Caligraful lui Voltaire

by Pablo De Santis, Tudora Şandru Mehedinţi (Translator)

Împins de vitregiile sorții, dar și de un neobosit spirit de aventură, caligraful Dalessius, aflat o vreme în slujba lui Voltaire, ajunge într-un îndepărtat port din Lumea Nouă, ducând cu el secretul incredibil al existenței unor cuvinte tainice care se fac nevăzute odată transpuse pe hârtie și a unor cerneluri fosforescente și otrăvitoare, mărturisind despre tenebrele însângeratului Secol al Luminilor.

Conceput sub forma unei povestiri labirintice, cu un fir narativ ce se strecoară abil printr-un fascinant Secol al Luminilor, romanul lui Pablo de Santis se adresează cititorului dornic să-l însoțească pe protagonist în încercarea sa de a dezlega o serie de enigme, la capătul cărora și-ar putea afla, precum într-o străveche legendă, un sfârșit înecat în sânge. Caligraful va porni pe urmele unei bizare făpturi, o păpușă-femeie de o frumusețe nepământeană, dar va încerca totodată să dezlege o intrigă ce implică tomuri misterioase conținând mesaje secrete despre fabricarea unor mecanismele aidoma ființelor vii, pe iezuiți, dominicani, un spânzurat făcător de minuni și prezența fantomatică a unui călău. Deopotrivă roman istoric, thriller și poveste de dragoste, Caligraful lui Voltaire deschide apetitul pentru un secol în care mintea umană se revoltă, pendulând intre inventarea mașinăriilor perfecte care să reprezinte o replică la Creație și misticismul cel mai înverșunat.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Steampunk, Historical, France

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

A journalist and comic-strip creator who became editor in chief of one of Argentina’s leading comics magazines, Pablo De Santis is the author of six critically acclaimed novels, one work of nonfiction, and a number of books for young adults. His works have been published in more than twenty countries. He lives in Buenos Aires.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dalessius is a 20-year-old calligrapher who ends up working for the philosopher Voltaire in France during the Enlightenment. Interesting enough premise, but the plot never found its pace for me. It felt disjointed and confusing. There are automatons, secret messages written on naked women, a heart in a jar and other intriguing concepts, but they never mesh into a cohesive story.

The book is only 150 pages and yet it felt like it was much longer. I found myself never wanting to pick it up and I can’t help but wonder if something was lost in translation. Maybe the plot makes more sense in its native language.

I did really enjoy some of Santis’ descriptions of the people Dalessius meets on his journeys. Here’s one description of a watchmaker…

“Her many years around clocks had given her words a regular beat, as if each syllable corresponded exactly to a fraction of time.”

[Shomeret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book about Voltaire and I would not describe the alternate France depicted in this book as in the midst of an Enlightenment. It's full of magic, or at least belief in magic. I would describe it as what is called "magical realist" fiction rather than steampunk although there are mechanical gadgets.

I was more interested in the cluster of beliefs surrounding any man who has been hanged. The Hanged Man is a Tarot card. It could be seen as a reference to the mythic Dying God who is identified with the harvest in ancient Pagan religions. He is cut down and is resurrected every year like the crops. So all these powers associated with someone who has been hanged and the relics of the hanged, must be a Pagan survival.

The protagonist and other calligraphers appear to fear that printing will obliterate ancient wisdom, but the ordinary people surrounding them preserve it in their way of thinking.

This book is full of irony and charming bon mots. I very much enjoyed reading it.

[Rosa Dracos99 · Rating 2 out of 5]

No he acabado de entender lo que pretendía el autor. Me ha parecido un libro extraño. Está muy bien escrito, describe como se vivía en la Francia post-revolución en distintos ambientes.... pero, el autor va abriendo hilos, introduciendo personajes (algunos muy extraños), narrando situaciones... que no se cierran nunca.
Supongo que no lo he entendido!!!

[Allie Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Voltaire's Calligrapher" is a steampunk, historical fantasy murder mystery. Unexpectedly so for some, I think, to judge by the two star reviews. This appears to be something of a marmite novel I think. I, however, enjoyed it. The author assumes intelligence on the part of the reader, leaving you to piece together most of the bits of the puzzle, which is refreshing. He does, however, kindly sum it up in one paragraph on page 161 (which I won't quote, for fear of giving things away). The ending is, I thought, unexpected. Great fun, clever and well written. A perfect way to spend your time on a drizzly September day.

[Catherine Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up at the bookstore for $2! Totally worth it. It's short and the chapters are short, but there is more packed in every page of this little tome than in some books 100 times its size. If you like history, mystery, and intellectual stuff then this is the book for you. I have already ordered another book by him: The Paris Enigma.

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is smart, sharp and dry -- like a fine cheese. It leaves you wanting more, but with the knowledge that it is perfect as it is.

Please read my full review here: http://cineastesbookshelf.blogspot.co...

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to add a "wtf" shelf for this book. 1.5 stars.

I have NO idea what the hell this book was on about. It started off interesting, as I dabble in calligraphy myself, but it turned into this Blade Runner-spy thriller type beast and I totally lost my way.

Bizarre

[Laura L. Van Dam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gusta mucho la forma en que escribe De Santis, pero no le encontré mucho la gracia a esta novela, me pareció bastante confusa y no entendí muy bien a qué apuntaba. Una pena, porque con el tema de los autómatas podría haber dado para mucho.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

another book i will add the full FBC review which i plan to do next week; in the meantime a short mini-review:

Short and quite dense, a translation of a 2001 Spanish language original, the novel is not technically sff, but with automatons, "miracles" and calligraphy as alchemy is as close as it gets; excellent stuff and worth reading; takes place in 1762 France - the book starts with the Calas affair - and is narrated (later) by Dalessius, a 20 year old at the time calligrapher with an uncle that runs a mortuary transport service and who is sent by Voltaire to "infiltrate" the Church and expose a plot against the Enlightenment; Dalessius makes friends with an executioner (retired) and works for various creepy guys, encountering lots of strange stuff - only about 150 pages but each word counts and the exotic details about calligraphy,automatons and the search for an effective means of mechanical executions among other stuff the author explores are worth the novel by themselves, though the story is quite interesting too with its twists and turns.

Despite the title, Voltaire appears mostly behind the scenes so we really do not get to see him too much, but Dalesius and his friends and enemies more than make up for that

FBC RV:

INTRODUCTION: I have heard about Pablo de Santis in connection to his 2009 English language debut The Paris Enigma, one of the few recent mysteries I took a closer look at. While still on my reading pile, the few pages I browsed from it put the author's name on my "check any book on publication" list and indeed once I heard of "Voltaire's Calligrapher" with the very exciting blurb below, it became an asap novel.

"Dalessius is twenty when he comes to work for one of the Enlightenment’s most famous minds, the author and philosopher Voltaire. As the great man’s calligrapher, Dalessius becomes witness to many wonders—and finds himself in the middle of a secret battle between the malevolent remnants of the all-but-dead Dark Ages and the progressive elements of the modern age. The calligrapher’s role in this shadowy conflict will carry him to many perilous places— through the gates of sinister castles and to the doors of a bizarre bordello; toward life-and death confrontations with inventive henchmen, ingenious mechanical execution devices, poisonous fish, and murderous automatons. As the conspiracy to halt the Enlightenment’s astonishing progress intensifies, young Dalessius’s courage—as well as Voltaire’s unique cunning and wit—are put to the ultimate test as they strive to ensure the survival of the future. "

FORMAT/CLASSIFICATION: "Voltaire's Calligrapher" stands at close to 150 pages divided into three parts and 38 chapters, all named. The novel is narrated in first person by the hero of the title, Dalessius a 20 year old calligrapher at the time of the novel's story, though the narration is done some 30+ years later and an ocean away...

A translation of the 2001 Spanish language original, "Voltaire's Calligrapher" is what one could call "weird historical fiction" getting very close to sff-nal content with strange automatons, poisoned inks and calligraphy as an exotic "alien" art.

Note: The novel has been translated by Lisa Carter; you can find more of her translated works HERE.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: France 1762, a land in conflict between the tides of the Enlightenment as embodied for example by Voltaire and his famous writings and the obscurantism of the reactionary wing of the Church led by various officials who peddle miracles that can turn sinister as the Calas affair with which the novel starts - and which grounds it in the historical time-line - amply demonstrates. But it is also a time of inventions and technological advancement even if only on a cottage scale for now and "Voltaire's Calligrapher" brings all these strands together in the narration of Dalessius.

Trained as a calligrapher at the best schools and with a desire to be the "greatest such the world has known", Dalessius' hopes conflict with his uncle's wishes who runs a mortuary transport service from Paris and wants nothing to do with his free-spirited nephew's ideas. Our hero has to get shady jobs that land him into trouble when a lucky break sends Dalessius to Voltaire's refuge at Ferney where the "great man" alternates between hoping the king will let him go back to Paris and preparing to jump over the border into Switzerland to safety and away from the specter of the Bastille or worse .

Since the philosopher needs eyes and ears on the ground and Dalessius is young and resourceful, he is sent to "infiltrate" the Church and expose a plot against the Enlightenment. In the process, Dalessius makes friends with an executioner (retired) and works for various creepy guys, encountering lots of strange stuff that I will leave the reader to discover.

The first thing I noticed about the arc of "Voltaire's Calligrapher" is how physically thin it was. But the content is fully satisfying and offers a rich and complete reading experience. Each word counts and the visual description of the places Dallesius travels in or to - from the mortuary coach, to a "doomed" house, to places of execution, cemeteries, sinister dwellings, but also fairs, artists' workrooms and opulent churches and monasteries - are one of the main strength of the novel. Add to this, the exotic details about calligraphy, automatons and the search for an effective means of mechanical executions among other stuff the author explores which make reading the novel worth by themselves, though the story is quite interesting too with several twists and turns.

"Voltaire's Calligrapher" has also some memorable action sequences which I greatly enjoyed though its strength lie in its "exoticism in a familiar setting" and of course in the wonderful writing style of the author that is conveyed quite well even in translation. I would have liked the book to be longer since I would have enjoyed spending more time with Dalessius, but the novel does not feel rushed or short in any way. The one slight negative for me was that despite the title, Voltaire appears mostly behind the scenes so we really do not get to see him too much, but Dalesius and his friends and enemies make up for that.

"Voltaire's Calligrapher" (A+) shows how one can write a book that is exotic and familiar at the same time and that uses the innate "interestingness" of speculative fiction at its best, while staying within the bounds of historical possibility.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very strange, yet very beguiling. The prose is evocative & lyrical, but ask me to try and summarize a plot involving clockwork automatons, calligraphers, out of work executioners, and and ageing Voltaire in post-revolutionary France...and I'll just shrug in defeat. Ignore the plotting, and just immerse yourself in the mood and the setting.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull and dry. What was the mystery?

[Sangeeta K · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, this book has no grip. The chapters are disjointed. There's a sense of not knowing where you are in time or space with this book. And that makes sense with the subject matter of the book: automatons, calligraphy, statues, they all exude beauty without a smidgen of life in them.
That's how this book reads - beautiful, devoid of an real soul.
A husk of pretty words.
We barely get a glimpse of Voltaire. We're never quite sure why he cares about Delassius. We're never quite sure exactly what the mystery is, and if it ever truly got solved.
Or, at least, I'm not sure. Maybe it makes more sense to someone else in my place.
I rate it 3 stars because I did finish this after the first 71 pages in one sitting. I haven't surprised myself like that in years. Like Clarissa's sculpted marble head sinking into the proverbial pond and very literal pond of France, I sank into this book - eyes wide shut, a disconnected connection to reality.
Pablo de Santis writes well. You get through this book relatively easily. But you don't know if you're sure of what you read. It really resonates like calligraphy itself. It demands a regroup of thoughts and emotions. Read this if you prefer those faraway sounding books that make you feel little or nothing - perhaps a jolt of surprise at a blade or a sudden encounter.

[Enea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leí esta novela porque dos amigos con gustos muy distintos resultaron ser fans de De Santis.
No sé bien qué pensar de esta novela.
Me gustó cómo está construida; el contexto histórico, los personajes, la serie de paralelismos entre un mundo viejo y oscuro que muere y el Iluminismo.
El último chiste de Voltaire es enviar a un calígrafo a acabar con el oscurantismo que rodea la palabra escrita con un relato en una imprenta.
Pero me pasó que la novela salta muy rápido de una cosa a la otra. Quizás en un párrafo se intenta resumir una idea compleja, una reflexión sobre el lenguaje o el oficio del calígrafo y después ya no se vuelve a hablar de ello.
Creo que están todas las piezas pero no estoy seguro de que sea la mejor ejecución. Porque lo termine y sentí que me había quedado algo sin comprender. Además, la contratapa habla de “una inteligentísima intriga sobre la verdad de las palabras”. Me parece que es demasiado. En todo caso es una intriga sobre el poder de la palabra escrita y como se ejerce, pero no un valor intrínseco. Me quede pensando mucho en eso.

[Benjamin Chandler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe something was lost in translation. The pieces had lots of potential, but the sum never delivered on the parts' promise.

A calligrapher is hired by Voltaire to investigate a suspicious murder charge, but becomes involved in conspiracies involving automatons and an unfriendly religious order along the way. The bodies pile up the deeper the protagonist finds himself in the mess.

The book has no shortage of interesting characters, settings, and ideas, but I felt like the author just breezed through the whole thing. Nothing was ever fleshed out to my satisfaction. I'd come to an interesting sentence, describing an idea or pseudo-historical detail, and think, "That's cool; tell me more..." but the author rarely did. I truly feel like the book could have been twice as long (same story, no added chapters, just more detail, more rumination, more thought) and been twice as better.

[Olga · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a calligrapher myself, I was lured to this book by its calligraphic title, and it was the only reason I kept reading it till the end. Otherwise, the novel lacks depth and developed characters.
I did love the set-up: calligraphy, Enlightenment, spies, automatons, travels and adventures, but I was bored to death, all the same. I wish the writer took pains to breathe life into the characters, make some meaningful connections between them and the events in the novel; I wouldn't have minded reading ten times the size of the actual novel, if there was more life in it.
The reading is nice and smooth, there are some dashing sentences and poetic insights, but in the end, the book gives an impression of a beautifully calligraphed text - striking, but meaningless, an automaton that never came to life.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, interesting and intriguing read. Dalessius's journey as a calligrapher takes us from Voltaires's home, Paris, an executioner inventing a 'guillotine' and Dominicans vying for control in the south. It is written with a dry wit which had me laughing out loud at times. Always a good sign when I'm reading a book. But that doesn't take away from the intrigue and the really interesting story line of the Automatons. So there is tension between the 'mystery' of the medieval times - religion, belief systems, miracles, and the beginning of scientific modernism: how to kill efficiently (guillotine) and the human obsession with replicating ourselves through sculpture or automatons. Dalessius is only 20 years old but he's a fun interesting, and by the end of the story, a wise guide through this world. A very good read.

[Darlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not schooled in the history of the Dark Ages digging in its heels as the Enlightenment tugs. This is probably a very clever bit of historical fiction from the perspective of the task-focused, behind-the-scenes calligrapher swept up into political affairs.

[KP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fantasy young adult fiction, if I had read this when is was younger I would've probably loved it. It's hard to describe, it's like a little steampunk, a little fantasy, a little religious. The thing I liked about it wasn't the plot, but that it was charmingly written.

[Ruth Harwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short little story is interesting, well written and a great book for those times when you just need a shorter story to fill a little time. The story line is interesting, though there isn't really an awful lot happening, but still, I enjoyed reading it.

[Djj · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should stop reading philosophical novels. Or maybe this isn't one. I dunno. I didn't really enjoy this short tale of a calligrapher hired by Voltaire to investigate some convoluted catholic plot involving automatons. And Calligraphy.

[Julie Mauer · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the life of me I cannot get into this book. Very abstract. I could not form any attachment to any of the characters, nor feel compelled to hear the rest of their story. The back of the book did not match the interior of the book, in my opinion.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes lingering, thinking and attention to every word -- I enjoyed the story and the telling.

[Tomás Aira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brillante, atrapante.

[Ley Holloway]

Enjoyed it, fascinating and weird.

[Sean Hennessy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Underwhelming, confused and disappointing.

[Gail Kennon · Rating 2 out of 5]

set in a very scary time in human history and it's a good reminder of that and reads easily.

[ampi · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐2,5/3

[Meg Onthemove Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

The kernel of the story here is really good but unfortunately it lacks development, characterisation, jumps around with few conclusions, minimal description, has a really disappointing end, etc etc

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fun romp through southern France and Geneva, full of mystery and interesting topics, i.e., automatons. Would have liked it to be a bit longer.

[Gef · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an instant where a language barrier precludes me from discovering an author until their work is translated and brought to our shore. Voltaire's Calligrapher was first published nearly a decade ago, but now it gets an English release through Harper Perennial. And if this novel is emblematic of the rest of De Santis' work, then I may just have to keep an eye out for more in the future.

It's a strange little novel, but for me that was its charm. De Santis could have easily offered a straight historical piece, following the adventures of 18th century calligrapher Dalessius in his employ to Voltaire, but there is a fantastical sci-fi element thrown into the mix that has the novel skirting steampunk territory.

Dalessius is a young calligrapher looking to make his way in a world that is gradually rendering his profession obsolete thanks to the printing press. He does manage to find employment with none other than Voltaire, who is tottering off into antiquity as well. Voltaire seems to have as many enemies as admirers, and Dalessius meets both camps as he does Voltaire's bidding--as he spends more time abroad in the philosopher's name than at the philosopher's side. As he roams the countryside plying his trade, he befriends an executioner who also finds his trade threatened by progress, and an enchanting woman named Clarissa with a sheltered existence and under the thumb of her father, a crafter of automatons (lifelike mechanical creations).

The story begins, however, years after Voltaire's death as Dalessius writes a memoir of sorts while on the road--and carrying Voltaire's heart in a jar. That is what I'd call a hook.

It's the automatons that provide the sci-fi element to the tale. They don't dominate the story, but rather provide a allegorical flavor. I'd find them the most intriguing aspect of the novel, but it's Dalessius and his adept skills with inks and quills that had me spellbound at times. As many of his activities can be construed as espionage, there's a Bondian element to his use of inks that can disappear, reappear, and even poison.

It's a short novel that feels broader than it really is. There are moments that are sped through, where I would have preferred a little more attention afforded to them, but overall it's an entertaining work. It's a book that defies genre, which I'm sure is intentional. De Santis seems quite comfortable blending history with fantastical elements and the end result feels pretty seamless. If you're looking for straight-up historical fiction, you'll get more than you bargained for.