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Mozart #1
Marele magician
In aceasta noua serie romanesca in patru volume, Christian Jacq descrie legaturile secrete dintre Mozart si francmasonerie, oferindu-ne posibilitatea de a fi martorii aventurii spirituale si ai vietii secrete a unuia dintre cele mai mari genii ale omenirii. Compune aproape fara pauza si a sustinut deja concerte in marile orase ale lumii, castigandu-si renumele de... copil-minune. Da, este doar un copil si nu are mai mult de sapte ani. Dar nici la Praga, nici la Viena, nici la Frankfurt nu trece neobservat. Toti il stiu si il aplauda pe micul Mozart. Dar el se simte cel mai apreciat cand e in Rucken, un regat imaginar, pe care, in gandurile lui, il conduce cu intelepciunea unui om mare. Ce nu stie inca e ca undeva, tocmai in Egipt, cativa calugari vad in el mai mult decat un rege: un Mare Magician, care, prin opera lui, va salva intreaga omenire de la haos. Cel care trebuie sa-l protejeze pe micul compozitor si sa-l initieze in tainele lui Isis este Thamos, un calugar care va parasi Egiptul pentru a deveni... si un locuitor din Rucken?
314 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
12 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Christian Jacq
222 books941 followersAlso writes under the names Célestin Valois, J.B. Livingstone, and Christopher Carter.
Christian Jacq is a French author and Egyptologist. He has written several novels about ancient Egypt, notably a five book suite about pharaoh Ramses II, a character whom Jacq admires greatly.
Jacq's interest in Egyptology began when he was thirteen, and read History of Ancient Egyptian Civilization by Jacques Pirenne. This inspired him to write his first novel. He first visited Egypt when he was seventeen, went on to study Egyptology and archaeology at the Sorbonne, and is now one of the world's leading Egyptologists.
By the time he was eighteen, he had written eight books. His first commercially successful book was Champollion the Egyptian, published in 1987. As of 2004 he has written over fifty books, including several non-fiction books on the subject of Egyptology.
He and his wife later founded the Ramses Institute, which is dedicated to creating a photographic description of Egypt for the preservation of endangered archaeological sites.
Between 1995-1997, he published his best selling five book suite Ramsès, which is today published in over twenty-five countries. Each volume encompasses one aspect of Ramesses' known historical life, woven into a fictional tapestry of the ancient world for an epic tale of love, life and deceit.
Jacq's series describes a vision of the life of the pharaoh: he has two vile power-hungry siblings, Shanaar, his decadent older brother, and Dolora, his corrupted older sister who married his teacher. In his marital life, he first has Isetnofret (Iset) as a mistress (second Great Wife), meets his true love Nefertari (first Great Wife) and after their death, gets married to Maetnefrure in his old age. Jacq gives Ramesses only three biological children: Kha'emweset, Meritamen (she being the only child of Nefertari, the two others being from Iset) and Merneptah. The other "children" are only young officials trained for government and who are nicknamed "sons of the pharaoh".
Christian Jacq is a French author and Egyptologist. He has written several novels about ancient Egypt, notably a five book suite about pharaoh Ramses II, a character whom Jacq admires greatly.
Jacq's interest in Egyptology began when he was thirteen, and read History of Ancient Egyptian Civilization by Jacques Pirenne. This inspired him to write his first novel. He first visited Egypt when he was seventeen, went on to study Egyptology and archaeology at the Sorbonne, and is now one of the world's leading Egyptologists.
By the time he was eighteen, he had written eight books. His first commercially successful book was Champollion the Egyptian, published in 1987. As of 2004 he has written over fifty books, including several non-fiction books on the subject of Egyptology.
He and his wife later founded the Ramses Institute, which is dedicated to creating a photographic description of Egypt for the preservation of endangered archaeological sites.
Between 1995-1997, he published his best selling five book suite Ramsès, which is today published in over twenty-five countries. Each volume encompasses one aspect of Ramesses' known historical life, woven into a fictional tapestry of the ancient world for an epic tale of love, life and deceit.
Jacq's series describes a vision of the life of the pharaoh: he has two vile power-hungry siblings, Shanaar, his decadent older brother, and Dolora, his corrupted older sister who married his teacher. In his marital life, he first has Isetnofret (Iset) as a mistress (second Great Wife), meets his true love Nefertari (first Great Wife) and after their death, gets married to Maetnefrure in his old age. Jacq gives Ramesses only three biological children: Kha'emweset, Meritamen (she being the only child of Nefertari, the two others being from Iset) and Merneptah. The other "children" are only young officials trained for government and who are nicknamed "sons of the pharaoh".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 5, 2021
Es una gran obra reflexiva. Me sentí identificado con Motzart. Vivió de una manera muy interesante.
Salvo algunos detalles, la lectura es amena.
Salvo algunos detalles, la lectura es amena.
December 30, 2019
Mediocre. Si se lo toma como biografia es inexacta, inconclusa. Si se lee como novela es aburrida y enredada, con múltiples subtemas que no llevan a nada. Y finalmente como libro "iniciático" que creo que era la intención del autor, insoportable. Incluye 50 tipos de sociedades secretas y ramas de la masonería, los Illuminati, cultos egipcios; sólo le faltaron extraterrestres del Área 51 para ser un documental de cuarta de History Channel.
February 18, 2021
Christian Jacq foi uma leitura da adolescência, e ainda volto a ele como leitura de conforto. É mais um confronto entre as trevas e a luz, tendo como sujeito Amadeus Mozart e a Maçonaria como herdeira dos mistérios do Egipto. Serviu o meu objectivo: divertir-me.
February 13, 2024
Il iubesc pe Mozart!
Astăzi, 27 ianuarie 2024, se împlinesc 268 de ani de la nașterea Marelui Magician, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Astăzi, 27 ianuarie 2024 încep să citesc această carte.
"Când mâinile sale încetară să mai alerge pe claviatură, meșterul era mișcat până la lacrimi.
- Cum ați zis că vă numiți?
- Trazom.
- Am auzit vorbindu-se despre un copil-minune devenit muzician la curtea din Salzburg. Wolfgang Mozart, despre care unii iubitori de muzică spun că nu și-a pierdut harul. Dumneavoastră sunteți, nu-i așa? Am cu adevărat onoarea de a-l avea în fața mea pe domnul Mozart?"
Astăzi, 27 ianuarie 2024, se împlinesc 268 de ani de la nașterea Marelui Magician, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Astăzi, 27 ianuarie 2024 încep să citesc această carte.
"Când mâinile sale încetară să mai alerge pe claviatură, meșterul era mișcat până la lacrimi.
- Cum ați zis că vă numiți?
- Trazom.
- Am auzit vorbindu-se despre un copil-minune devenit muzician la curtea din Salzburg. Wolfgang Mozart, despre care unii iubitori de muzică spun că nu și-a pierdut harul. Dumneavoastră sunteți, nu-i așa? Am cu adevărat onoarea de a-l avea în fața mea pe domnul Mozart?"
February 21, 2023
Ho divorato il primo di libro di questa tetralogia di Jacq. Molto interessante la vita del Genio, soprattutto vista come eroe romantico. Sembra la storia del giovane Werther.
November 1, 2012
Normally a big fan of this author, as far as I'm concerned he was the best when it came down to fiction based in Egypt at the time of the pyramids and Pharaohs.
I say was as I didn't enjoy the last book of his that I read, I found The Judgement Of The Mummy (see my review HERE) bitterly disappointing, and was hoping that this one would be better only to find, if anything, it was even less to my taste.
Book one in the Mozart (aka The Count Of Thebes) series, The Great Magician is another of those books that though it has ancient Egypt at its heart is set not during the time of the pyramids/Pharaohs but during the childhood of Mozart (yes, that Mozart) who may or may not be the 'Great Magician' foretold by Osiris.
Reading less like a novel and more like an essay (grief how I dislike foot notes in fiction) this was a tale that seemed to concentrate on the childhood, early career, travels and disappointments of the then six year old Mozart along with the rise of Freemasonry during the fifteenth century ..... all very well and, I dare say interesting, if you wanted to read a book about these subjects but I didn't.
Received as a Christmas present a few years ago now, I also received books 2 and 3 in the series (I believe there is now also a 4th available) and whilst I did persist in reading this one I have no desire whatsoever to read any further books in the series.
I say was as I didn't enjoy the last book of his that I read, I found The Judgement Of The Mummy (see my review HERE) bitterly disappointing, and was hoping that this one would be better only to find, if anything, it was even less to my taste.
Book one in the Mozart (aka The Count Of Thebes) series, The Great Magician is another of those books that though it has ancient Egypt at its heart is set not during the time of the pyramids/Pharaohs but during the childhood of Mozart (yes, that Mozart) who may or may not be the 'Great Magician' foretold by Osiris.
Reading less like a novel and more like an essay (grief how I dislike foot notes in fiction) this was a tale that seemed to concentrate on the childhood, early career, travels and disappointments of the then six year old Mozart along with the rise of Freemasonry during the fifteenth century ..... all very well and, I dare say interesting, if you wanted to read a book about these subjects but I didn't.
Received as a Christmas present a few years ago now, I also received books 2 and 3 in the series (I believe there is now also a 4th available) and whilst I did persist in reading this one I have no desire whatsoever to read any further books in the series.
August 10, 2014
I read this book whenever I was having trouble getting to sleep so as a non medicinal aid for sleep I give it 5 stars but without it's ability to send me to sleep I can only justify 1 star. I am usually a fan of the author and I did like the overall concept of the book it was just incredibly boring and I'm surprised that I actually finished it.
May 18, 2013
As much as I enjoyed the "daily life" parts of this book, I really disliked the "esoteric" parts of it...fortunately the chapters are separate so I just skipped the "magician" parts.
I have yet to read the other books in the series...not sure that ever will.
I have yet to read the other books in the series...not sure that ever will.
December 24, 2017
A slog of a read. I kept at it because I am interested in Mozart. I wondered if it could be a bad translation because I thought Jacq was a better writer. It reads more like a history text than a novel.
Read
October 30, 2012Appalling - really dry, badly written and VERY boring book. No stars I'm afraid!!!!!
May 27, 2017
Uma história espectacularmente construída e assente numa pesquisa exaustiva.
É o livro perfeito para amantes de música e dos assuntos metafísicos, nomeadamente também da profundidade e da "magia" da música em si como linguagem universal de toda a natureza e toda a existência Humana física e emocional.
Sem me alongar, para início não poderia estar mais satisfeito e o único defeito que aponto é relacionado com o fim... não sei se muito por causa da tradução para o português, mas as páginas finais não deixam aquele "gostinho" no ar, nem uma vontade particularmente grande de imergir em mais 3 tomos de apontamentos em género de crónica, numa chuvada de factos da vida de Mozart e da Maçonaria na Europa do séc. XVIII.
Convido, no entanto, todos quanto interessados nestes temas a ler esta obra, pois se o vosso interesse for genuíno não se arrependerão!
É o livro perfeito para amantes de música e dos assuntos metafísicos, nomeadamente também da profundidade e da "magia" da música em si como linguagem universal de toda a natureza e toda a existência Humana física e emocional.
Sem me alongar, para início não poderia estar mais satisfeito e o único defeito que aponto é relacionado com o fim... não sei se muito por causa da tradução para o português, mas as páginas finais não deixam aquele "gostinho" no ar, nem uma vontade particularmente grande de imergir em mais 3 tomos de apontamentos em género de crónica, numa chuvada de factos da vida de Mozart e da Maçonaria na Europa do séc. XVIII.
Convido, no entanto, todos quanto interessados nestes temas a ler esta obra, pois se o vosso interesse for genuíno não se arrependerão!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2017
Here's a fun little read. It's a fictionalized account of Mozart's initiation into Freemasonry. There are four novels covering Mozart's life and The Great Magician takes you up to age 22. This volume covers the years 1756 through 1779. It combines the history of the European Freemasonry movement, a coming of age story and a history of classical music during that 22 year period.
I picked this up because Classic Lines is setting up a "pop-up" store this season with the Pittsburgh Opera and they are doing The Marriage of Figaro in November. This is a great novel (series) for gaining a better understanding of how Freemasonry plays a role in Mozart's music.
I picked this up because Classic Lines is setting up a "pop-up" store this season with the Pittsburgh Opera and they are doing The Marriage of Figaro in November. This is a great novel (series) for gaining a better understanding of how Freemasonry plays a role in Mozart's music.
October 3, 2019
Il est certes inattendu de voir Mozart en ayant un contact dès sont plus jeune âge avec la franc maçonnerie. C'est pourtant cette théorie qui est déployée. Le personnage de Thamos est très bien conçu.
Mais j'ai passé ma lecture à savourer la succession de composition dans leur ordre chronologiques, et me perdre dans les descriptions des différentes loges et leur querelles, qui pourraient être vue comme secondaire, mais sans doute indispensables dans le sujets même de cette série en quatre volume.
Mais j'ai passé ma lecture à savourer la succession de composition dans leur ordre chronologiques, et me perdre dans les descriptions des différentes loges et leur querelles, qui pourraient être vue comme secondaire, mais sans doute indispensables dans le sujets même de cette série en quatre volume.
July 1, 2018
He has written some good things (his Ramses series, also Stone of Light series about artisans in the Valley of Kings), but this one and others I have read by him recently are not good. I found this choppy, repetitive and yes it got boring. It's the first of a series involving Mozart and I am sure I won't bother with the rest of them. Too bad.
August 16, 2020
I was very disappointed with this book. Although the topic I thought was interesting it didn't hold my attention however I was determined to finish it. It want put me off read another of his books as I've enjoyed them however I want persevere to the end next time
July 21, 2023
Fascinating. The author takes us step by step or note by note through the composer's life making us watch him handle his disappointments and blessings in life. The secret thread quietly woven through it is facinating. Can't wait to read the rest in the series!
July 28, 2024
Ogni volta che leggo il nome Mozart in una copertina mi ci fiondo proprio per la mia grande passione nei confronti del compositore.
In questo libro si parla più del coinvolgimento massonico che del musicista, tralasciando sensazioni e tratti fondamentali della vita del compositore. Peccato
In questo libro si parla più del coinvolgimento massonico che del musicista, tralasciando sensazioni e tratti fondamentali della vita del compositore. Peccato
July 21, 2020
Muito interessante e leitura fluida, além de boas referências. Dito isso, é uma narrativa simplória, sem grande profundidade
December 28, 2021
Reads like an essay, slow and more of a biography of Mozart's early life. Found the parts about the Freemasons particularly boring.
January 7, 2023
It was a okay kind of book actually, i wasn't hyped up to read other parts of this books and the confusion i have with the characters is too much. But it satisfy my expectations.
May 25, 2024
Très bon roman d'époque - volume 1 de 3
August 1, 2019
I very much enjoyed this book. Describes the initiation of Mozart into freemasonry and his spiritual awakening in times of great trouble and pain. Some instances are dragged out and boring. Being a trilogy may better its rating but as a stand-alone it is satisfactory
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2015
As I always do with Christian Jacq's books, I learned a lot from this one. Le Grand Magicien, the first book in a series about Mozart, did not seem to have the flow of other of Jacq's books.
We begin with Mozart as a child, discover many interesting details about his life with parents and sister Nannerl. The appearance of Thamos, a mysterious though appealing character from afar, merges the life of the young Mozart with the world of Franc Maconnerie. Or attempts to.
As the story weaves back and forth through Mozart's travels and the multitude of locations in which the emerging belief system of FM appears in Europe -- also linked to Egypt -- either I became confused or else the story did! My feeling, in any case, was that the effort to merge the two stories was strained. Maybe this became more clear in the follow-on book(s), this book having ended with Mozart in his early twenties. Sadly, I have no inclination to proceed to the next book in the series to find out.
I still give it four stars, though, because it is a coup de force of content historically, as usual for Jacq.
We begin with Mozart as a child, discover many interesting details about his life with parents and sister Nannerl. The appearance of Thamos, a mysterious though appealing character from afar, merges the life of the young Mozart with the world of Franc Maconnerie. Or attempts to.
As the story weaves back and forth through Mozart's travels and the multitude of locations in which the emerging belief system of FM appears in Europe -- also linked to Egypt -- either I became confused or else the story did! My feeling, in any case, was that the effort to merge the two stories was strained. Maybe this became more clear in the follow-on book(s), this book having ended with Mozart in his early twenties. Sadly, I have no inclination to proceed to the next book in the series to find out.
I still give it four stars, though, because it is a coup de force of content historically, as usual for Jacq.
January 9, 2012
This book is worth reading because it follows Mozart's early years closely and lists all his works as you go through the book so you can even listen to Mozart's maturing and growing as a composer.
The style isn't challenging, but this is a work of vulgarisation, and the choice of presenting each episode by date entry might confuse readers who would have trouble disentangling the fiction from the facts, especially as I first glance it doesn't look like a work of fiction.
I was expecting a work better-written, with a prose to match Mozart's music but this is not that type of book. I stuck with it, however, because Mozart is such a fascinating character that you cannot let go of the book until the end. I do feel like reading the other volumes so I can get to know more about him but I wouldn't buy them as they're not literary enough for my state. Worth borrowing from your library if you want to find out more about the young Mozart without having to go through an academic biography.
The style isn't challenging, but this is a work of vulgarisation, and the choice of presenting each episode by date entry might confuse readers who would have trouble disentangling the fiction from the facts, especially as I first glance it doesn't look like a work of fiction.
I was expecting a work better-written, with a prose to match Mozart's music but this is not that type of book. I stuck with it, however, because Mozart is such a fascinating character that you cannot let go of the book until the end. I do feel like reading the other volumes so I can get to know more about him but I wouldn't buy them as they're not literary enough for my state. Worth borrowing from your library if you want to find out more about the young Mozart without having to go through an academic biography.
February 3, 2014
I would recommend this only if you are a fan of Christian Jacq. Otherwise you may want to put it down and choose one of his earlier works, like Manhunt. The Great Magician is, in a way, Jacq's attempt to break out of ancient Egypt, but it falls short in a lot of ways. It's mainly a sort of alternate history autobiographical story of Mozart's fame, and while it is an interesting read, the style jumps too fast for me. Still, it was a good romp for me. Your mileage may vary.
December 8, 2014
Dissapointed with this book. The story, while interesting, lacks the reader engagement which is prevalent and captivating in his other books. I believe Jacq to be one of the best writers of our time but if you are a Jacq fan you will be challenged by the style of this book; it feels like it is written by another author.
March 25, 2011
Uma excelente historia sobre a vida musical de Mozart
April 20, 2012
took me quite a while to get into this book which was a shame as I usually enjoy this authors books.
August 25, 2017
The path of initiation is full of obstacles.
May 27, 2013
Comparable to Rick Riordan's works.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews