Return to Elysium

Far Memory

by Joan Grant

Elysium, according to its author, was technically her most difficult undertaking. It is the story of Lucina, the young ward of a Greek philosopher, surrounded by an exclusively masculine society, yet too clear-sighted to accept her rigid education. Later in life, as founder of a mystic cult in the young and primitive city of Rome, she discovers an existence that transcends death. Surrounded not by a masculine society, but by an equally exacting family which questioned her continually, Joan Grant fought to safeguard her past experiences and to relate the predicament of a priestess beset by "scientists" who want to know the how and why about everything and who, in their zeal to pick apart the mechanism and examine it, stop it from working. What Miss Grant tells us about Lucina is, perhaps, a way for her to unveil her own problems and offer us a glimpse at what she feels might be another future. The final lines of Return to Elysium are revealing. "I stood alone on the cliff above the sea as dawn spread phoenix wings across the sky. Today Lucina would be given a new name." Whatever the reader's opinion may be about reincarnation and insights into past experiences, there can be no doubt about the impact and the beauty of Return to Elysium as a work of high literary merit. "No novelist writing today," wrote the Daily Telegraph, "possesses more completely, perhaps than Miss Grant, what Henry James called 'the sense of the past."' "It is," reviewed the London Times Literary Supplement, "a constantly interesting and impressive book."

Genres: Historical Fiction, Spirituality

Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that is a part of Joan Grant's Far Memory series. Getting through part one (the book is in three parts) was difficult because it was hard to see where things were going. Sometimes the dialogue too was a bit blunt and I had to wonder what had just happened. However part two was quite interesting and moved along well, and part three was rather wonderful and in the end left you feeling contented.

In this life, she was to be born a greek and it brought to be raised by a philosopher godfather, who uses his estate as a sanctuary to people whom I would describe as 'damaged' from an experience in their life (Epicurus' story especially so). Near the end of the book, I realized it was quite useful to keep in mind the importance of water as a purifying agent, as well as a means of transition, think of Thomas Cole's The Voyage of Life.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, this spiritual memoir includes the most independent spiritual leadership found in any of Joan Grant's books. And that's saying something!

At the start of this story, Lucina is a Greek girl, growing up in a utopian enclave. Along with two friends, for good reason, she sails to Rome, becoming a priestess in a Delphic temple.

Once again, Joan Grant has written her memoir... Re-living, and helping us readers to re-live, the personal history from one of her previous incarnations.

From Grant's memoir from this lifetime, "Far Memory," I learned that she found a good practitioner of past-life regression. Thus, Joan gathered information for this amazing narrative.

ALSO NOTEWORTHY, GOODREADERS

Because this incarnation took place in ancient Greece and early Rome, I think it sheds light on Earth's Big History as well.

Although this story reads like a novel, it is much, much more. Each of us readers will have to decide for ourselves if the last portion of this story arc involves the uglier consequences of self-deception.

FIVE STARS

[Sarah Boutin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book and obviously written by an educated person but it was pretty predictable. I enjoyed it nonetheless. Great of toh are looking for a carefree read that will transport you to this particular time and place.

[Mark Woollacott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Wonderful!

[Margareth8537 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read a 1940s edition of this. Beautifully crafted book, which appears to be autobiographical fiction. One of her Past life books.