El gran emperador y sus autómatas

by Jean Lévi

      In third century B.C. Ch'in, as that alien world is depicted in this extraordinary feat of scholarship and imaginative representation, modes of behavior were exotic, at least from a modern vantage point. A malicious courtier induces the susceptible prince to decapitate a loyal official, then throws his body to the fishes, leaving his eyes for the birds to peck.
      Another "honest subject of the state" is made mincemeat of, pickled and sold in the marketplace. A knight-errant admires the hands of a ravishing lutist and is presented with them, exquisitely boxed.
      In the afterword, Levi insists that this is neither a work of history nor a historical novel, as it portrays no "characters" in any dramatic or conventional sense. It is a really a "political fable" based on historical documents concerning the turbulent, war-torn period out of which the First Empire emerged. As such, Levi projects with a fine hand events that left permanent impressions on Chinese history, culture, religion, manners and mind-sets. description courtesy of Publishers Weekly

This is an English translation of a French book.

Genres: Historical Fiction, China, Fiction, French Literature, Asia, France

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Als een historische roman je zin doet krijgen om geschiedenisboeken te lezen over de periode waarin ze plaatsvind, dan is dat alle bewijs dat nodig is om te spreken over een goede historische roman.

Veel meer kan ik hier niet aan toevoegen

[Dillon Patel · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times this book gripped me and I couldn’t put it down, at other times I skimmed the pages because I found it too difficult to get through. More than once I thought of not finishing the book and moving onto something else.

It was an interesting story and I think gives good insight into the political intrigues of second century bc Chinese Court but at times I thought it went too much on a tangent and focused on elements not critical to the story. Although the story in this case, being almost a biography that starts with accession and ends with death. It feels very game of thrones, but like the show, I was left wanting more and wishing it stuck to what it did well.

[Hock Tjoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The French original won the prix Goncourt, awarded for literary excellence, which probably spelled the end of the author's academic career if he ever wished for one. The translation is very good and captures its sweep of Chinese ideas at the time of the Unification of China. The drama is provided by the plot to assassinate the Unifier; there were many such attempts and many movies made of such.

[Shade Aura Melanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book and fell in love with it. it takes place in the dynasty before the han dynasty, the Qin dynasty. very good, beautiful and awwww inspiring. I definitely recommend this book for every one who loves violence put together with great beauty and historical fiction. one of my favorites.

[Ivano Canteri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting analysis of China around 400 B.C. at the roots of two thousands years of history. Very pleasant reading although a bit eclectic here and there in rythm and style of narration. Monumental work on contemporary and later sources. Some notes at the end of the book reveal some "political" reading of his own work from Lévi.

[Ivo Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone planning a visit to the terracotta army and the imperial tombs in Xi'an

[Babis Papadimitriou]

Το παρόν βιβλίο είναι ένα πολιτικό ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα γραμμένο από διαφορετικές οπτικές γωνίες. Τα γεγονότα που εξιστορεί είναι εν πολλοίς άγνωστα στο δυτικό κοινό, όμως η μαγεία της αφήγησης θα συνεπάρει όλους εκείνους που αρέσκονται να διαβάζουν για μηχανορραφίες αυλικών και για διαχείριση της εξουσίας από τους ηγεμόνες. Το πρώτο κομμάτι του βιβλίου εξιστορεί την άνοδο και την πτώση του πρωθυπουργού του πρώτου αυτοκράτορα της Κίνας Σιν Χουαν Τι.

Το δεύτερο καταπιάνεται με την διακυβέρνηση του τελευταίου όταν πλέον εδραιώνεται η εξουσία του. Ενδιάμεσα παρεμβάλλονται διάφορα γεγονότα τα οποία προσθέτουν αλατοπίπερο στο κυρίως γεύμα. Προσωπικά θεωρώ πως ο συγγραφέας πετυχαίνει εκεί που αποτυγχάνει η πλειονότητα των συγγραφέων ιστορικού μυθιστορήματος: στο να μας δώσει ανεπτυγμένους χαρακτήρες οι οποίοι θα δράσουν σύμφωνα με τις συνθήκες τις εποχής στην οποία έχουν ζήσει. Στον αντίποδα αυτό ίσως λειτουργήσει σαν αρνητικό για κάποιους μιας και η ταύτιση χαρακτήρων – εποχής - περιοχής είναι πλήρης και στην ουσία δεν υπάρχει πουθενά κάποιος χαρακτήρας με σύγχρονες δυτικές απόψεις (κοινώς ο entry character με τον οποίο μπορεί να ταυτιστεί το κοινό.).

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Levi has knitted historical evenst, passion the hunger for power into the story f Ch'in Shih Huang Ti, the Great Emperor. He lays out the story of the Chinese ruler rose above the political milieu and unified seven warring provinces into the first true Chinese Empire and built the Great Wall. We are given a look into the heart of a man drven by power, cruelty, a search for eternal life and spirituality. This is a very literate and fast-moving tale.

[Fred Eisenhut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winner of the Goncourt Prize in France, this historical novel or almost history is fascinating. I did have problems with the names of all of the characters. There is a glossary in the back of the book , but I would suggest you make your own list with notes you write about each. It is horrifying to see how many people were put to death at this period in Chinese history. Cruelty rationalized by the various philosophies were also important.
I will probably never want to read this book again.