Aktaion onder de sterren: Roman uit het voor-Homerische Griekenland

by Simon Vestdijk

Dutch
Onder de talrijke romans van Vestdijk zijn er drie die in het oude Griekenland spelen. De schrijver geeft vrij nauwkeurig aan in welke tijd: voor ‘Aktaion onder de sterren’ is dit ‘het voor-Homerische Griekenland’; voor de beide andere Griekse romans, ‘De verminkte Apollo’ en ‘De held van Temesa’, geeft Vestdijk zelfs jaartallen.

De jongeman Aktaion is de godin Artemis zeer toegedaan. Een beetje teveel, vindt zijn leermeester Cheiron, de centaur (half mens, half paard). Hij probeert hem zijn passie uit het hoofd te praten.

211 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1941

About the author

Born in the small town of Harlingen, Vestdijk studied medicine in Amsterdam, but turned to literature after a few years as a doctor. He became one of the most important 20th-century writers in the Netherlands. His prolificity as a novelist was legendary, but he was at least as important as an essayist on e.g., literature, art, music and religion. He also wrote poetry and short stories. His work has been translated into most Western European languages.

Reviews

[Jonas Roose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het bevreemdende, onmogelijke religiehistorisch besef van Vestdijks personages en hun sterke, koppige en huichelachtige karakters maakten deze uitdagende 'historische roman' voor mij de moeite van het lezen waard.

[Tech Nossomy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retelling of the famous pre-Homeric myth of Aktaion and Artemis. The title is best translated as "Aktaion among the stars", as the titular character seeks eternal fame by having a stellar constellation named after him. His hautain behavior also becomes his downfall, despite falling under the tutelage of a mild mannered and well educated centaur. Written with a wealth of detail, both in the mythological sense as well as in the life and times of ordinary Greek citizens and the way they organised society. Vestdijk was a scholar of Greek mythology and combined with his recurring themes of tutor-pupil relationships inspired him to write this book.
Particularly appealing are the descriptions of the alchemy used in those days to heal wounds and cure diseases, given that the author was a physician himself.
My favorite part is the section where conniving priests congregate to elect the next king. It demonstrates how even back then the head of state was not chosen by God's will, but by elites who serve their own interests first and without public interference.
Edition is from 1941 and uses outdated spelling.
Middelburg, second hand book store.

[Arlette Abass zwaagstra]

Beatifull use off written language. i love to read it again