Walter and the Resurrection of G

by T.J. Armstrong

Walter is a gifted young singer who leaves his home in the forests of Germany in a quest for fame and love; he embarks on a series of adventures which leads him through the haunting landscapes of twelfth-century Europe. His encounter with the mysterious Brotherhood of Watchers drives him to the crusades, into a clash with the Doge in Venice and on to the disaster of Constantinople.

But there is more to Walter than he dares imagine? What are the dark forces controlling him and those he loves?

The story is wrenched into the present where a sinister Oxford don dies in mysterious circumstances leaving an occult manuscript based on Walter to his assistant Ian with certain instructions. As Ian seeks to unravel these and his own life and love begin to weave into Walter’s – to whom he bears a striking resemblance – the novel’s secrets deepen.

This is a powerful and compelling tale about personal and political catastrophe and the individual’s resilience in a time of uncertainty and danger. It is also a daring and brilliant contemplation of the Middle Ages and its continuing importance. Walter’s work, it appears, is not finished, nor what he learnt, nor is his music lost forever.

‘An intriguing adventure of the hermetic imagination across time, T.J. Armstrong’s first novel compels attention throughout its twinned story-lines and leaves a strange afterglow in the mind’
Lindsay Clarke, author of the CHYMICAL WEDDING, winner of the Whitbread Award for Fiction.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

492 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 1995

About the author

T.J.Armstrong was born in Essex in 1957. He read Modern Languages at Oxford and studied Philosophy at London University. He has translated philosophical works from French and German into English and has a passionate interest in music, playing keyboards and singing in a Canterbury based blues band. At the start of his professional career, he taught French and German in Bedford and is currently Head of Modern Languages at the King's School, Canterbury. He is married and has two children. His first novel, Walter and the Resurrection of G, won the Author's Club best first novel of the year award, and his second novel Cecilia's Vision was published in the UK and in Germany. Both reflect his fascination with the Middle Ages, with poetry, and with unusual philosophical takes on life.

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Το βιβλίο αυτό, κατ΄αρχήν, έχει πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα δομή. Αποτελείται από ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα που καταλαμβάνει το μεγαλύτερο μέρος αυτού, ένα διήγημα που θα έλεγα ότι θα μπορούσε χαρακτηριστεί ως μυστηρίου και μια συλλογή ποιημάτων. Όλα τα παραπάνω συνδέονται από μια κοινή ιδέα κι έχουν αναφορά στην ζωή του Βάλτερ που πραγματεύεται στο πρώτο μέρος του.
Το βιβλίο κυριαρχείται από μια έντονη φιλοσοφική διάθεση και συγκεκριμένα είναι επηρεασμένο από την νεοπλατωνική θεώρηση και δευτερευόντως από τη διδασκαλία του Αριστοτέλη. Οι συγκεκριμένες φιλοσοφικές σχολές επέδρασαν σημαντικά στο μεσαίωνα και ουσιαστικά στην θρησκεία. Ο Βάλτερ, λοιπόν, μέσα στο πλαίσιο αυτό και σε διάφορα στάδια της ζωής του θα προσπαθήσει να ζήσει με τη δική του ιδεολογία και ηθική για να διαπιστώσει ότι ο κόσμος των ιδεών της πλατωνικής φιλοσοφίας δεν μπορεί να συμβαδίσει με την πραγματικότητα όπου πολλές φορές οι άνθρωποι ενεργούν με κίνητρα όπως το προσωπικό συμφέρον ή την επιβίωση. Επίσης σε όλο το βιβλίο προβάλει έντονο και το ερώτημα του κατά πόσο ένας άνθρωπος είναι ελεύθερος να επιλέξει το πεπρωμένο του, καθώς κι αν η ιστορία επαναλαμβάνεται ή κάνει κύκλους διαρκώς.
Πρόκειται για καλογραμμένο βιβλίο που διαβάζεται ευχάριστα ως επί το πλείστον, αν και πιστεύω ότι υπάρχουν στιγμές που πλατειάζει και επαναλαμβάνεται. Επίσης είναι ένα βιβλίο που δεν μπορείς να κατατάξεις εύκολα μιας και έχει στοιχεία ιστορικού μυθιστορήματος, αστυνομικού θρίλερ, φιλοσοφίας και μεταφυσικής. Θα το χαρακτήριζα ότι κινείται κάπου μεταξύ Ουμπέρτο Έκο και Νταν Μπράουν. Το πρόβλημά του είναι ότι ο συγγραφέας θέλει να αναφερθεί σε πολλά πράγματα με το μυθιστόρημά του με αποτέλεσμα πολλές φορές να προκαλεί σύγχυση στον αναγνώστη και να μην οδηγεί την ιστορία του σε κάποια ξεκάθαρη κατάληξη.
Τέλος, η αναφορά στους Έλληνες στο σημείο όπου αναφέρεται στην Κωνσταντινούπολη, ίσως ξενίσει όσους μελετούν την ιστορία. Δεν ξέρω αν πρόκειται περί "ατοπήματος" του μεταφραστή ή έτσι το αναγράφει κι ο συγγραφέας. Στην δεύτερη περίπτωση είναι ακριβής η αναφορά γιατί την εποχή εκείνη οι Φράγκοι θέλοντας να εμφανιστούν ως οι πραγματικοί κληρονόμοι της Ρωμαϊκής Αυτοκρατορίας, προσπάθησαν να παρουσιάσουν και να καλλιεργήσουν στους πολίτες της Ανατολικής Ρωμαϊκής αυτοκρατορίας την αντίληψη ότι είναι Έλληνες. Μια ιδιότητα, που εκείνη την εποχή θεωρούνταν κολάσιμη από την Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία("οι αξιωθέντες του αγίου βαπτίσματος και πάλιν ελληνίζοντες εσχάτη τιμωρία υπόκεινται" ΕΞΑΒΙΒΛΟΣ, ΑΡΜΕΝΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ, ΤΙΤΛΟΣ ΙΑ΄").

[Seili · Rating 2 out of 5]

First I say I received this book free via Goodreads giveaway. I want to thank the author for it and nice autograph. Since it is the exchange for the honest review I try my best to write about the book.
The grade is actually more like 2,5 which is actually the middle and nice :)

The book is written with nice style, I really liked the way author uses the language,
although He tends to use some words too much for my taste (for example
intoxicating) - I am sure it can be said another way :)

I must say I enjoyed the adventures and life of Walter at the beginning very much. It reminded me some fantasy books I have read and it was interesting. But then sadly the story went slow, and the poor Walter was repeating the life he had over and over again. It was very annoying.

The book is written in 2 parts - one takes place in medieval time and other in our time + poems. For me the 2.nd part was quite unnecessary,... I think the book could be over 150 pages shorter and It would be much better:) But this is the matter of taste.

I am not into philosophy and I found myself searching for the meaning of the story. I am not very sure I found the same the author had.
As I see the author plays with the thought of "free will" - does we have it or is all only setup for "higher purpose"? I saw in the book the hint to that the history keeps repeating itself.

Also once more I got myself upset of the war in the name of God. Even Walter finds himself in one point thinking how can it be the Christianity attack the Christian city... All the awful things done on name of God and faith... disgusting!. So It is well written because It moved and made think again.

So, who likes philosophy, thinking about how things are set in life and are not afraid of numerous repeating of thoughts or not knowing in the end for sure what it´s all about it might be great book.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you read this as a medieval adventure (and that really would work) it is well written albeit a little slow at times but I really feel that there must be more to it than 'just a story' I sensed throughout that the author was passing on a message, I'm just not sure what that message was.
I'm told I over think and that might have spoilt my enjoyment a tad. Suffice to say, I enjoyed the read.

My copy was free via Goodreads giveaways

[Russell Howen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is divided into two books - "Walter" plus "The Resurrection of G". The former takes place in medieval times; the latter in the present day. Yet the latter intersects with the former as the hero of part two pictures the life of Walter in part one as himself. The reader enjoys the history of part one and then wants the hero of part two to receive love in his otherwise not too happy life. T. J. Armstrong provides suspense in both lives, as the reader turns page upon page.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like medieval works you will like enjoy this book. It is long but enjoyable. I won this great book on GoodReads and like I do with most my wins I will be paying it forward by giving my win either to a friend or library to enjoy.

[Michelle Olms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Steve Orton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received free via Goodreads giveaway.


Well written and interesting. Slightly slow at moments but an otherwise enjoyable read.