The Walled Orchard
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Review
'Read THE WALLED ORCHARD so you can tell your descendants, "I was there when the historical novel started holding its head up with the rest of literature"' THE WASHINGTON POST 'Witty, ironic... and achieved a deeply felt authenticity.' THE NEW YORK TIMES 'This book is a hilarious yet well-researached historical novel.' HISTORICAL NOVEL REVIEW
Product Description
The hero is Eupolis, weary, cynical and believing only in comedy. The heroine is Athens, at the height of her schizophrenic glory. A startling mixture of comedy and tragedy, THE WALLED ORCHARD is the poignant, charming story of their turbulent relationship. With unforgettable characters and a powerful and moving story, THE WALLED ORCHARD is a wonderful evocation of life in Ancient Greece in the fifth century BC. For information on this and other Orbit titles visit the Orbit website at www.orbitbooks.co.uk
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Holt seems to have a very real talent as an historical novelist - his academic background makes it seem likely that he will continue to set his works in Greece, but he certainly does its people and its civilization justice. Rather than the noble, upstanding ideal worshipped by the early Victorians, Holt paints a picture of what it was probably really like, especially for a struggling comic poet trying to make a name against rivals like the ubiquitous Aristophanes.
Holt makes the men of the moment, like Pericles and Socrates, really come alive, complete with all their flaws and idiosyncracies. The political corruption and self-serving nature of the Athenian polis really jumps out at the reader. The comic wit of the narrator, Eupolis, keeps the plot motoring along, to the extent that the reader wants to know less about the great drama of the Peloponnesian War being waged outside the protection of the Long Walls, and more about the gossip and scandals of the Athens Eupolis and Aristophanes write about in their plays.
The great tragedy of the war, and the foolishness of an imperial power that fails to recognise its own limitations, are handled admirably, including the confusion and herd mentality still seen in international politics today.
With writers like Holt around, Ancient Greece can rest assured that it will continue to be well-represented in the historical fiction market for some time to come.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read a lot of Tom Holt, and this book is a departure from his usual style. His normal comedic works are quirky, and full of strange ideas that sometimes work, and sometimes don't.
The Walled Orchard is another beast altogether. It starts out as a interesting dialogue with the principal character, and turns into one of the most personal narratives I have ever read. The main character, Eupolis, narrates his life and times to you without pretensions. He rambles at some points, jokes at others, but at all times has you enthralled at his description of Athenian life.
The Walled Orchard is another beast altogether. It starts out as a interesting dialogue with the principal character, and turns into one of the most personal narratives I have ever read. The main character, Eupolis, narrates his life and times to you without pretensions. He rambles at some points, jokes at others, but at all times has you enthralled at his description of Athenian life.
I feel that in reading this book, I came to make a friend of Eupolis. His life has not been a happy one, but as one of the great comic playwrights, he has the ability to the humout in the deepest tragedies a person could endure. If you want to see a weekend fly by as you live through the eyes of one of Athens' greatest comics, this is the book for you.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There are many ways to understand in detail the history and everyday life in classical ancient Athens. Tom Holt provides one of the best , through wit, sarcasm and intrigue . Classical history of the 5th century becomes alive and easily understood through the life and adventures of Evpolis, a historical figure of a successful comedy writer, whose plays unfortunately are lost - much the delight , one can assume, of Aristophanes, his bitter theatrical rival .Highly recommended not only to anyone interested in that period, but anyone curious on how our strange and wondrous political system of Democracy worked in its birthplace of Athens and in our modern societies. A description not idealized as we were taught about it in school, but complete with all of its disastrous shortcomings that plague Democracy to our days and contributed to the fall of Athens.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
My favourite historical novel
One of my favourite novels. I'm not so keen on Holt's comic fantasy books, for which he is better known, but here he shines. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Douglas Crawford
Comic masterpiece and excellent portrayal of ancient Greece
"The Walled Orchard" is the story of Eupolis, a little known comic playwright who lived in Athens at the peak of her power in ancient times. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Jeremy Dummett
Brilliant
Just one word - brilliant. oh alright then ,two or three more -very funny indeed.
Published 23 months ago by springcleanie
Ancient Athens without the rose tint!
Amalgamating both the military and literary events of the Peloponnesian war period of Classical Athens this witty and surprising novel is a very satisfying read. Read more
Published on 16 April 2007 by Geoffrey H. Moses
Interesting experiment that nearly works
Tom Holt has written a series of books based around historical Greece. They are humourous "docu-dramas" - basing the story on an extrapolation of a few facts to give an author's... Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2005 by Ian Spencer
Fascinating, witty, tragic - history with attitude
When one thinks of the glories of Ancient Greece - the sculpture, the architecture, the plays, the philosophers, the beginnings of democracy - one is really thinking of Athens in... Read more
Published on 24 Jun 2002 by Iain S. Palin
The best historical novel I have ever read
A truly great book. Well researched, very funny and also very moving. As an amateur historian I was delighted by the way Tom Holt creates vibrant charachters against an accurate... Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2002
comediac historical fiction
Not only is his attention to historical accuracy interesting and rewarding, his sarcastic and dry wit makes the reading entertaining in a comic sense as well. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2001
WONDERFUL!
This book was like an adventure holiday into Ancient Athens, with a good friend along who knows the way. Read more
Published on 28 May 2000
The best historical novel I ever read
If you like Tom Holt's comic fantasies you'll probably buy this book, but if you don't, then buy it anyway. Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2000
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