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Shadows of Ecstasy (1933)

par Charles Williams

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A charismatic and immortal leader rises up out of Africa to violently alter humankind's destiny There is great unrest on the African continent, and explosive uprisings that originated there are finding their way to Britain's shores. A man named Nigel Considine, a charismatic leader who calls himself the High Executive, is raising a great army to conquer the world. Universal love is his stated goal, to be achieved through violence if necessary, and his dogma has unleashed a terrible backlash of brutality, prejudice, and hatred throughout so-called civilized London. But who is this immortal prophet-king whose words inflame the passions of untold thousands of disciples? Is he a power-hungry madman, as the unrepentant agnostic Sir Bernard Travers has flatly stated, or is he the Antichrist, as Travers's dearest friend, the vicar Ian Caithness, believes? Perhaps the deathless Considine is the light of the age--indeed, of all ages: a saintly personage to be adored and followed without qualm or question, as the poet Roger Ingram is beginning to suspect. But be he master criminal or twisted genius, supernatural demon or savior reborn, the High Executive's coming is destined to change the world. No twentieth-century author explored themes of faith, spirituality, and the supernatural with more verve and originality than the phenomenal Charles Williams, who along with colleagues C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Owen Barfield, was a member of the University of Oxford's famed Inklings literary society. Blending fantasy adventure with breathtaking spiritual concepts, Williams's acclaimed works, including Shadows of Ecstasy, are must-reads for any lover of intelligent, thought-provoking metaphysical fiction.… (plus d'informations)
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This isn't as emotionally involving a novel as [b:All Hallows' Eve|143225|All Hallows' Eve|Charles Walter Stansby Williams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172150891s/143225.jpg|138160], but it's unusual and memorable. In a subdued style that reads a little like an homage to H.G. Wells, Williams depicts a military and magical attack on Europe (and Western civilization and rational thought in general) led by a character who, as far as I know, has rarely appeared in fantasy novels: a secular humanist fascist pagan superman Messiah, who is the smartest and most honest person in the world. Williams gives equal weight to the possibilities that this person is the Antichrist, or that he's closer to the truth than anyone else, or both. In spite of its eerie timing (1933), people looking for political analogies in this story will become very confused.

Threads that are in most of Williams's novels, but particularly apparent in this one, are a strong and deliberate empathy that includes the villains; a constant deflection of conflict so that the opposed forces are often diplomatically hanging out in the same room; and a sense that mystical craziness and transformation are, if not necessarily good, still to be taken seriously. [a:Clive Barker|10366|Clive Barker|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1200469782p2/10366.jpg] in his later fantasy writing and [a:James Blaylock|86475|James P. Blaylock|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66.jpg] both carry on this tradition in very different styles. ( )
  elibishop173 | Oct 11, 2021 |
Given that it as written in 1933, this is a quite remarkable book, about a successful (briefly) African invasion of London. my favorite part is before the invasion, when the African government which has overthrown the colonial powers announces (in very complimentary terms) the martyrdom of the Christian missionaries, and in the parliamentary debate the archbishop of Canterbury entirely agrees that martyrdom is the duty of Christians and the mssionaries should not be avenged. One marvellousvcharacter is a very intelligent and philosophical Zulu king who ultmately sides with the rebels, who are let by a European mystic,not a native African. ( )
  antiquary | Dec 9, 2016 |
I enjoy a Charles Williams on occasion, and this is one of his better books. In it a man achieves the status of the Anti-Christ by using central African rituals. Somewhat racist and fully creepy. Fortunately, in Williams' world there is a God, who's on the job.
I understand the book was copyright 1925. ( )
1 voter DinadansFriend | Aug 13, 2014 |
This is a second copy of Shadows of Ecstasy, the same editiin a the first copy already cataloged ( )
  antiquary | Dec 11, 2016 |
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Nom de l'auteurRôleType d'auteurŒuvre ?Statut
Charles Williamsauteur principaltoutes les éditionscalculé
Lamb, JimArtiste de la couvertureauteur secondairequelques éditionsconfirmé
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Roger Ingram's peroration broke over the silent dining hall:"He and such as he are one with the great conquerors, the great scientists, the great poets; they have all of them cried of the unknown: I will encounter darkness as a bride And hug it in mine arms."
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A charismatic and immortal leader rises up out of Africa to violently alter humankind's destiny There is great unrest on the African continent, and explosive uprisings that originated there are finding their way to Britain's shores. A man named Nigel Considine, a charismatic leader who calls himself the High Executive, is raising a great army to conquer the world. Universal love is his stated goal, to be achieved through violence if necessary, and his dogma has unleashed a terrible backlash of brutality, prejudice, and hatred throughout so-called civilized London. But who is this immortal prophet-king whose words inflame the passions of untold thousands of disciples? Is he a power-hungry madman, as the unrepentant agnostic Sir Bernard Travers has flatly stated, or is he the Antichrist, as Travers's dearest friend, the vicar Ian Caithness, believes? Perhaps the deathless Considine is the light of the age--indeed, of all ages: a saintly personage to be adored and followed without qualm or question, as the poet Roger Ingram is beginning to suspect. But be he master criminal or twisted genius, supernatural demon or savior reborn, the High Executive's coming is destined to change the world. No twentieth-century author explored themes of faith, spirituality, and the supernatural with more verve and originality than the phenomenal Charles Williams, who along with colleagues C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Owen Barfield, was a member of the University of Oxford's famed Inklings literary society. Blending fantasy adventure with breathtaking spiritual concepts, Williams's acclaimed works, including Shadows of Ecstasy, are must-reads for any lover of intelligent, thought-provoking metaphysical fiction.

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