I’m currently reading Ramses the Great by Anne Rice. She’s a favourite author, in the top ranks with Colleen McCullough, she of the “First Man in Rome” fame. In this novel she deviates from her vampire/witches chronicles but predictably, the concept of the immortal still permeates this book.
The book centers around Ramses, once and always famed mighty pharaoh of Egypt, who gained the secret of immortality. Entombed of his own will for 2000 years he is revived by an archeologist who defies the curse on his “tomb”.
I love paradoxes and this book has plenty.
The first thing he sees in the process of being revived is the murder of an innocent. An act of sheer greed. What a ‘welcome back’ message from humanity.
Then, despite being in the “information age” he learns that the world’s history is a collection of errors. Truly history is not only written by the victor as is so readily said but also coloured by the prejudices of latter generations.
And despite having almost magical inventions and awe-inspiring technological advances, society still grapples with poverty and the poor. Clearly time hasn’t cured humanity of its shortcomings, or the world of its humanity, whichever the greater evil may be.
Immortality does not also do justice for the soul. Ramses the Great, or Ramsey, stands up after two millennia of slumber only to fall in love. This time with less than a queen. His second inspiration is revenge – noble as the quest for justice against the murderer of an innocent may be, this remains, in my view – a most crippling emotion.
Immortality has always fascinated me. The Good Book says God has “set eternity in the hearts of men”. But also close to my heart is a post-apocalyptic world – a world without humanity. Oh, such bliss, such serenity - who can dare say I do not have the heart of a romantic?
Random thought - No, this is not a book review. Mummy.
0 comments:
Post a Comment