Book Review
Dec. 4th, 2008 10:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Lord of the Last Days: Visions of the Year 1000
by Homero Aridjis
This brief historical novel is narrated by Alfonso of Leon, a fictional(?) monk living in the northwestern Spanish city of Leon during the turn of the 11th century. Alfonso is a mystic who believes himself to be a messianic figure. He is also the twin brother of Abd Allah, the vicious lieutenant of al-Mansur, the Moorish ruler of southern Spain who is heading towards Leon with his army.
As a historical novel The Lord of the Last Days is not very impressive - it doesn't do much to convey a strong feeling of time and place, nor is it particularly concerned with historical events or people. However, the book is a wonderfully poetic meditation on mystical religious fervor, millenarian belief, and the meeting of the holy and the profane.
by Homero Aridjis
This brief historical novel is narrated by Alfonso of Leon, a fictional(?) monk living in the northwestern Spanish city of Leon during the turn of the 11th century. Alfonso is a mystic who believes himself to be a messianic figure. He is also the twin brother of Abd Allah, the vicious lieutenant of al-Mansur, the Moorish ruler of southern Spain who is heading towards Leon with his army.
As a historical novel The Lord of the Last Days is not very impressive - it doesn't do much to convey a strong feeling of time and place, nor is it particularly concerned with historical events or people. However, the book is a wonderfully poetic meditation on mystical religious fervor, millenarian belief, and the meeting of the holy and the profane.
