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Historien om en plötslig drabbande kärlek hos den grymme Herodes, kung över det Heliga Landet, till en kvinna han möter. Hon blir hans hustru av medlidande och offervilja och lyckas för en tid mildra hans onska
88 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
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232 people want to read
About the author
Pär Lagerkvist
170 books322 followersLagerkvist was born in 1891 in southern Sweden. In 1910 he went to Uppsala as a student and in 1913 he left for Paris, where he was exposed to the work of Pablo Picasso. He studied Middle Age Art, as well as Indian and Chinese literature, to prepare himself for becoming a poet. His first collection of poetry was published in 1916. In 1940 Lagerkvist was chosen as one of the "aderton" (the eighteen) of the Swedish Academy.
Lagerkvist wrote poetry, novels, plays, short stories and essays. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1951 "for the artistic vigour and true independence of mind with which he endeavours in his poetry to find answers to the eternal questions confronting mankind."
Lagerkvist wrote poetry, novels, plays, short stories and essays. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1951 "for the artistic vigour and true independence of mind with which he endeavours in his poetry to find answers to the eternal questions confronting mankind."
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 22, 2020
È l’ultima opera di Lagerkvist, per me la più bella.
Ancora una storia di redenzione mancata, ancora due figure di grande bellezza, il crudele Erode e Mariamne d’argento.
Solitudine di un cuore deserto, come la terra da cui proviene. Erode è odiato e temuto. Ama la violenza, la guerra , il sangue e la vendetta.
Mistero di un cuore puro, nata da una stirpe di re, Mariamne è come un albero che non sa nulla di sé e
“Era come gli alberi. Il vento è il loro sacro rito, di cui fanno parte e che qualche volta ascoltano”.
Erode fa erigere un tempio grandioso a un Dio in cui non crede. Lo fa per sé, per vanagloria.
Un giorno è folgorato sulla via di Damasco e da allora nulla sarà più come prima. Vede Mariamne, o piuttosto ne avverte l’anima, senza riuscire a capire.
È una forma di amore quella che lo lega a lei. Mariamne lo sposa, ma non riesce a ricambiarlo. Gli si affeziona, ne ha pietà e disgusto.
L’inquietudine di Erode aumenta, incapace di comprendere la donna amata.
La sua vita trascorrerà nella solitudine del deserto da cui proviene, sotto un cielo stellato immenso in cui passa la Cometa dei magi. Nascerà un bambino in una capanna, cui i saggi d’Oriente, poveri e devoti, doneranno quello che hanno di più prezioso: un sasso levigato dal mare vicino alla terra, un cardo a forma di scettro, una brocca d’acqua.
Il grande Erode muore, abbandonato da tutti, col nome di Mariamne sulle labbra.
Ancora una storia di redenzione mancata, ancora due figure di grande bellezza, il crudele Erode e Mariamne d’argento.
Solitudine di un cuore deserto, come la terra da cui proviene. Erode è odiato e temuto. Ama la violenza, la guerra , il sangue e la vendetta.
Mistero di un cuore puro, nata da una stirpe di re, Mariamne è come un albero che non sa nulla di sé e
“Era come gli alberi. Il vento è il loro sacro rito, di cui fanno parte e che qualche volta ascoltano”.
Erode fa erigere un tempio grandioso a un Dio in cui non crede. Lo fa per sé, per vanagloria.
Un giorno è folgorato sulla via di Damasco e da allora nulla sarà più come prima. Vede Mariamne, o piuttosto ne avverte l’anima, senza riuscire a capire.
È una forma di amore quella che lo lega a lei. Mariamne lo sposa, ma non riesce a ricambiarlo. Gli si affeziona, ne ha pietà e disgusto.
L’inquietudine di Erode aumenta, incapace di comprendere la donna amata.
La sua vita trascorrerà nella solitudine del deserto da cui proviene, sotto un cielo stellato immenso in cui passa la Cometa dei magi. Nascerà un bambino in una capanna, cui i saggi d’Oriente, poveri e devoti, doneranno quello che hanno di più prezioso: un sasso levigato dal mare vicino alla terra, un cardo a forma di scettro, una brocca d’acqua.
Il grande Erode muore, abbandonato da tutti, col nome di Mariamne sulle labbra.
September 4, 2016
His last and best book. Perfect in every way.
Pär Lagerkvist has surpassed himself!
Pär Lagerkvist has surpassed himself!
August 10, 2023
This is a superb short story with historical characters as the two main people in the story, indeed the only two characters who are given names.
The historical story concerns many other people but this novella concentrates on Herod the Edomite who was given the name King of the Jews and who fell in love with the Maccabee princess, Mariamne when he saw her one day by the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem.
For a time Mariamne's gentle nature softens Herod's natural tyranny but he soon gets fed up because she surrenders to his advances rather than him taking her by force which he actually enjoys more, not only in love but in life in general, particularly in battle.
Due to his nature, Herod becomes suspicious of Mariamne's contact with an old Maccabean woman and thinks she's betraying him. The old woman disappears.
Tragedy ensues.
Although he's killed many people, Herod is terrified of dying, not in the excitement of battle, but from an illness, from within, from an unknown and unseen enemy.
The historical story concerns many other people but this novella concentrates on Herod the Edomite who was given the name King of the Jews and who fell in love with the Maccabee princess, Mariamne when he saw her one day by the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem.
For a time Mariamne's gentle nature softens Herod's natural tyranny but he soon gets fed up because she surrenders to his advances rather than him taking her by force which he actually enjoys more, not only in love but in life in general, particularly in battle.
Due to his nature, Herod becomes suspicious of Mariamne's contact with an old Maccabean woman and thinks she's betraying him. The old woman disappears.
Tragedy ensues.
Although he's killed many people, Herod is terrified of dying, not in the excitement of battle, but from an illness, from within, from an unknown and unseen enemy.
May 10, 2007
ridiculously good...also depressing
February 8, 2014
Short but powerful, about the (in)ability to express love and whether good can ever really conquer evil. It sucked me right in from the first page; I don't think I looked up until I was done.
May 11, 2020
Jag blev besviken över att boken handlade om Mariamne och inte Marianne. Hade sett fram emot att läsa en härlig liten bok om en medelålders kvinna i Borås.
April 14, 2013
I'll admit it, I have fallen in love with Lagerkvist's novels. The Dwarf last summer lead me to Barabbas. I felt satisfied for the moment. A few months ago I picked up the other four of the pentalogy of Barabbas and quickly ran through those. A few books later, I still wanted more, so I came to Lagerkvist's last novel.
While not nearly as complex as some in his pentalogy or the Dwarf, this definitely is the simplest novel I have read of his. It is a story of love, but not one we expect. When we hear a story of love, we think love from both sides, or love that failed at the beginning, but that is successful at the ending. Not in this book. This book is about a man who knows no love, except the love he finds, but knowing nothing else, his love is not of normal temper, but like his own temper, filled with evil.
The woman Mariamne is passive, giving in to help others, always helping others, always blaming herself. The beloved. She has no love for him. Perhaps Herod's love is evil because he could never receive or perhaps never received any love. She is worthy of all praise given.
So how can a book that seems to talk about two almost opposites, conducting a love that hopefully none of us will ever experience matter to us? The fact is, that although this love is evil, although this is not what we would want to call love, it is still the same emotion, and it has just as powerful effects on the holder. I read this story both as a warning and also a hope. A warning and possibility of what we can experience and feel, of what we may create within ourselves. This is a book to let us understand and make reasonable what we originally thought unthinkable.
While not nearly as complex as some in his pentalogy or the Dwarf, this definitely is the simplest novel I have read of his. It is a story of love, but not one we expect. When we hear a story of love, we think love from both sides, or love that failed at the beginning, but that is successful at the ending. Not in this book. This book is about a man who knows no love, except the love he finds, but knowing nothing else, his love is not of normal temper, but like his own temper, filled with evil.
The woman Mariamne is passive, giving in to help others, always helping others, always blaming herself. The beloved. She has no love for him. Perhaps Herod's love is evil because he could never receive or perhaps never received any love. She is worthy of all praise given.
So how can a book that seems to talk about two almost opposites, conducting a love that hopefully none of us will ever experience matter to us? The fact is, that although this love is evil, although this is not what we would want to call love, it is still the same emotion, and it has just as powerful effects on the holder. I read this story both as a warning and also a hope. A warning and possibility of what we can experience and feel, of what we may create within ourselves. This is a book to let us understand and make reasonable what we originally thought unthinkable.
July 15, 2015
Herod is a monster, a man of overwhelming, evil reputation. He kills and tortures and only cares for himself. He punishes those who anger him or try to thwart his ambitions. Mariamne is a woman of principle and dominated by guilt, who marries Herod to try to placate an ogre who cannot be placated. Love for her family complicates Herod's love for her and torture. He must punish, and she must forgive. Their natures are opposite. Is it love? No. Do they need each other? Yes. Is it pretty or fair? Nope. Does good win? Never with Lagerkvist, and that's why he's so unapologetically great.
August 9, 2008
What can I say? lagerkvist's spare yet spiritual writing is unequaled.
April 12, 2020
A short but magnificently written book. It tells the story of the cruel and vicious king Herod and the beautiful and good Mariamne who became his wife.
Read
November 8, 2021Läste förstås på svenska. Tack kör-Alexander för lånet!
April 12, 2023
Beautiful incredible sparse intense everything you want from Lagerkvist my main man love him sm
November 8, 2016
The Herod in Par Lagerkvist’s Herod and Mariamne is the Herod of Biblical notoriety. The novella is a love story of sorts. Herod is a monstrous ruler who derives satisfaction from killing and torturing his perceived enemies. He falls in love with the innocent Mariamne. She agrees to marry him but only because she thinks she may be able to temper his violent urges. She succeeds temporarily, but Herod resorts to his former cruelties when he realizes Mariamne doesn’t return his love. His rage at being spurned by the only woman he has ever loved fuels his resentment, and he eventually has her killed. He dies years later, a decrepit old man, alone, despised, and calling out to Mariamne with his last breath.
This is an engaging novel, simply told and written in Lagerkvist’s style of unadorned language. Lagerkvist’s portrayal of Herod is convincing. He is a cruel man consumed with self-importance, an inflated ego, and is paranoid to top it off. When he finds himself passionate about someone other than himself, he demands full reciprocation. His love turns to resentment and then to a seething anger aimed at the woman who deigns to withhold her love.
Lagerkvist’s portrayal of Mariamne is not so convincing. She is a woman of flawless internal and external beauty, a selfless creature totally devoted to sacrificing herself to save others. She tolerates Herod’s indiscretions and his cruelties with an unnerving patience. She goes about living her life as if she is not of this world. In short, Mariamne is barely human.
The portrayal of Mariamne reminded me of Virginia Woolf’s description of the Angel in the House in her Professions for Women. Woolf describes her encounter with the Angel while writing a review of a male-authored novel:
“I will describe her as shortly as I can. She was intensely sympathetic. She was immensely charming. She was utterly unselfish. She excelled in the difficult arts of family life. She sacrificed herself daily. If there was chicken, she took the leg; if there was a draught she sat in it — in short she was so constituted that she never had a mind or a wish of her own, but preferred to sympathize always with the minds and wishes of others. Above all — I need not say it —-she was pure. Her purity was supposed to be her chief beauty — her blushes, her great grace.”
Virginia Woolf comes to the realization she has to kill the Angel in the House if she wants to survive as a writer. Her action is based on self-defense: “Had I not killed her, she would have killed me.”
Mariamne shares the qualities of Woolf’s phantom Angel. And it is those very same qualities that cause Herod to act in a murderous rage against her. Perhaps if she had been a little more human, thrown a few tantrums of jealousy here and there, argued with him, revealed she had needs and desires of her own, shown her weaknesses, she may have survived his onslaught.
This is an engaging novel, simply told and written in Lagerkvist’s style of unadorned language. Lagerkvist’s portrayal of Herod is convincing. He is a cruel man consumed with self-importance, an inflated ego, and is paranoid to top it off. When he finds himself passionate about someone other than himself, he demands full reciprocation. His love turns to resentment and then to a seething anger aimed at the woman who deigns to withhold her love.
Lagerkvist’s portrayal of Mariamne is not so convincing. She is a woman of flawless internal and external beauty, a selfless creature totally devoted to sacrificing herself to save others. She tolerates Herod’s indiscretions and his cruelties with an unnerving patience. She goes about living her life as if she is not of this world. In short, Mariamne is barely human.
The portrayal of Mariamne reminded me of Virginia Woolf’s description of the Angel in the House in her Professions for Women. Woolf describes her encounter with the Angel while writing a review of a male-authored novel:
“I will describe her as shortly as I can. She was intensely sympathetic. She was immensely charming. She was utterly unselfish. She excelled in the difficult arts of family life. She sacrificed herself daily. If there was chicken, she took the leg; if there was a draught she sat in it — in short she was so constituted that she never had a mind or a wish of her own, but preferred to sympathize always with the minds and wishes of others. Above all — I need not say it —-she was pure. Her purity was supposed to be her chief beauty — her blushes, her great grace.”
Virginia Woolf comes to the realization she has to kill the Angel in the House if she wants to survive as a writer. Her action is based on self-defense: “Had I not killed her, she would have killed me.”
Mariamne shares the qualities of Woolf’s phantom Angel. And it is those very same qualities that cause Herod to act in a murderous rage against her. Perhaps if she had been a little more human, thrown a few tantrums of jealousy here and there, argued with him, revealed she had needs and desires of her own, shown her weaknesses, she may have survived his onslaught.
October 23, 2009
It could have been much better if only Lagerkvist had not intended to set the story in a historical/biblical background. I can see that Herod's passion to build the second temple plays a vital role in the novella and that this might be the reason behind using the historical/biblical background. Yet, I cannot understand why about the massacre of innocents is mentioned, it seems to me that it is just name-dropped.
I think it was not necessary to make it historically plausible. After all, there are no indications of the presence of Romans, children of Mariamne, the fact that she was betrothed by her mother to Herod, that she was the second wife, and that the third one's name was Mariamne too, and so many other things.
The novella is certainly readable because it is about human nature and its eternal/internal conflicts, no matter how you are going to interpret the story line and characters, you will learn something about the human nature, and this is why I am complaining about being insistent upon making it biblical or historical.
I think it was not necessary to make it historically plausible. After all, there are no indications of the presence of Romans, children of Mariamne, the fact that she was betrothed by her mother to Herod, that she was the second wife, and that the third one's name was Mariamne too, and so many other things.
The novella is certainly readable because it is about human nature and its eternal/internal conflicts, no matter how you are going to interpret the story line and characters, you will learn something about the human nature, and this is why I am complaining about being insistent upon making it biblical or historical.
April 23, 2020
“Mariamne” var Lagerkvists sista bok. Här har han fulländat sin romankonst. Precis som i “Sibyllan”, i “Ahasverus död” och i “Barabbas” hämtas berättelsen från religionen. Det handlar om den avskydde kung Herodes och om hur han träffar Mariamne, den enda människa han lyckas älska.
Språket är enkelt och rakt. Men säger ändå så mycket. Som när Mariamnes liv ligger i vågskålen. Kung Herodes funderar.
“Han höll nu på att bestämma sig för om han längre skulle kunna uthärda detta att hon levde, att hon inte var död. Det var svårt för honom att göra det, men han måste ju bestämma sig, träffa ett avgörande till sist.”
Språket är enkelt och rakt. Men säger ändå så mycket. Som när Mariamnes liv ligger i vågskålen. Kung Herodes funderar.
“Han höll nu på att bestämma sig för om han längre skulle kunna uthärda detta att hon levde, att hon inte var död. Det var svårt för honom att göra det, men han måste ju bestämma sig, träffa ett avgörande till sist.”
January 10, 2022
despite Dvärgen being one of the most influential books I read during my teenage years, I've never read anything else by Lagerkvist. just like that book, Mariamne is a study in evil and how it can permeate everything, even love. the author has an incredible knowledge of human nature, any action can be made understandable through his sparse, emotional prose.
December 17, 2021
Pär Lagerkvist – Mariamne
Mariamne je Lagerkvistov kratki roman na temu iz Biblije, točnije o životu tiranina Heroda.
Herod je rodom bio Edomit, narod Judeje ga ne voli, okrtutan je, voli tek rat, vlast, nemoral i blaga, u njemu je divlja krv. Dolaskom na vlast smaknuo je sve svoje dotadašnje neprijatelje, a narod se najviše čudi kako jedan takav zlotvor gradi veličanstveni hram. A Herod ga gradi da bi uzdigao sebe.
I tad se dešava da na vratima Jeruzalema koja vode u Damask ugleda nju – Mariamnu. No, Mariamne je osim što je lijepa, blaga, plemkinja, Makabejka, a Makabejci su njegovi zakleti neprijatelji. Upoznaju se kad Mariamne dolazi pred njega moliti milost za rođaka, dok Herod ostaje osupnut nedostatkom straha kod Mariamne. Nije veliki Herod na to navikao. Otpušta sve bludnice i živi za susrete s Mariamnom. Prosi je, a ona postaje kraljica Mariamne. Narod ju je volio, zvali su je: Mariamne u srebrnoj odjeći.
Herod osjeća strašnu požudu, no Mariamne ne, malo-pomalo to će ih potpuno udaljiti jedno od drugog i umanjiti utjecaj koji je Mariamne neko vrijeme imala na Heroda.
Bitka s Makabejcima. Herod ubija dječaka zbog kojeg je i upoznao Mariamne.
Počinje ju varati i na dvor opet dovodi bludnice.
Počinje i sumnjati u nju jer je Makabejka, iako mu intuicija govori da griješi. Vrativši se s jednog jahanja nalazi je u krvi, izbodenu i vapi: voljena, voljena, voljena... (posljednje što je Mariamne čula). Tko je i zašto ubio Mariamne? Čitanjem to otkrivamo. A Herod? Nakon Mariamnine smrti nastavlja orgijanje i ubijanje. Tad obolijeva. Dugo i mučno.
U romanu ga pisac poredi s pustinjom u kojoj nema kapi bistre vode, a njegovu dušu punom mulja zove. Umire s njenim imenom na usnama. Mariamne. Jedina osoba koju je Herod u životu volio. Ako je uopće umio voljeti. Mariamne.
Pär Lagerkvist (1891.-1974.) švedski je književnik. Često u svojim djelima uzima zlo kao motiv, npr. Već 1933. napiao je roman Bödlen (Dželat) o dolasku Hitlera na vlast. Često se simbolički služi motivima koji su antonimi i njegova djela imaju dubinu. Mariamne je njegov posljednji roman. 1951. dobio je Nobelovu nagradu.
Mariamne je Lagerkvistov kratki roman na temu iz Biblije, točnije o životu tiranina Heroda.
Herod je rodom bio Edomit, narod Judeje ga ne voli, okrtutan je, voli tek rat, vlast, nemoral i blaga, u njemu je divlja krv. Dolaskom na vlast smaknuo je sve svoje dotadašnje neprijatelje, a narod se najviše čudi kako jedan takav zlotvor gradi veličanstveni hram. A Herod ga gradi da bi uzdigao sebe.
I tad se dešava da na vratima Jeruzalema koja vode u Damask ugleda nju – Mariamnu. No, Mariamne je osim što je lijepa, blaga, plemkinja, Makabejka, a Makabejci su njegovi zakleti neprijatelji. Upoznaju se kad Mariamne dolazi pred njega moliti milost za rođaka, dok Herod ostaje osupnut nedostatkom straha kod Mariamne. Nije veliki Herod na to navikao. Otpušta sve bludnice i živi za susrete s Mariamnom. Prosi je, a ona postaje kraljica Mariamne. Narod ju je volio, zvali su je: Mariamne u srebrnoj odjeći.
Herod osjeća strašnu požudu, no Mariamne ne, malo-pomalo to će ih potpuno udaljiti jedno od drugog i umanjiti utjecaj koji je Mariamne neko vrijeme imala na Heroda.
Bitka s Makabejcima. Herod ubija dječaka zbog kojeg je i upoznao Mariamne.
Počinje ju varati i na dvor opet dovodi bludnice.
Počinje i sumnjati u nju jer je Makabejka, iako mu intuicija govori da griješi. Vrativši se s jednog jahanja nalazi je u krvi, izbodenu i vapi: voljena, voljena, voljena... (posljednje što je Mariamne čula). Tko je i zašto ubio Mariamne? Čitanjem to otkrivamo. A Herod? Nakon Mariamnine smrti nastavlja orgijanje i ubijanje. Tad obolijeva. Dugo i mučno.
U romanu ga pisac poredi s pustinjom u kojoj nema kapi bistre vode, a njegovu dušu punom mulja zove. Umire s njenim imenom na usnama. Mariamne. Jedina osoba koju je Herod u životu volio. Ako je uopće umio voljeti. Mariamne.
Pär Lagerkvist (1891.-1974.) švedski je književnik. Često u svojim djelima uzima zlo kao motiv, npr. Već 1933. napiao je roman Bödlen (Dželat) o dolasku Hitlera na vlast. Često se simbolički služi motivima koji su antonimi i njegova djela imaju dubinu. Mariamne je njegov posljednji roman. 1951. dobio je Nobelovu nagradu.
April 11, 2024
I'm definitely not smart enough and have not read enough of the Bible to fully understand this book, but I loved what I did understand. It was really tragic and beautifully written. I'm so glad I selected it virtually at random in a used book store in LA a few weeks ago, gonna start picking books at random more.
April 29, 2025
Pär Lagerkvists sista roman är ett litet mästerverk i all sin enkelhet. En tunn bok med ett språk där varje ord vägts på guldvåg. Det är en av mina favoriter i bokhyllan, en hisnande kärlekshistoria som får en grym och förskräckande vändning. Texten är fylld av symbolik och jag återkommer till den gång på gång sedan jag först läste den under gymnasieåren.
March 1, 2022
3️⃣.3️⃣
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Herodis such a cruel and unfaithful character fell in love with someone with simplicity and kindness
It was a great conflict between good and bad !
It was a short good story of love and death !
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Herodis such a cruel and unfaithful character fell in love with someone with simplicity and kindness
It was a great conflict between good and bad !
It was a short good story of love and death !
March 13, 2025
En sorts lågmäldhet i tonen, en lätthet i språket, som inte tillräckligt väl döljer hur platt och melodramatisk Lagerkvist är när han skriver såna här enkla moraliserande sagor.
December 1, 2025
This was a short yet enjoyable read. I absolutely loved the writing style and the author's use of indirect characterization.
March 4, 2012
A novella with a very inviting, fluid voice. But the story arc is pretty loose, with no character-development/plot payoff to speak of. Still, there are some fine passages.
”She was like the trees. The wind is the worship that fills them, and to which at times--though not always--they listen. Their divine service is within themselves.”
”She was like the trees. The wind is the worship that fills them, and to which at times--though not always--they listen. Their divine service is within themselves.”
January 7, 2010
To all mystique followers.
August 10, 2016
(3.5/5)
April 23, 2017
So short, so simple, so sweet.
While this book forsakes a great deal of historical accuracy in exchange for a charming story, Pär Lagerkvist did so with a masterful hand. Whereas I typically disparage historical inaccuracy, in this case it was so very perfect, the story he crafted. Perhaps it could have been a better story had it not usurped historical personages, but whatever, had that been so it would lose a certain touch. Definitely shall try more Lagerkvist very soon.
While this book forsakes a great deal of historical accuracy in exchange for a charming story, Pär Lagerkvist did so with a masterful hand. Whereas I typically disparage historical inaccuracy, in this case it was so very perfect, the story he crafted. Perhaps it could have been a better story had it not usurped historical personages, but whatever, had that been so it would lose a certain touch. Definitely shall try more Lagerkvist very soon.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews