Remembering Hypatia: A Novel of Ancient Egypt

by Brian Trent

Book Overview

___________________ On a November night in Egypt, 414 A.D., one of history's most brilliant individuals was assassinated. Her name was Hypatia, teacher and scientist of the fabled Great Library of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595342523
• ISBN13: 9780595342525
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great Read

Hypatia was a remarkable real life woman. An astronomer, physicist, philosopher, and head librarian of the famed Library of Alexander. She is credited with the invention of the astrolabe. She lived however, in a time of rising religious tensions and as a woman who was teaching and a representative of a scientific world view she made an easy scapegoat. Brian Trent does an excellent job of interweaving the lives of the characters and the intersecting themes of religion, science, and sexism. The time period comes to life in his writing as well. The multi-cultural, pluralistic Alexandria with its Egyptian, Jewish, Christian, and other inhabitants feels vibrant. The author does a great job of adding the authentic touches of scenery and surroundings. It was easy to feel connection to this long ago time period while reading this book. Indeed the message of this tale is still relevant today. Fundamentalism is on the rise and with it a rejection of alternative world views including science as well as a desire to hold women more rigidly in traditional sex roles. While on the flip side commercial society often overly encourages young women to seek attention through their sexuality and obsess about their weight and appearance rather than to really challenge their minds. It seems to me there are better possibilities for women and society in general than either of these extremes. Remembering Hypatia is a well written, thought provoking story of the life and times of an accomplished woman that has parallels to today's world.

The Greatest Tragedy You Never Heard Of

The story of the genius, beauty, and boldness of Hypatia forms the basis for this excellently written novel. Hypatia's death is high tragedy, not just because of the loss of this brilliant and forgotten woman, but for all the tragedy that is to follow...the world of Hellenized Egypt is so enchantingly painted in Remembering Hypatia that its fall delivers a knockout emotional blow. Alexandria was one of the first great melting pots in history, the common ground for a multiplicity of races, religions, and ideas. The Great Library is lovingly re-created as well...it becomes a vivid set piece for the players in this drama. The very evident passion and talent of author Trent is that, just like the many faces of Alexandria, he tackles several diverse points: Rational "classic" argument versus blind superstition, Academic elitism and punditry (as detailed in a very entertaining chapter on Hypatia's education abroad in Athens), and Reason and Emotion, in conflict and in concert. Trent doesn't pull many punches (though I thought he softened the blow against the average citizen's apathy, which is IMO, every bit as responsible for murders like Hypatia's as the "saint" who actually ordered it). Hypatia is described as a "female Achilles" and her wit, realism, and devotion to her principles makes her a tremendous personality. No less interesting is governor Orestes, whos like a caged tiger, and his relationship with his wife is a real powder keg. The journey of young Thasos is also the perfectly believable and enjoyable guide into this world, and his own deteriorating relationship with his mother Demtria forms the third dimension to the tragedy. The bottom line? A beautiful and affecting novel which stimulates reflection on the greatest historical tragedy you never heard of.

A Woman and a Story to Remember

A long forgotten woman named Hypatia lived in Egypt, not at the time of the pharaohs, but much later, under Roman occupation, when education and learning were at a high point, and the "cultured" city of Alexandria was as much a melting pot as the major cities in America today. The story of Hypatia is as heart breaking as it is informative. Brian Trent's beautifully woven tapestry of events, based on the TRUE story, is one that will certainly be remembered. Remembering Hypatia is an exciting and shocking piece of historical fiction. Comprehensively researched, this novel tells the story of Hypatia, the woman astronomer, mathematician and philosopher who was head of the Great Library in Alexandria, Egypt in 414 A.D.. It tells of her passion and her assassination. It contains polarities in religious and political/educational thinking, which are hauntingly similar to what we see in the United States and the world today. Insightfully written, the book is captivating, moving from scene to scene like a motion picture. It excites the reader about education and knowledge, edifies with various historical facts, challenges belief systems, (steams up the room in a few unexpected brief scenes), and completely startles one with the similarity to today's society and its growing schism between differing political and religious views. One side breathes total intolerance, while the other side struggles to tolerate those who would have them killed. Among the many events that run concurrently are the treatment of women and the persecution of the Jews. Hypatia rose through the ranks in a "man's world" and became highly esteemed during a time when most women still had only domestic roles. That she lost her life to the religious prejudices of the day, through political brainwashing, is a heart-wrenching tragedy. A charismatic young male character, named Thasos, makes the story as appealing to high school and college students, as it does to adults. The novel may excite students about the prospect of learning, (if it doesn't make them fear one could be killed for it). The reader becomes poignantly aware of the challenges of governing a society where there are conflicting views. If rating it like a movie, I would give it an "R" for a few, if only brief, steamy sexual scenes and violence that, unfortunately, is historically accurate. If you want to take a book on an airplane or to the beach (or mountains, or to an air-conditioned "anywhere") this summer, this book is highly recommended.

Haunting and beautiful

I've just finished reading this book for the second time through and I recommend it without reservation. Hypatia is a woman forgotten by history. She was the leading intellectual of Egypt under Roman rule, in the waning days of empire. The author's descriptive powers and wordcraft are magical. This time period came alive for me, the eccentric city of Alexandria and all the many cultures living there. Often historical novels can read dryly, but Remembering Hypatia painlessly injected a lot of historical detail into the story without being overbearing. It reads as easily as a beautiful poem. Entire scenes are permanently burned on my imagination...and the characters, even the minor ones like servants or city officials, feel like parts of my life now. They are alive on the page. The story itself does not let go of the reader. This is an amazing window on a time period that's hardly ever been written about, and it is so completely convincing in its execution. Everything feels entirely real; I've never seen the ancient world painted with such ease and strength of detail. And the emotional impact lingers for days. Remembering Hypatia is a must-read beyond doubt, absolutely haunting and beautiful.