Augustus

Augustus

◆ "Stoner" is the masterpiece of John Williams, who won the National Book Award of the United States.
Unlike "Stoner," which only returned to the public eye after 50 years of obscurity, "Augustus" won the National Book Award upon its release and continues to receive acclaim over 40 years later. Its popularity has also extended its reach and fascination to even more readers, making it a masterpiece whose allure only grows stronger with the passage of time. If "Stoner" is a mirror to every life, then "Augustus" is a portrait of every soul.
◆ If there is no way out in life, at least you can choose to go forward without hesitation.
The frail young boy was suddenly caught up in a brutal power struggle - "It was fate that grabbed me, and I chose not to hide from its arms." Fate made Augustus, and Augustus made this name eternal.
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This book is written in the form of letters, interspersed with diaries, memoirs, meeting minutes, military leaflets, etc., depicting the life of the Roman Emperor Augustus through the pens of many Romans.
Augustus, whose real name was Octavian, was Caesar's great-nephew. In 44 BC, Caesar was assassinated, and his will designated Octavian as his adopted son and heir. The boy's slender figure slowly and uncertainly walked across the empty playground, as if searching for a path. He aided his assassins, turned old friends against his enemies, and allied himself with rivals, restoring freedom to a Rome plagued by faction. At the age of 36, Octavian earned the title "Augustus."
Augustus dedicated himself to maintaining order and peace in Rome, even referring to his only daughter as "my little Rome." Driven by his love for both, he forged ahead unwaveringly amidst the strife and intrigue of the Roman world...
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Williams recreates the Roman Empire, from the death of Julius Caesar to the end of Augustus' life, from a sickly boy to a frail man who nearly died on an expedition to a seemingly ruthless ruler, the court, the senate, and the intrigues of the people. He uses an epistolary style and multiple perspectives, ultimately merging all these voices into a collage around the protagonist.
—National Book Foundation To immerse oneself in Butcher's Crossing, Stoner, and Augustus—especially Augustus—is to enter the building of a skilled craftsman who fearlessly confronts life's crises and redemptions.
—Los Angeles Review of Books
It’s a fascinating world, a world that resembles our own in its complexity, luxury, political cynicism, popular credulity, and violence.
—The New Yorker
This is a remarkable work of historical fiction by an American author.
—The Washington Post
Readers of Stoner and Butcher's Crossing will encounter a new John Williams here: Augustus is an epistolary novel set in ancient Rome. He was able to create a new image in his later novels and receive high praise - a rare talent.
—The Millions website A novel of extraordinary breadth and extraordinary detail, each complementing the other without losing its brilliance.
—Financial Times
Augustus is addictive and full of life.
—The Paris Review
If anyone is ready to put modern morals aside and learn a little about himself, this novel about an old emperor will be quite inspiring... The genius of this astonishing American writer is to show how distant beings can resemble our own.
—New Statesman

2018-05-01

上海人民出版社

Century Wenjing

374

9787208148536