| 词条 | Ransom (Malouf novel) |
| 释义 |
| name = Ransom | image = RansomMalouf.jpg | caption = First edition | author = David Malouf | cover_artist = | country = Australia | language = English | publisher = Chatto & Windus | pub_date = 2009 | media_type = Hardcover | pages = 230 | isbn = 0099539527 }} Ransom (2009) is a novel by Australian author David Malouf. It retells the story of the Iliad from books 22 to 24. SummaryThis story begins with Achilles mourning the death of Patroclus (who is described as his kinsmen, cousin or lover in various books and films) during the Trojan War. Achilles, enraged at his friend's death, slays Hector, Patroclus' killer, and drags Hector's corpse behind a chariot around the walls of Troy and Patroclus' funeral pyre for the next ten days. This causes much dismay to the Trojans and his own men, as it is an unprecedented act of barbarism, and is made worse by the ancient belief held by both Greeks and Trojans that Hector's soul cannot pass into the afterlife unless it is given a proper burial, something that Achilles refuses to allow. The narrative shifts from Achilles to Priam, Hector's father, and the King of Troy. Priam cannot stand the abuse of his beloved son's body, and (prompted by the messenger-goddess Iris in a dream) decides that he will approach Achilles without his royal decorations, mortal to mortal, and attempt to ransom Hector's body back with the better part of the Trojan treasury. When Priam explains his plan to his family and advisors, it is met with resistance. After recruiting a common cart driver, Somax, from the market square, Priam and his driver set out for the Greek camp. With guidance from the god of travellers, Hermes, Priam eventually meets Achilles at his camp. Priam appeals to Achilles's conscience, reminding him of his own father and son (here Malouf juxtaposes Priam's grief at the death of his son and Achilles' grief at Patroclus' death), in trying to persuade him to return Hector to Troy for a proper burial. Achilles (partly due the nostalgia stirred up when he mistakes Priam for his own father, Peleus) agrees, and the exchange is made. The story ends with a flash forward to Priams' inglorious death at the hands of Achilles' son, Neoptolemus. Years later, when Troy has fallen to the Greeks, an elderly Somax retells his story, highlighting story as one of the major themes of the book. Differences from the IliadThere are several textual differences between the Iliad and Ransom. The character Somax, who drives the cart Priam rides en route to his negotiations with Achilles, is not mentioned in the original text. This leads to a drastically different interaction with Hermes in Ransom.[1] Priam and Achilles are covered in much more detail in Ransom, leading to further textual differences. Critical receptionRansom was shortlisted for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.[2] It received the 2009 John D. Criticos Prize for Greek literature.[3] The book received positive reviews from the New York Times Book Review, the Dallas Morning News, the New Yorker, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, and the Wall Street Journal and many other publications[4]References1. ^"Book 23" February 18, 2013 {{Iliad navbox}}{{2000s-hist-novel-stub}}2. ^"William Trevor makes an Impact", Irish Times, April 12, 2011 3. ^"Past Winners", February 18, 2013 4. ^[https://www.amazon.com/Ransom-A-Novel-David-Malouf/dp/product-description/0307475247/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books "Editorial review excerpts"] February 18, 2013 7 : 2009 Australian novels|Greco-Roman mythology in popular culture|Iliad|Novels set in Ancient Troy|Chatto & Windus books|Trojan War novels|ALS Gold Medal winning works |
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