Macht heeft vele minnaars

by Gerard Koolschijn (Translator), Herodotus (Narrator)

Vijftig verhalen van Herodotos opnieuw vertaald door Gerard Koolschijn. Alle verhalen komen oorspronkelijk uit Historiën, Herodotos' werk dat aan het begin staat van de prozatraditie.

198 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

Gerard Koolschijn (1945), die de selectie maakte en de inleiding schreef, vertaalde veel Griekse literatuur, met name tragedies en Plato, en schreef onder meer de roman Geen sterveling weet (2012).

Reviews

[Reyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Macht heeft vele minnaars (power has many suitors) is Gerard Koolschijn’s Dutch selection of fifty short stories from Histories , written by the Greek historian and geographer Herodotus from Halicarnassus (c. 484-425 BCE). Alongside its tall tales, the selection includes accounts of the conflict between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states, as well as what might be regarded as an early scientific inquiry into the biological, geographical, and physical workings of the world. Together, these stories offer a fascinating glimpse into a society 2,5 millennia ago.

Unfamiliar with Herodotus’ work, I found the selection somewhat random. Many of the stories centre on a king or wise man troubled by a prophecy. Although some may seem farcical, Herodotus brings Classical Antiquity vividly to life. Athenians, Egyptians, Persians, Spartans, and many others pass the revue, among them well-known figures such as King Croesus and the Persian emperors Darius and Xerxes. Above all, however, I valued Herodotus’ accounts of the world as it was known in his time — extending well beyond the Mediterranean.

[Yann Thysebaert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling short stories with a good taste of ironic humour and drama. Some stories read like recognizable personal scenes as they would happen today.
History brought as psychological entertainment with no bad and good, making fun of nationalism and morals with a big middle finger. Works nice as a daily update for a small part of his work.
Proper modern translation in dutch, looking forward for eventually the other parts.