The Gardens of Light (Interlink World Fiction)

Beautifully written, captivating. A necessary book about an important man whose life and teachings have been intentionally obscured by those in power for almost two millenia. You won't regret reading it. The only thing I would have liked to have seen more of was his teachings and philosophy. It was mostly a history of his life. But that at least was well done.

I read this book in my twenties. It still surprises me. The clear writing. The clear message. This was the book that made me an Amin Maalouf fan. Other books followed. Ik las dit boek als twintiger. Het blijft me verbazen. De sobere stijl, de helderheid van de boodschap. Het exotische karakter die doet dromen om het Nabije Oosten zelf te bezoeken. Er is weinig veranderd. Dit boek was mijn eerste Maalouf boek en ik was op slag fan. Andere werken volgden: De kruistochten vanuit een Arabisch perspectief, de rots van Tanios, De omzwervingen van B., Leo Africanus, ...

I always utilize the Folger library editions when I watch a play. In this case, the BBC productions were outstanding. Derek Jacobi, Claire Bloom and Patrick Stewart are such geniuses! Having the book to follow along gives great insight into the meaning and absolute beauty of his language. Enjoy!

Every line of the book was interesting and sometimes I had to force myself to stop reading and sleep. As it is always the case with Amin Maalouf's writings that you get the whole package, of nice story, knowlledge about history, culture, art and relegion of the region it covers.

Taking the sparse known facts about the founder of Manichaeism the book tells a semi-fictional biography of Mani, from his birth to his death. The book left me with mixed feelings. It's a nice read that reminds of a biblical story, focused on the prophet and the kings, archetypal, clear-cut. In addition it may serve as an intro into the history of the Sassanian Empire. But having such exciting subjects as Mani and Sassanids the book falls short in exploring them. It only scratches tenets of Manichaeism and lacks character study and historical complexity. Overall, if you are interested in Mani or the Sassanian Empire the book can be a good starting point, but otherwise it's a nice, but missable read.

For years Amin Maloof was out of print or not available in the U.S. He is a beautiful writer, and I'm so happy to own my own copy of this lyric and uplifting book.

...founder of Manichaeism, from his first encounters with his inner voice, his first communications with God. He founded a popular religion in Iran while making alliances with the rulers and suggesting a sort of pantheism, embracing aspects of Judaism, Christianity and Buddhism. Well-written and short, but certainly interesting.

This is an inspirational account of one of the giants of ancient spirituality.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I was completely unaware of Mani or of Manichaeism and this book offered new and interesting information. Like other Maalouf books, this one is well researched and well written.

Me encanta todo lo que escribe Maalou!

Reading this book, while having studied Manichaeism as part of my postgrad studies, brings Mani's life alive. The author has written in such a way as to bring the characters alive with their individual quirks, while - in a manner - resurrecting the roots of Manichaeism showing how that belief system commenced and was propagated all the way from Byzantine Empire in the West to the Üyğhur Kağhanate ın the East. I'm going to buy a couple of more copies as presents for family and friends. My vote overall is 10 stars, but Amazon only gives 5 . Get it. Read it.Cherish it (if you have a leaning towards Gnosticism or Manichaeism.

「サマルカンド年代記」の作者による、かつての世界宗教マニ教の教祖、マニの生涯を扱った伝記小説。マニ教は、現代では消滅してしまったが、3世紀の現在のイラクで確立され、西では、ビザンツ帝国や、中世南仏のカタリ派に影響をあたえ、東では現新疆ウイグル自治区にあったウイグル王国の国教ともなった、世界史上大きな影響をあたえた宗教である。本書は、マニ教に知識の無い人がいきなり読んで楽しめるかどうかというと、そこはなんとも言えないところもあるので、新書で出ているマニ教についての書籍で予備知識をもってから読むと効果的かもしれない。本書は、それらの本でマニの生涯についての知識を得ても、史料では不明な点に焦点をあてており、また、作者が史実をうまく料理しているため、十分楽しめるのではないかと思う。 前半は、比較的行動面が描かれ、インドへ布教へ赴く際の苦難に満ちた航海など、なかなかのスペクタクルである。後半は、行動面は極力省かれ、マニを庇護した時のペルシャ皇帝シャープールとマニが語り合い、分かち合う夢と、結局はすれ違いに終わる悲劇が淡々と描かれる。しかし権力者達は決して冷たいわけではない。寧ろマニの方が理想に走りすぎているきらいがある。その現実ばなれしたマニの生き方に振り回されながらも、最後までマニを包む後援者たちは、登場場面が少ないながらも、とても精彩を放っていて、ひたすらに暖かい。東からの仏教と、西からのキリスト教が押し寄せ、当時のペルシャが、「文明の十字路」であったことは、歴史書で読む以上、より強く実感されるものがある。また、当時のイラン人や王家の人々の肉声が聞こえてくる点も、従来古代ペルシャを扱った小説が少ないだけに、本書は貴重な存在であるといえる。

A good story, well written, with sparse prose to keep it moving along. A little light on charactrization, but definitely worth reading.