The Gardens of Light - Softcover

Maalouf, Amin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0349108714 ISBN 13: 9780349108711

Publisher: Time Warner Books Uk, 1997

Synopsis

Born in a Mesopotamian village in the third century, the son of a Parthian warrior, Mani grows up in a volatile and dangerous world. As battle rages for control over the Middle East between the great Roman and Persian empires, as Jews and Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians fight for ascendency, Mani- painter, mystic, physician and prophet- makes his way through the battlefields to preach to his incandescent doctrine of humility, tolerance and love, a doctrine that comes to be known as Manicheanism.

A vivid glimpse of the ancient world in all its perfumed splendour and cruelty, an elegantly philosophical discourse on the fall of man, THE GARDENS OF LIGHT is a story of great beauty and resonance, exquisitely told.

About this title

From the Publisher:

"A compelling tale...the poignant story of a man born before his time...the character of Mani is carefully and warmly drawn..." - Times Literary Supplement (London) "Maalouf is as eloquent as ever...[He] weaves tapestries of intrigue that illuminate a broader historical moment...Maalouf, in his engaging prose, goes a considerable way towards restoring Mani to us." - The Times (London) "Maalouf has a rare gift of bringing the past to life...[He] re-creates the life of this fascinating and little known mystic from his relatively humble birth on the banks of the river Tigris, through his rise to fame and his tragic fate." - The Good Book Guide (London) "A beautiful chronicle of the past...Maalouf describes [Mani's life and times] with both beauty and erudition, teaching us a lot of history in the process." - Morning Star (London) "In its starkness, Maalouf's prose acts like a drought of cleansing water...Maalouf can write; his subject is a riveting one...The writing simply gives off a glow that remains long after the book has been replaced on the bookshelf." -East

About the Author:

Amin Maalouf is Lebanese and was formerly director of the weekly international edition of the Beirut daily 'an-Nahar' and editor in chief of 'Jeune Afrique.' His novel THE ROCK OF TANIOS won the Prix Goncourt prize. Dorothy S. Blair is a critic and translator of many French books.

About this edition

• Publisher: Time Warner Books Uk
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0349108714
• ISBN 13: 9780349108711
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 254