2 being Algiers and Istanbul under Suleiman's rule
Highly, highly recommended together with its superb sequel The Wanderer
still one of my all time favorites as the picaresque anti-hero Michael the Finn and his sidekick, the giant and not that bright but faithful friend Andy have one (mis) adventure after anothe
if you read any of the awesome Waltari novels, you will know the pattern, but still each of the books has a unique flavor and this one is covering the Scandinavian troubles of the 16th century as the Danish king tried to impose his rule on Swden and Finland - unwittingly helped by Michael who becomes a traitor to his people in consequence and has to flee - the Reformation and the Anabaptist movement, the sack of Rome, the call for Crusades and the scams beyond such and then Barbarossa and the pirates of the Mediterranean with volume 2 being Algiers and Istanbul under Suleiman's rule
Highly, highly recommended together with its superb sequel The Wanderer
August 29, 2008
For such a long book it's amazing how well the writer still managed to keep the reader/listener riveted the entire time. And as I noticed in Sinuhe already, the character side is always strong with this one. ;) You cannot help but care for the people in the book, even though they definetly are not the most perfect people in the world. I especially loved Antti aka Andre who to me wonderfully represented the stereotypical Finn. Seemingly slow and dumb with strong physical strength, but actually a very clever and loyal man underneath it all. Definetly a must read for history buffs and anyone who enjoys well developed yet flawed characters. :)
September 12, 2017
”Nuoruus on nälkäinen, ja ahmii erottelematta kaiken tiedon minkä saa käsiinsä.”
Olin lukenut Sinuhen ja pitänyt siitä kovasti. Silti en ollut tarttunut Mikael Karvajalkaan, vaikka rumpalimme oli sitä minulle toistuvasti suositellut. Nyt kuitenkin aika oli oikea kun törmäsin kirjaan uudestaan.
Onhan tämä ihan loistava. Tavallaan muistuttaa Sinuhea, tavallaan Odysseusta, tavallaan Orm Punaista. Hieno tilanteesta toiseen ajautuva seikkailutarina. Minä-muoto ja preesens. Seurataan Mikael Karvajalan kasvua pikkupojasta aikuiseksi ja hänen vaiheitaan 1500-luvun myrskyissä.
Kirjassa on uskomaton määrä historian tuntemusta ja tietoa ihan kaikesta tuohon aikaan ja kulttuuriin liittyvästä. Eniten faktoja tulee varmaankin sodankäyntiin liittyen, kuten aseiden tekniikasta ja strategiasta. Mutta tietoa on valtavasti kaikesta muustakin: ruuasta, vaatetuksesta, tyylistä, uskonnosta, uskomuksista, tavoista, yhteiskunnan käytännöistä, kielestä, kulttuurista, kirkosta ja sen vallasta, ammateista, hierakiasta… Mutta kaikki tämä on upotettu saumattomasti osaksi tarinaa, kirjasta ei tule tietokirjamainen olo, eikä vaikutelmaa että kirjailija haluaisi korostaa lukeneisuuttaan. Fakta on alisteista ja tukee ja kirkastaa ajankuvaa joka puolelta, sivulauseissa, kuvailuissa ja tapahtumissa.
Monet sanankäänteet ja ilmaisutavat ovat hykerryttäviä. Samoin tilanteet, joissa kertojan puheesta ymmärtää kyllä mitä on oikeasti tapahtunut, mutta hän kertoo sen täysin omien tarkoitusperiensä mukaisesti, tai vajavaisen ymmärryksensä.
Henkilöt kasvavat ja kehittyvät kirjan edetessä. Monet jälleennäkemiset ja tapahtumat ovat tietysti uskomattomia, mutta ne sopivat tarinankerrontatyyliin hyvin. Hahmoissa on lihaa luiden ympärillä, he ovat uskottavia ja persoonallisia, ja heitä riittää. Joihinkin palataan myöhemmin, joihinkin ei.
Näin pitkäksi teokseksi on hieno saavutus onnistua pitämään jännite ja mielenkiinto yllä koko tarinan ajan. Tapahtumat ovat ehkä poukkoilevia eivätkä välttämättä liity toisiinsa, mutta aika oli hektinen ja elämä arvaamatonta. Ja niinhän se on edelleen.
Suosittelen tätä kaikille, erityisesti historiasta ja seikkailuista kiinnostuneille.
Olin lukenut Sinuhen ja pitänyt siitä kovasti. Silti en ollut tarttunut Mikael Karvajalkaan, vaikka rumpalimme oli sitä minulle toistuvasti suositellut. Nyt kuitenkin aika oli oikea kun törmäsin kirjaan uudestaan.
Onhan tämä ihan loistava. Tavallaan muistuttaa Sinuhea, tavallaan Odysseusta, tavallaan Orm Punaista. Hieno tilanteesta toiseen ajautuva seikkailutarina. Minä-muoto ja preesens. Seurataan Mikael Karvajalan kasvua pikkupojasta aikuiseksi ja hänen vaiheitaan 1500-luvun myrskyissä.
Kirjassa on uskomaton määrä historian tuntemusta ja tietoa ihan kaikesta tuohon aikaan ja kulttuuriin liittyvästä. Eniten faktoja tulee varmaankin sodankäyntiin liittyen, kuten aseiden tekniikasta ja strategiasta. Mutta tietoa on valtavasti kaikesta muustakin: ruuasta, vaatetuksesta, tyylistä, uskonnosta, uskomuksista, tavoista, yhteiskunnan käytännöistä, kielestä, kulttuurista, kirkosta ja sen vallasta, ammateista, hierakiasta… Mutta kaikki tämä on upotettu saumattomasti osaksi tarinaa, kirjasta ei tule tietokirjamainen olo, eikä vaikutelmaa että kirjailija haluaisi korostaa lukeneisuuttaan. Fakta on alisteista ja tukee ja kirkastaa ajankuvaa joka puolelta, sivulauseissa, kuvailuissa ja tapahtumissa.
Monet sanankäänteet ja ilmaisutavat ovat hykerryttäviä. Samoin tilanteet, joissa kertojan puheesta ymmärtää kyllä mitä on oikeasti tapahtunut, mutta hän kertoo sen täysin omien tarkoitusperiensä mukaisesti, tai vajavaisen ymmärryksensä.
Henkilöt kasvavat ja kehittyvät kirjan edetessä. Monet jälleennäkemiset ja tapahtumat ovat tietysti uskomattomia, mutta ne sopivat tarinankerrontatyyliin hyvin. Hahmoissa on lihaa luiden ympärillä, he ovat uskottavia ja persoonallisia, ja heitä riittää. Joihinkin palataan myöhemmin, joihinkin ei.
Näin pitkäksi teokseksi on hieno saavutus onnistua pitämään jännite ja mielenkiinto yllä koko tarinan ajan. Tapahtumat ovat ehkä poukkoilevia eivätkä välttämättä liity toisiinsa, mutta aika oli hektinen ja elämä arvaamatonta. Ja niinhän se on edelleen.
Suosittelen tätä kaikille, erityisesti historiasta ja seikkailuista kiinnostuneille.
January 30, 2021
Tämänmittaisilla kirjoilla tulee kyllä hankala täyttää vuoden lukulupaus...
Anyways oon kyllä sitä mieltä että Waltari on kirjoittanut parhaat historialliset romaanit mitä oon lukenut. Tälläkin kertaa miljöö ja suurin osa hahmoista oli pistämättömän hyvin kirjoitettuja.
Henk koht samaistuin osittain Mikaeliin ainakin tiedonjanoisuuden kannalta mutta samalla hän käyttäytyi aivan uskomattoman typerästi ja kapeakatseisesti. Mikaelin motivaatiot vaihtelivat paljon: ensin hän matkusti Pariisiin tiedonjanosta, Ruotsiin isänmaallisuudesta, Saksaan rakkaudesta ja uskosta, Espanjaan ja Italiaan ahneudesta. Monet motivaatiot teki Mikaelista uskottavan henkilön, vaikka olikin useissa tilanteissa järkevästi ajateltuna pöhkö. Tarinan kannalta pöhköys oli toki mielenkiintoista.
Mikael toimi kirjassa myös kertojana, jonka kautta pystyi hauskasti pohtimaan renessanssin oppineen ajatusmaailmaa erityisesti katolisesta uskosta ja sen horjumisesta. Ensimmäisen persoonan kertojan kautta välittyi tavallaan hurskaan miehen tunnontuskat. Erityisesti tunsin sympatiaa Mikaelia kohtaan kun hän joutui useamman kerran mieli- ja väkivaltaisten hahmojen vallan alle.
Johannes Angeloksen tavoin oli tosi satisfying lukea kirjan jälkeen Wikipediaa ja todeta että totta tosiaan Waltari on seurannut historiaa pilkulleen ja kirjoittanut siihen lomaan dramaattisen ja suurimmaksi osaksi uskottavan tarinan. Pidin että Mikael sivusi aina välillä valtakuntien politiikkaa mutta kirja ei muuttunut historian oppikirjan tyyppiseksi.
Karvajalassa huomasi kuitenkin tietynlaisen samankaltaisuuden Sinuhen kanssa. Molemmissa kirjoissa köyhistä oloista tuleva oppinut mies seikkailee typerän avustajansa kanssa. Lisäksi tuntui vähän epäuskottavalta että 1500-luvun Turusta kotoisin oleva orpopoika päätyy tapaamaan about jokaikisen tuon ajan merkkihenkilön Tanskan kuninkaasta Lutheriin.
Kokonaisuudessaan tosi viihdyttävä ja samalla opettava opus mutta hieman rankka luettava. Jatko-osan lukemista taidan lykätä vähän aikaa tho...
Anyways oon kyllä sitä mieltä että Waltari on kirjoittanut parhaat historialliset romaanit mitä oon lukenut. Tälläkin kertaa miljöö ja suurin osa hahmoista oli pistämättömän hyvin kirjoitettuja.
Henk koht samaistuin osittain Mikaeliin ainakin tiedonjanoisuuden kannalta mutta samalla hän käyttäytyi aivan uskomattoman typerästi ja kapeakatseisesti. Mikaelin motivaatiot vaihtelivat paljon: ensin hän matkusti Pariisiin tiedonjanosta, Ruotsiin isänmaallisuudesta, Saksaan rakkaudesta ja uskosta, Espanjaan ja Italiaan ahneudesta. Monet motivaatiot teki Mikaelista uskottavan henkilön, vaikka olikin useissa tilanteissa järkevästi ajateltuna pöhkö. Tarinan kannalta pöhköys oli toki mielenkiintoista.
Mikael toimi kirjassa myös kertojana, jonka kautta pystyi hauskasti pohtimaan renessanssin oppineen ajatusmaailmaa erityisesti katolisesta uskosta ja sen horjumisesta. Ensimmäisen persoonan kertojan kautta välittyi tavallaan hurskaan miehen tunnontuskat. Erityisesti tunsin sympatiaa Mikaelia kohtaan kun hän joutui useamman kerran mieli- ja väkivaltaisten hahmojen vallan alle.
Johannes Angeloksen tavoin oli tosi satisfying lukea kirjan jälkeen Wikipediaa ja todeta että totta tosiaan Waltari on seurannut historiaa pilkulleen ja kirjoittanut siihen lomaan dramaattisen ja suurimmaksi osaksi uskottavan tarinan. Pidin että Mikael sivusi aina välillä valtakuntien politiikkaa mutta kirja ei muuttunut historian oppikirjan tyyppiseksi.
Karvajalassa huomasi kuitenkin tietynlaisen samankaltaisuuden Sinuhen kanssa. Molemmissa kirjoissa köyhistä oloista tuleva oppinut mies seikkailee typerän avustajansa kanssa. Lisäksi tuntui vähän epäuskottavalta että 1500-luvun Turusta kotoisin oleva orpopoika päätyy tapaamaan about jokaikisen tuon ajan merkkihenkilön Tanskan kuninkaasta Lutheriin.
Kokonaisuudessaan tosi viihdyttävä ja samalla opettava opus mutta hieman rankka luettava. Jatko-osan lukemista taidan lykätä vähän aikaa tho...
January 23, 2025
Povestea unui tînăr finlandez purtat de soartă și/sau hazard - pe care el le numește pios Dumnezeu - din cetatea Turku (unde învață de la „mama” Pirjo virtuțille plantelor de leac) în Parisul universităților, al poeților vaganți și al impostorilor, și de acolo înapoi acasă, apoi în Suedia (unde asistă la „Baia de sînge din Stockholm”, Stockholms blodbad, din 7 - 9 noiembrie 1520), apoi în Germania doctorului Luther, a Războiului țărănesc și a vărsărilor cumplite de sînge, și de acolo mai departe, tot mai departe către Roma (p.831), cetatea coruptă și destrăbălată a Papilor (chiar în timpul jafului și grozăviilor din 1527), și, în final, către Ierusalim. Romanul lui Waltari e mai bun decît m-am așteptat și, pentru cei pasionați de genul istoric, poate constitui o lectură extrem de plăcută (și, nu mai puțin, instructivă).
Am apreciat rigoarea amănuntelor istorice și modul perfect verosimil în care autorul prezintă izbucnirea Reformei și consecințele dramatice ale acestui eveniment capital, care a divizat încă o dată lumea creștină. Mikael nu se caracterizează printr-o bravură ieșită din comun, deși face și gesturi nesăbuite (vezi pp.574 sq.), este mai degrabă un individ foarte naiv (dar el nu știe asta, bineînțeles) și o victimă permanentă a vicleniei celorlalți. Este bacalaureat în Paris, dialectician stîngaci, spion și informator, mesager, oștean lipsit de glorie, medic de ocazie (îndrumat de însuși Paracelsus), cînd putred de bogat, cînd sărac lipit, mai degrabă, martor decît agent. Are o prospețime care le atrage pe femei, deși dragostea nu-i aduce decît suferință: Agnes îl părăsește, Veronika e spînzurată, Barbara e arsă pe rug ca vrăjitoare în urma unui proces scandalos, în care rolul principal îl joacă fanaticul părinte dominican Angelo. Să nu uit, visătorul Mikael e însoțit și de un Sancho Panza sub numele de Antti, finlandez ca și el...
Pot confirma că multe informații sînt riguros adevărate. Studiile la Universitatea din Paris puteau dura și două decenii (pînă la titlul de doctor), în bibliotecile unor mănăstiri, cărțile erau legate cu lanțuri de pupitre ca să nu fie sustrase, inchizitorii condamnau, dar execuția propriu-zisă a „ereticilor” ținea de justiția laică (e și cazul Barbarei).
Un roman mult mai valoros decît am crezut, o surpriză neîndoielnic plăcută...
P. S. Mi se pare regretabil că nimeni nu a observat că în loc de Sfîntul Părinte (e vorba de Papă) traducătorul folosește termenul inadecvat de „patriarh” (pp.421, 461, 540, 860). Cum „patriarhi” devin și Sfinții Părinți ai Bisericii, de la care ne-au rămas scrieri prețuite. Sfîntul Augustin, menționat în roman, n-a fost „patriarh” nici în visele lui cele mai îndrăznețe. A fost doar episcop de Hippona. Nu lipsește, desigur, nici oribilul „tocmai ce” pentru banalul „abia” (p.724). (7.02.23, mt)
Am apreciat rigoarea amănuntelor istorice și modul perfect verosimil în care autorul prezintă izbucnirea Reformei și consecințele dramatice ale acestui eveniment capital, care a divizat încă o dată lumea creștină. Mikael nu se caracterizează printr-o bravură ieșită din comun, deși face și gesturi nesăbuite (vezi pp.574 sq.), este mai degrabă un individ foarte naiv (dar el nu știe asta, bineînțeles) și o victimă permanentă a vicleniei celorlalți. Este bacalaureat în Paris, dialectician stîngaci, spion și informator, mesager, oștean lipsit de glorie, medic de ocazie (îndrumat de însuși Paracelsus), cînd putred de bogat, cînd sărac lipit, mai degrabă, martor decît agent. Are o prospețime care le atrage pe femei, deși dragostea nu-i aduce decît suferință: Agnes îl părăsește, Veronika e spînzurată, Barbara e arsă pe rug ca vrăjitoare în urma unui proces scandalos, în care rolul principal îl joacă fanaticul părinte dominican Angelo. Să nu uit, visătorul Mikael e însoțit și de un Sancho Panza sub numele de Antti, finlandez ca și el...
Pot confirma că multe informații sînt riguros adevărate. Studiile la Universitatea din Paris puteau dura și două decenii (pînă la titlul de doctor), în bibliotecile unor mănăstiri, cărțile erau legate cu lanțuri de pupitre ca să nu fie sustrase, inchizitorii condamnau, dar execuția propriu-zisă a „ereticilor” ținea de justiția laică (e și cazul Barbarei).
Un roman mult mai valoros decît am crezut, o surpriză neîndoielnic plăcută...
P. S. Mi se pare regretabil că nimeni nu a observat că în loc de Sfîntul Părinte (e vorba de Papă) traducătorul folosește termenul inadecvat de „patriarh” (pp.421, 461, 540, 860). Cum „patriarhi” devin și Sfinții Părinți ai Bisericii, de la care ne-au rămas scrieri prețuite. Sfîntul Augustin, menționat în roman, n-a fost „patriarh” nici în visele lui cele mai îndrăznețe. A fost doar episcop de Hippona. Nu lipsește, desigur, nici oribilul „tocmai ce” pentru banalul „abia” (p.724). (7.02.23, mt)
May 14, 2022
Monipuolinen Waltari on minusta parhaimmillaan näissä historiallisissa romaaneissa. Mikael Karvajalka on herkullisia hahmoja pursuava veijaritarina, josta tosin ei synkkiäkään sävyjä puutu - eletäänhän sentään vielä keskiajan pimeähköä ajanjaksoa, jolloin ihmisen henki ei ollut kummoisenkaan arvoinen. Tarinassa orpo suomalainen Mikael joutuu hyväuskoisuuttaan ja hyvistä aikomuksistaan huolimatta jos jonkinlaiseen liemeen ja joutuu lopulta karistamaan useammankin maan ja kaupungit tomut jaloistaan. Seikkailuissa häntä seuraa väkivahva ystävä Antti, joka sekä suojelee Mikaelia että omalta osaltaan kantaa lusikkansa kommelluksien soppaan. Oman mausteensa - tietenkin - antavat toistaan värikkäämmät naishahmot, joiden kirjo vaihtelee lähinnä prostituoiduista noitiin. Kehyksen Mikaelin ja Antin matkoille antaa Euroopassa riehuva uskonsotien kaaos, josta miehet haluaisivat pysyä erossa, mutta olosuhteiden vietävinä eivät siinä onnistu. Waltari itse asiassa käyttää huomattavan paljon sivutilaa sekä uskonasioiden pohdintaan että paikallisten taistelujen kuvaamiseen. Pakko myöntää, että joskus puolivälin jälkeen en enää edes yrittänyt pysyä kärryillä, ketkä herttuat ja kreivit olivat milloinkin toistensa kimpussa.
Waltarin henkilögalleria on laaja ja kerronta paikoin sekä verkkaista että yksityiskohtia pursuavaa. Ymmärrän niitäkin, jotka saattavat pitää tätä pitkäveteisenä kirjana. Mutta minä pidin tästä kaikesta huolimatta. Waltarin kerronta on vaan niin hienoa ja henkilöhahmot mainioita. Jatko-osan Mikael Hakim jätän kuitenkin johonkin leppoisaan kesäloma-aikaan, jolloin kaikkiin yksityiskohtiin malttaa kunnolla keskittyä.
Waltarin henkilögalleria on laaja ja kerronta paikoin sekä verkkaista että yksityiskohtia pursuavaa. Ymmärrän niitäkin, jotka saattavat pitää tätä pitkäveteisenä kirjana. Mutta minä pidin tästä kaikesta huolimatta. Waltarin kerronta on vaan niin hienoa ja henkilöhahmot mainioita. Jatko-osan Mikael Hakim jätän kuitenkin johonkin leppoisaan kesäloma-aikaan, jolloin kaikkiin yksityiskohtiin malttaa kunnolla keskittyä.
December 26, 2014
Mikael Karvajalka, 16th century Finnish answer to Forrest Gump. You'll know what I mean if you read it. And by the way, I find it a bit rich for a book of 780 pages to end in a cliffhanger! Haha!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2025
Klasický waltariovský historický román. Prvá polovica knihy sa tiahla pomalšie, než by sa mi pozdávalo, ale v druhej už sa rozbiehajú intrigy, dejú sa veľké udalosti, a naši hrdinovia sa do nich všemožnými náhodami zaplietajú.
August 30, 2023
Hodně tlustý středověký příběh. Málo hluchých míst a mnohdy Waltari hravě "středověce" překonává i Umberta Eca.
Read
February 5, 2017Nach Seite 266 habe ich aufgegeben. Es sollten noch 600 folgen. Es hat einfach nicht Klick gemacht. Weder die Geschichte, typisch Reiseerinnerung ohne Ziel, noch der historische Hintergrund ist so spannend erzählt, dass ich mehr Zeit investieren wollte. Dazu kein besonders sympathischer Ich-Erzähler. Mal wird schnell gereist, dann Details dargestellt. Unrealistisch auch die langen Passagen Monologisieren in eigentlichen Dialogen. "Sinuhe, der Ägypter" war durch Hörbuch noch erträglich, aber die Begeisterung für Waltari erschließt sich mir nicht. Dazu die Kuebler-Verlag-Edition mit eng bedruckten, nicht groß in Absätze gesetzten Seiten erhöht den Spaß auch nicht gerade, selbst die Korrekturleser müssen dabei einfach einiges übersehen. Bei Flashman schon schade, aber da ist der Inhalt einfach besser.
November 8, 2011
Such a fun read for an epic historical novel. Waltari is a master storyteller, who can make you laugh, cry and care about his characters. Even though the protagonist, Mikael, is far from perfect and rather oblivious to his own shortcomings, I found myself attached to him and eager to see where his adventures through Europe would take him. Add to that his carefree companion and you have one great narrative! The kind of story that makes you long for adventures of your own, with a little less war and persecution maybe.
August 17, 2019
It's a masterpiece. Gripping prose, plenty of interesting historical detail, great character development, quirky humour, travel across the Europe, thrilling battle scenes... Even the main character's financial troubles are presented in an interesting fashion. However, the best part may be the endless philosophical, ethical, and theological dilemmas that Mikael faces during his journeys. I'll start the sequel right away!
February 9, 2017
Read this book and its sequel in Swedish translation some 25 years ago as part of a Mika Waltari binge. I still remember parts of the setting and some scenes quite vividly. Waltari had a knack for setting good stories in complex historical frameworks, with a fair bit of character development thrown in, and this was no exception.
June 23, 2014
Writing styling similar to "Egyptian", but lacks its charm.
September 9, 2016
Classic Waltari.
December 10, 2022
Kuin suomukset olisivat tippuneet silmistäni!
December 28, 2021
Soome päritolu noormees Mikael Karvajalg seikleb koos oma sõbra Anttiga 16. sajandi Euroopas. Ta puutub kokku paljude tolleaegsete oluliste inimestega ning juhtub mitmete ajalooliselt tähtsate sündmuste keskele.
Olin selle raamatuga hädas. Idee poolest meeldis mulle "Mikael Karvajalg" väga. Ajalooline romaan ja ajastu on ka täpselt need, mis mulle sobivad, aga ma ei talunud peategelast (vaid ühe peatükis oli mul temast kahju). Ta oli natuke koolitarkust saanud ja endast üliheal arvamusel, tegelikult aga rumal ja lihtsameelne. Antti mulle meeldis, ta oli asjalikum ja mõistlikum, aga Mikaeli silmis muidugi temast hoopis madalam ja rumalam.
Goodreadsis võrdles üks lugeja teda Forrest Gumpiga (veel üks tegelane, keda ma absoluutselt ei kannata) ja kuigi ma olen sellega mingil määral nõus, oli Forrest parem inimene. Ta ei pidanud end mitte kunagi teistest paremaks ja oli üdini lojaalne.
Sama autori "Sinuhe" meeldis mulle väga ning stiili poolest seegi, kuid peategelane pani mu kannatuse tõesti proovile. Nii ei oskagi öelda, kas soovitada või mitte. Igal juhul julgen öelda, et kui käesolev ei sobi, siis ärge autorit kohe kõrvale heitke, proovige "Sinuhet".
Olin selle raamatuga hädas. Idee poolest meeldis mulle "Mikael Karvajalg" väga. Ajalooline romaan ja ajastu on ka täpselt need, mis mulle sobivad, aga ma ei talunud peategelast (vaid ühe peatükis oli mul temast kahju). Ta oli natuke koolitarkust saanud ja endast üliheal arvamusel, tegelikult aga rumal ja lihtsameelne. Antti mulle meeldis, ta oli asjalikum ja mõistlikum, aga Mikaeli silmis muidugi temast hoopis madalam ja rumalam.
Goodreadsis võrdles üks lugeja teda Forrest Gumpiga (veel üks tegelane, keda ma absoluutselt ei kannata) ja kuigi ma olen sellega mingil määral nõus, oli Forrest parem inimene. Ta ei pidanud end mitte kunagi teistest paremaks ja oli üdini lojaalne.
Sama autori "Sinuhe" meeldis mulle väga ning stiili poolest seegi, kuid peategelane pani mu kannatuse tõesti proovile. Nii ei oskagi öelda, kas soovitada või mitte. Igal juhul julgen öelda, et kui käesolev ei sobi, siis ärge autorit kohe kõrvale heitke, proovige "Sinuhet".
December 6, 2020
It is more or less The Egyptian in the late middle-ages / onset of renaissance, it is written in the same style (as a sort of narration / retro-spective diary by a man at the end of his journey, documenting his life since childhood). If you are not an expert on the European history of the 16th century (1502 till, in the first book, 1527), you will be at the end of it. There are too many analogies with The Egyptian, which, however, the fans of The Egyptian will like. It's like: you've just finished The Egyptian and you liked it so much that you wouldn't mind reading it again, but perhaps not right away. What to do in the mean time? Read Mikael Karvajalka! (The Adventurer). I was mostly impressed by the vast author's knowledge of the history. I know that authors do tend to do research and that they may appear smarter (or more learned) than they would truly be, on the other hand, you can say where the author is just fluent in the subject, where the pieces of history woven into the story seem as a natural part of their plan, and Waltari is certainly the latter case! Just like he was able to write The Egyptian in only two months of daily intense work, which however omits that he had been seriously interested in the ancient Egyptian culture for decades before he started writing it, having seen ancient Egyptian expositions in the musea around the world, thus coming to the point where he was simply so educated on the subject that he could just sit and write quite fluently without being forced to do much studying on the subject, without taking pauses to get the surrounding history more or less correct. He was prepared, he had done his homework. And you will get the same vibe from Mikael Karvajalka books.
I read this book in my mother tongue (Czech) where the title has been translated (or rather rendered) as "Krvavá lázeň" which means literally "Bloodbath" - and I have to say that this is very very on point! Compared to Sinuhe, The Adventurer presents so much more gore and despair that it is hardly imaginable prior to reading the book. But it never feels as self gratuitous: it always represents a true piece of the history, a series of unfortunate events that happened in Europe not very far apart both geographically and time-wise. The first book already counts with the existence of the sequel and it is structured towards a sequel, therefore it may feel like it ends prematurely, the main hero is around 25 years of age and we already know he tells the story an old man, he even gives us a glimpse of what is to happen, but the book simply ends there. So, any review like this one, may feel premature.
I certainly recommend reading this one, if you're a fan of Waltari, certainly, if you've just finished The Egyptian! I'm looking forward to the sequel!
__________________________________
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD: analogies of The Adventurer with The Egyptian"
- the main character is just way too similar in how he thinks (=perhaps because it is, in a sense, Waltari himself again): he first becomes something like a "priest" (a learned man) just to become a sort of "doctor/medic" ultimately
- his parentage is unknown and even though, unlike in The Egyptian, the identity of his parents bares no importance, it shapes the main character's development and "uprootedness"
- he more or less either is or feels like an exile, rarely if ever he returns to where his original home was
- his female love affairs often remind you of those of Sinuhe's: bunch of deceitful/malevolent women, then one or two "true loves" that end up tragically, a potential offspring that the main character never becomes truly a father of
- his development and relation in regards to religion: at first he's very into the main dominant religion - being absolutely persuaded about its truth, later on he is seduced by the "true / reformed" forms of the religion that seek to uncover the 'true face of the God' (just like Atonism in The Egyptian), ultimately - by seeing the cruelty all around himself - he is tempted by nihilism and altogether atheism (to which he however doesn't fully subscribe and has a regress at the end towards faith)
- like Akhenaten in the Egyptian, there will be some well intentioned religious visionaries who clash very painfully with the reality, resulting in carnages
- he has a faithful companion that he sometimes loses, only for him to reemerge later. That reminds us a bit of Kaptah. Even though here the companion is a muscle, not the main brain - but he and Kaptah have a similar relationship towards the alcohol in the least.
- at one point he becomes interested with other "sciences" of that time (astronomy, astrology), just like Sinuhet
- the funny euphemisms Waltari's historical persons use when they either want to curse or describe someone cursing: the ancient language - the ancient way of describing that curse makes it often quite laughable.
- anyone, who doesn't mind a bit of real political incorrectness when viewed through the prism of the 21st century, will be reasonably entertained by it in this Waltari's book. But again, it doesn't feel out of place, if anything, it feels natural to the mindset and ethics of that age. It makes it both quite shockingly entertaining and believable in the same time.
I read this book in my mother tongue (Czech) where the title has been translated (or rather rendered) as "Krvavá lázeň" which means literally "Bloodbath" - and I have to say that this is very very on point! Compared to Sinuhe, The Adventurer presents so much more gore and despair that it is hardly imaginable prior to reading the book. But it never feels as self gratuitous: it always represents a true piece of the history, a series of unfortunate events that happened in Europe not very far apart both geographically and time-wise. The first book already counts with the existence of the sequel and it is structured towards a sequel, therefore it may feel like it ends prematurely, the main hero is around 25 years of age and we already know he tells the story an old man, he even gives us a glimpse of what is to happen, but the book simply ends there. So, any review like this one, may feel premature.
I certainly recommend reading this one, if you're a fan of Waltari, certainly, if you've just finished The Egyptian! I'm looking forward to the sequel!
__________________________________
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD: analogies of The Adventurer with The Egyptian"
- the main character is just way too similar in how he thinks (=perhaps because it is, in a sense, Waltari himself again): he first becomes something like a "priest" (a learned man) just to become a sort of "doctor/medic" ultimately
- his parentage is unknown and even though, unlike in The Egyptian, the identity of his parents bares no importance, it shapes the main character's development and "uprootedness"
- he more or less either is or feels like an exile, rarely if ever he returns to where his original home was
- his female love affairs often remind you of those of Sinuhe's: bunch of deceitful/malevolent women, then one or two "true loves" that end up tragically, a potential offspring that the main character never becomes truly a father of
- his development and relation in regards to religion: at first he's very into the main dominant religion - being absolutely persuaded about its truth, later on he is seduced by the "true / reformed" forms of the religion that seek to uncover the 'true face of the God' (just like Atonism in The Egyptian), ultimately - by seeing the cruelty all around himself - he is tempted by nihilism and altogether atheism (to which he however doesn't fully subscribe and has a regress at the end towards faith)
- like Akhenaten in the Egyptian, there will be some well intentioned religious visionaries who clash very painfully with the reality, resulting in carnages
- he has a faithful companion that he sometimes loses, only for him to reemerge later. That reminds us a bit of Kaptah. Even though here the companion is a muscle, not the main brain - but he and Kaptah have a similar relationship towards the alcohol in the least.
- at one point he becomes interested with other "sciences" of that time (astronomy, astrology), just like Sinuhet
- the funny euphemisms Waltari's historical persons use when they either want to curse or describe someone cursing: the ancient language - the ancient way of describing that curse makes it often quite laughable.
- anyone, who doesn't mind a bit of real political incorrectness when viewed through the prism of the 21st century, will be reasonably entertained by it in this Waltari's book. But again, it doesn't feel out of place, if anything, it feels natural to the mindset and ethics of that age. It makes it both quite shockingly entertaining and believable in the same time.
May 1, 2025
Justkui seiklusjutte maalt ja merelt, ainult et natuke parodeerivas võtmes ja ilma õilsa(te) peategelas(t)eta. Turu linnast pärit poisid 16. sajandi Euroopa sündmuste keskel, olulised isikud, pöördelised sündmused, natuke mõtisklusi sekka. Waltari oskab möödaminnes luua pildi, mis on nii värvikas, et midagi jääb ikka meelde ja osa detaile tundub nüüdki aktuaalsetena.
Ja noh, andku jumal igaühele oma Antti, kes tuleb ja päästab siis, kui olukord on kõige hullem.
Ja noh, andku jumal igaühele oma Antti, kes tuleb ja päästab siis, kui olukord on kõige hullem.
November 23, 2017
Mikael Karvajalka on oikea hömelö! Naiivi ja helposti höynäytettävä Mikael seikkailee kuningas Kristianin palveluksessa ja myöhemmin uskonpuhdistuksen pyörteissä Saksassa uskollisen ystävänsä Antin kanssa. Alku oli oikein kelpo tarinaa, mutta jossain vaiheessa uskonkiihko alkoi puuduttaa.
September 18, 2025
Nagu ikka antud autori raamatud väga head aga keerukad lugeda - antud teos sisaldab minu jaoks veidi palju sõdimist.
September 5, 2018
Hauska tarina! Suosittelen vahvasti kaikille, jotka nauttivat Sinuhesta. Tarina jatkuu kirjassa Mikael Hakim.
August 15, 2011
Mika Waltarin teos on historiallinen veijariromaani suomalaisen seikkailijan ja hänen ystävänsä eri vaiheista 1500-luvun Euroopassa.
Muistelmatyylinen kertomus alkaa vuodesta 1509 Suomen Turusta, jolloin tanskalaiset juutit hyökkäävät kaupunkiin ja pikkupoika jää orvoksi. Hänet pelastaa noitatohtori Pirjo, joka saa Mikaelin myös luostariin oppimaan latinaa ja muuta sivistystä.
Tuohon aikaan tanskalaiset ja ruotsalaiset kävivät sotaa, ja myös Mikael joutuu sekaantumaan poliittisiin kiistoihin omalla vähäisellä panoksellaan, kunnes matka jatkuu Pariisiin opiskelemaan niukoin piispan lahjoittamin varoin. Ennen matkaansa Mikael ystävystyy yksinkertaisen seppäkisällin Antin kanssa, josta on tuleva hänen ystävänsä ja aseenkantajansa. Yhdessä he kulkevat Eurooppaa ristiin rastiin ja joutuvat niin langenneiden naisten pauloihin kuin osallisiksi inkvisitiolaitoksen ankarista sanktioista aina saksalaisiin talonpoikaisliikkeiden nousuun ja tuhoon sekä kaikenlaiseen ryöstelyyn ja hävitykseen, jotka ovat seurausta katolilaisten ja luterilaisten hallitsijoiden, ruhtinaiden ja paavin tukijoiden sodista.
Mikaelin saksalaistettua nimensä Pelzfussiksi tapahtumat vyöryvät eteenpäin hyvinkin värikkääksi. Toisinaan kultatukaatteja on kuin pienellä ruhtinaalla, mutta toisinaan sankarimme on rahaton ja ryöstetty putipuhtaaksi. Aina kuin ihmeellisten sattumien kautta hänen polkunsa kuljettaa Saksan keisarin, Lutherin ja pahimpien kansannousulahkolaisten johtajien tuttaviksi, jopa Dürer-nimisen taidemaalarin Paracelsus-lääkärin ystäväksi.
Uskomattomien vaiheiden jälkeen kameleonttimainen Mikael onnistuu selviämään kuin ihmeen kautta kaikista vaaroista uskollisen ystävänsä kanssa. Tälle parivaljakolle tarjoutuu tilaisuus hallita myös Etelä-Amerikan valloittamattomia intiaaniseutuja, mutta Euroopan hävityksen keskellä on uusi tilaisuus, sillä Sulttaani voitti unkarilaiset, ja Mikael haaveilee muutosta pyhään maahan.
Romaani on erinomainen kronikkatyylinen historiallinen romaani, jossa kertoja muistelee vaiheitaan ennen viimeisintä puolenvaihdosta. Kirjan parasta antia ovat inkvisitiolaitoksen harjoittaman julmuuden kuvaus noitien kidutuksineen ja Rooman luhistumisen ja sen jälkeisten tapahtumien esitys kaikessa karmeudessaan.
Historialliset romaanit – varsinkin Waltarin – antavat oivan näkökulman kiinnostua historiasta, sen aikaisista tapahtumista ja ihmiskohtaloista, jos jättää huomiotta tietyt taiteilijan ottamat vapaudet ja epäjohdonmukaisuudet historiallisten tapahtumien oikeasta kulusta.
Muistelmatyylinen kertomus alkaa vuodesta 1509 Suomen Turusta, jolloin tanskalaiset juutit hyökkäävät kaupunkiin ja pikkupoika jää orvoksi. Hänet pelastaa noitatohtori Pirjo, joka saa Mikaelin myös luostariin oppimaan latinaa ja muuta sivistystä.
Tuohon aikaan tanskalaiset ja ruotsalaiset kävivät sotaa, ja myös Mikael joutuu sekaantumaan poliittisiin kiistoihin omalla vähäisellä panoksellaan, kunnes matka jatkuu Pariisiin opiskelemaan niukoin piispan lahjoittamin varoin. Ennen matkaansa Mikael ystävystyy yksinkertaisen seppäkisällin Antin kanssa, josta on tuleva hänen ystävänsä ja aseenkantajansa. Yhdessä he kulkevat Eurooppaa ristiin rastiin ja joutuvat niin langenneiden naisten pauloihin kuin osallisiksi inkvisitiolaitoksen ankarista sanktioista aina saksalaisiin talonpoikaisliikkeiden nousuun ja tuhoon sekä kaikenlaiseen ryöstelyyn ja hävitykseen, jotka ovat seurausta katolilaisten ja luterilaisten hallitsijoiden, ruhtinaiden ja paavin tukijoiden sodista.
Mikaelin saksalaistettua nimensä Pelzfussiksi tapahtumat vyöryvät eteenpäin hyvinkin värikkääksi. Toisinaan kultatukaatteja on kuin pienellä ruhtinaalla, mutta toisinaan sankarimme on rahaton ja ryöstetty putipuhtaaksi. Aina kuin ihmeellisten sattumien kautta hänen polkunsa kuljettaa Saksan keisarin, Lutherin ja pahimpien kansannousulahkolaisten johtajien tuttaviksi, jopa Dürer-nimisen taidemaalarin Paracelsus-lääkärin ystäväksi.
Uskomattomien vaiheiden jälkeen kameleonttimainen Mikael onnistuu selviämään kuin ihmeen kautta kaikista vaaroista uskollisen ystävänsä kanssa. Tälle parivaljakolle tarjoutuu tilaisuus hallita myös Etelä-Amerikan valloittamattomia intiaaniseutuja, mutta Euroopan hävityksen keskellä on uusi tilaisuus, sillä Sulttaani voitti unkarilaiset, ja Mikael haaveilee muutosta pyhään maahan.
Romaani on erinomainen kronikkatyylinen historiallinen romaani, jossa kertoja muistelee vaiheitaan ennen viimeisintä puolenvaihdosta. Kirjan parasta antia ovat inkvisitiolaitoksen harjoittaman julmuuden kuvaus noitien kidutuksineen ja Rooman luhistumisen ja sen jälkeisten tapahtumien esitys kaikessa karmeudessaan.
Historialliset romaanit – varsinkin Waltarin – antavat oivan näkökulman kiinnostua historiasta, sen aikaisista tapahtumista ja ihmiskohtaloista, jos jättää huomiotta tietyt taiteilijan ottamat vapaudet ja epäjohdonmukaisuudet historiallisten tapahtumien oikeasta kulusta.
January 27, 2016
"Mikael Karvajalka" opowiada o młodzieńczych latach życia chłopca, który został zmuszony do opuszczenia rodzinnego kraju. Złożyło się na to wiele czynników - złupienie rodzinnego miasta Ado przez Jutów, wojna domowa o władzę nad tronem szwedzkim oraz ogólnie bieda. Chłopak został przygarnięty przez znachorkę, od której otrzymał nazwisko. W podróż po Europie w poszukiwaniu lepszego życia wybrał się z przysłowiowym tobołkiem. Pech chciał, że w taką samą podróż wybrała się bida z nędzą, głód i… wojna. W swojej fascynującej podróży poznaje słynne i koronowane głowy kontynentu, a u ich boku bierze udział w znaczących dla historii wydarzeniach. Choć naiwny, zawsze może liczyć na pomoc przyjaciela Anttiema, choć popada w kłopoty - zawsze wychodzi z nich obronną ręką.
Powieść jak każda inna spod pióra Waltari jest napisana w duchu staroświeckim. Barwny i wyszukany język wprawia w zadumę, ale czyta się to bardzo dobrze, choć czasami trzeba odetchnąć na dłuższą chwilę. Historia opisana przez autora jest dopracowana w każdym szczególe. Każdy etap wędrówki został dokładnie zaplanowany i dopracowany. To jednak z cech autora, która bardzo mi się u niego podoba.
Wędrówka młodego Mikaela przypada na lata 1509-1527, czyli na bardzo niespokojne czasy w Europie. Liczne wojny wyniszczają kontynent, dochodzi do potyczek na tle religijnym, Cesarz walczy z Papieżem, złupiony zostaje Rzym, szaleje inkwizycja, a Turcy stoją u wrót do Europy. Taki świat opisuje na kartach powieści Waltari i robi to nieludzko dobrze. Europa ogarnięta zawieruchą wojenną, krwawymi wojnami wprost wylewa się z kartek. Okrucieństwa Inkwizycji, rzeźnie ludności - wszystko to ukazuje najgorsze cechy ludzkie, opisane jednak w taki sposób, że trudno odmówić autorowi talentu.
Podobnie jak poprzednie powieści autora, historia wciąga. Waltari przygotował małego Mikaela do dalszej podróży. W ostatnim rozdziale dowiadujemy się, dokąd podążył i jaką łatkę przylepiono mu w przyszłości, zatem przygoda trwa dalej. Podobnie jak motto autora "jest liściem miotanym wichrami historii", to samo dzieje się z małym chłopcem, który uczy się na własnych błędach idąc przed siebie doświadczając wielu krzywd.
Powieść jak każda inna spod pióra Waltari jest napisana w duchu staroświeckim. Barwny i wyszukany język wprawia w zadumę, ale czyta się to bardzo dobrze, choć czasami trzeba odetchnąć na dłuższą chwilę. Historia opisana przez autora jest dopracowana w każdym szczególe. Każdy etap wędrówki został dokładnie zaplanowany i dopracowany. To jednak z cech autora, która bardzo mi się u niego podoba.
Wędrówka młodego Mikaela przypada na lata 1509-1527, czyli na bardzo niespokojne czasy w Europie. Liczne wojny wyniszczają kontynent, dochodzi do potyczek na tle religijnym, Cesarz walczy z Papieżem, złupiony zostaje Rzym, szaleje inkwizycja, a Turcy stoją u wrót do Europy. Taki świat opisuje na kartach powieści Waltari i robi to nieludzko dobrze. Europa ogarnięta zawieruchą wojenną, krwawymi wojnami wprost wylewa się z kartek. Okrucieństwa Inkwizycji, rzeźnie ludności - wszystko to ukazuje najgorsze cechy ludzkie, opisane jednak w taki sposób, że trudno odmówić autorowi talentu.
Podobnie jak poprzednie powieści autora, historia wciąga. Waltari przygotował małego Mikaela do dalszej podróży. W ostatnim rozdziale dowiadujemy się, dokąd podążył i jaką łatkę przylepiono mu w przyszłości, zatem przygoda trwa dalej. Podobnie jak motto autora "jest liściem miotanym wichrami historii", to samo dzieje się z małym chłopcem, który uczy się na własnych błędach idąc przed siebie doświadczając wielu krzywd.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews