O Ídolo

by Robert Merle

Itália, séc XVI. Um lugar resplandecente, intrigante, púdico e hipócrita, onde os homens têm o direito sobre as suas mulheres. Os massacres são oficialmente festejados nas ruas com fogueiras; o punhal e o veneno usados sem escrúpulos. Os grandes senhores, achando-se em apuros financeiros, não hesitam em tornar-se salteadores. O povo, que se diz tão católico, grita com facilidade "Morte ao Papa!". Os confessores vendem as confissões ao que pagar melhor. Que as vende depois ao cardeal. Que as destila ao papa. Os espiões são espiados. As punhaladas sobram. A traição torna-se uma medida de segurança.

No meio de tudo isto, Vittoria, o ídolo. A pequeno-burguesa demasiado bela, transformada em princesa por um casamento contra a sua vontade. Mas, por virtude ou frieza, ternura ou falta de imaginação, fiel.

Acusada de adultério e assassínio, sequestrada para proteger a sua virtude, enclausurada num castelo por um papa austero e moralista que, porém, confessa não ser possível vê-la sem amá-la ou ouvi-la sem adorá-la, a sua história - que já antes fascinara Stendhal e Webster - é-nos narrada pelos actores que participaram no seu drama.

Escravas, bandidos, embaixadores, joalheiros e grandes damas, todos falarão, excepto Vittoria, que continuará a guardar o seu mistério de mulher amada e odiada, de ídolo e vítima, num tempo em que a visita frequente da morte dava tempêro à vida e o perigo um delicioso sabor ao pecado.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, French Literature

363 pages, Large Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Born in Tebessa located in ,what was then, the French colony of Algeria. Robert Merle and his family moved to France in 1918. Merle wrote in many styles and won the Prix Goncourt for his novel Week-end à Zuydcoote. He has also written a 13 book series of historical novels, Fortune de France. Recreating 16th and 17th century France through the eyes of a fictitious Protestant doctor turned spy, he went so far as to write it in the period's French making it virtually untranslatable.

His novels Un animal doué de la raison (A Sentient Animal, 1967), a stark Cold War satire inspired by John Lilly's studies of dolphins and the Caribbean Crisis, and Malevil (1972), a post-apocalyptic story, were both translated into English and filmed, the former as Day of the Dolphin. The film The Day of the Dolphin bore very little resemblance to Merle's story.

He died of a heart attack at his home La Malmaison in Grosrouvre near Paris.

Reviews

[Márta Péterffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Már az elején elmondom, szerettem ezt a regényt! A Francia história hosszú regényfolyama után Merle a középkori Rómába vezeti az olvasót. A fura cím egy gyönyörű fiatal nőre utal, aki nem csak szép, de okos és jellemes is volt-az író így mutatja be őt, akit szinte mindenki elfogultan imád, vagy gyűlöl-érzelmei és érdekei szerint.
Szerelem és szenvedély, intrika és cselszövés, sőt a „hét főbűn” majd' mindegyike megtalálható a regényben, ugyanakkor a pápaság XVI. századi történetének egy érdekes szeletét is megismerjük.
Két igazi főszereplő sorsa tárul elénk, nem csak a szépséges Vittoria története, de V. Sixtus pápa története is. Merle nagyon érdekesen mutatja be a regényalakokat, mindenki monológokat mond-kivéve a „bálványt”-és ezekből a személyes beszámolókból tárul elénk minden esemény.
Az író érdeklődéssel és szenvedéllyel közelít a történelmi korszakokhoz és azok érdekes alakjaihoz, ez a könyve kevéssé ismert, pedig nagyobb figyelmet érdemel!
Olvasás közben felvetődhet bennünk a nagy kérdés: létezik-e szerelem első látásra? Én azt gondolom, hogy igen-bár valószínűleg nem mindenki osztja ezt a véleményt:)

[Mario Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merle had such a vivid, humorous, and intelligent writing style. His ability to write in 1st person from the vantage of 20 different characters (and make them believable) shows what talent this man possessed. Excellent storytelling.

[Emi Kottasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical fiction. The story gives a glimpse of life in 16th century Rome, where the Vatican had absolute power and the regions still exercised certain autonomy. Merle writes the story from the perspective of several different characters, the main ones as well as side characters, yet keeping the story flowing. The life of the beautiful Victoria is therefore debated from several viewpoints. She is a muse, she is beautiful but she is many different things to many different people. Her brother's idol, her maid's confidant, her mother's treasure, her uncles companion and at the end the people's princess. But her beauty causes chaos in Rome and leads to rivalries within and between families. In a world where an adulterous woman can be lawfully killed by her husband (while the husband can keep many mistresses, as could the Pope), it is not easy being a beautiful and clever woman. Very interesting also from the historical perspective, reading about the power and the integrity of the Vatican in this period. Popes were chosen according to the interests of regional powers, and at this time there were no Popes from outside of Italy, but the Spanish were eager to change that.

[Stefania Saviane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questo libro, finito chissà perché sul mio comodino, è stato una bella scoperta.
Mi piacciono molto i romanzi storici, e questo ne è un ottimo esempio.
La vicenda tardomedievale della bella Vittoria Accoramboni vi è narrata da molteplici voci, che consentono all'autore di spiegarci le mille sfaccettature della vicenda e del periodo storico.
Nonostante il timbro delle voci narranti non cambi molto, e l'espediente si risolva nel trattare la storia da più punti di vista, il libro è avvincente.
Nella mia personale pesca miracolosa sono stata fortunata...

Goodreads Italia Monopoli: posteggio gratuito - un libro a scelta
36/40 Iread book challenge: libro al buio
41/50 Popsugar reading challenge libro scelto a caso

[David B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historische Romane dieser Art sind selten geworden.

Hervorragend recherchiert, sehr gut übersetzt und in eine Sprache gebracht, die die frühe Neuzeit lebendig werden lässt.

Auch wenn durch die enge Orientierung an historischen Ereignissen die Action vielleicht nicht ganz so hoch ist wie in modernen historischen Romanen, schafft es Merle doch, einen guten Spannungsbogen aufzubauen und den Leser durch die verschiedenen Perspektiven der einzelnen Ich-Erzähler zum Zeugen des Lebens der Vittoria Accorambini werden.

Ich habe nun das letzte Buch Merles gelesen, das mir noch fehlte, und bin traurig, dass solche Bücher mittlerweile nicht mehr geschrieben werden.

[Clément Labry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une histoire captivante et bouleversante. Une histoire d'amour, de trahison et surtout d'enjeu politique en plein XVIe siècle ! Un régal.

Je recommande pour tous les passionnés d'intrigue politique.

[Cristina Bagnasacco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well described the high society and all the characters have been so realistic.

[Bence Kiss-dobronyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astonishing novel seemingly based on the story of Vittoria Accoramboni, "the Idol", but at least as much the story of 16th century Italy, the Papal state and aristocratic politics. While inherently a fiction, still provides a deep and colorful insight into the the workings of church and society, the brutality of people and the power of nobility in the era.

And in the meantime, through regular peaks into the inner thoughts of the characters we can face or even try to understand contemporary problems and role perceptions. Such as the fear of women from the respected theologians or the deliberate acceptance of one's role in an unfair society and acting accordingly.

Readable, exciting, yet well thought, reliable and credible.

[DaViD´82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merle si sice upravil a značně zidealizoval doložitelnou historii k obrazu svému, ale díky všem těm vymazleným intrikám je to stejně úplně jedno. Krom toho je to přeci román a ne literatura faktu.