- Mass Market Paperback
- Publisher: Pocket Books (1965)
- ASIN: B000RTBFA8
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.4 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 204 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,403,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Tale of Adventure at the time of the Reformation,
By
This review is from: The Adventurer (Hardcover)
Ever since reading the Egyptian, I have been checking out used book stores for anything by Mika Waltari, wish more of his books were still in print. The Adventurer is a real gem of medieval fiction, well worth the search to find a copy of this great historical novel set in various parts Europe in the early sixteenth century with rich descriptions of both characters and places. A few of the historical events covered are King Christian of Denmark and his attempt to unite all Scandinavia and the north under his rule, the early years of the Reformation with Luther himself making an appearance in the novel, and wars through the German and Italian states involving the Emperor Charles and the Pope.Most of all it is the story of one man's life Michael, a bastard born in Abo, Finland sometime in the year 1502 or 1503 he believes. His father is unknown, his mother died, and his remaining family killed during a raid by the Jutes when he is still very young. He is brought up by the town "witch" and is somewhat isolated in his childhood. Because of his intelligence, he is noticed by a priest and learns to read and write, receiving an education at the Cathedral school, and showing an aptitude for languages. In spite of his intelligence though, Michael is quite naive and often is a gullible simpleton when it comes to being emotionally manipulated. The complications in his life compel him to move from one place to another and the reader is taken with him all the way on his journeys through Sweden, France, Germany, Hungary and Italy. His inner nature changes as well, at the start he has absolute faith in whatever the priests teach him, as he matures he begins to look more within for his answers. Highly recommend finding a used copy of this book for all lovers of historical fiction set in medieval scenes.
5.0 out of 5 stars
When books were books and readers were glad of it,
By Jack Purcell (Placitas, NM USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Adventurer (Hardcover)
Europe in the 1500s was a fascinating time of tumultuous, pivotal events. Mika Walteri captures that time in The Adventurer with the color, the flavor and the feel, and through a piece of fiction that takes the reader through lives, travels, experiences so foreign to the 21st Century as to almost be nearer science fiction or fantasy than real life. But real life, it was, and The Adventurer will make it real for you. It's a fast-paced, action packed story that will throw the reader off-balance and keep him there, start to finish.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews) 13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
FABULOUS!!!!!,
By C. L Wilson - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Adventurer (Hardcover)
If you enjoy historical fiction, look no further; this is the one for you. Set in Europe between 1508 and 1525, you will find yourself learning a great deal of its history while reading one terrific story. Everything I looked up in the World Book from Waltari's portrayal was true. I am soooo sorry to have finished it. But good news; there is a sequel, "The Wanderer", which I immediately sought in my library, and will eagerly devour until the one I bought to set beside "The Adventurer" comes. To be honest, for about the first one-third of the book, I thought the story only mildly disguised history, but then, wow! did it pick up. As another reviewer has mentioned, you are always in suspense. Why this was never made into a movie I cannot imagine, for there is certainly enough sex and violence and battle scenes for any one to relish in. Plus all the costume drama in the world. I can't wait to start the sequel. Waltari shows a very compassionate nature here, somehow making the priests who ran the Inquisition into understandable figures, no mean feat. And Michael, basically a real blockhead who would have perished long ago without Andy. All in all, I felt I have spent time in the 1500's and come away with a good yarn to boot.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Graphic 1st hand account of tumultuos 16th century Europe.,
By mixfix@mindspring.com - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Adventurer (Hardcover)
This down to earth adventure recounts the experiences of two Fins wandering through Europe in the 16th century just trying to survive while struggling with moral and religious issues. I enjoyed the day to day, down to earth description of the effort to survive an extremely dangerous world from a naive yet logically inquistive point of view. Much attention is paid to history, and there is no shortage of action, as is often found in the novels of the 40's and 50's. Sometimes shocking as it reveals the cheapness of human life during this period, yet easy to identify with the protagonists from a 20th century perspective.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Adventurer - The best book of Mika Waltari,
By dani@unix.horizontes.com.br - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Adventurer (Hardcover)
I can't believe that this book is out of print. This book must be reading by the new generations. It is a historic romance, with a vivid description of a period (16th century). This book continues with "The Wanderer" also unmissing. It's a favor to readers to print again this book in english language. I just read this book twice in portuguese and I want to read again to try to improve my english. Don't miss it!!!
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