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Greek Legends King of the Mountains
Americans are never deformed nor mean-looking, and do you know why? Because they are not bound in the swaddling-clothes of a narrow civilization. Their minds and their bodies develop at will; their schoolroom is the open air; their master, exercise; their nurse, liberty.
I never cared especially for M. Mérinay; I looked at Giacomo Fondi with the indifferent curiosity with which one gazes at foreign animals; the little Lobster inspired me with luke-warm interest; but I conceived a warm affection for Harris. His frank face, his simple manners, his sternness which was not without sweetness, his hasty yet chivalrous temper, the oddities of his humor, the enthusiasm of his sentiments, appealed to me more strongly as I was neither enthusiastic nor hasty. We admire in others what we lack ourselves. Giacomo wore white clothes because he was black; I adore Americans because I am a German. As for the Greeks, I knew little of them even after four months' sojourn in their country. Nothing is easier than living in Athens without coming in contact with the natives. I did not go to a café; I did not read the Pandore, nor the Minerve; nor any other paper of the country; I did not go to the theater, because I have a sensitive ear and a false note hurts me more cruelly than a blow; I lived with my hosts, my herbarium, and with John Harris. I could have presented myself at the Palace, thanks to my diplomatic pass-port and my official title. I had sent my card to the Master and Mistress of Ceremonies, and I could count upon an invitation to the first Court Ball. I kept in reserve for this occasion, a beautiful red coat, embroidered with silver, which my Aunt Rosenthaler had given to me the night before my departure. It was her husband's uniform; he was an assistant in a Scientific Institute, and prepared the specimens. My good aunt, a woman of great sense, knew that a uniform was well received in all countries, above all if it was red. My elder brother had remarked that I was larger than my uncle, as the sleeves were too short; but Papa quickly replied, that only the silver embroidery would catch the eye, and that princesses would not examine the uniform closely.
Unfortunately, the Court was not dancing that season. The winter pleasures were the flowering of almond, peach, and lemon trees. There was a vague report of a ball to be given the 15th of May; it made a stir in the city, as a few semi-official journals took it up; but there was nothing positively known about it.
My studies kept pace with my pleasures, slowly. I knew, by heart, the Botanical Gardens of Athens; they were neither very beautiful nor very full; it was a subject soon mastered. The Royal Gardens offered far more to study: an intelligent Frenchman had collected for it all the riches of the vegetable kingdom, from the palms of the West Indies to the saxifrage of the North. I passed whole days there studying M. Barraud's collections. The garden is public only at certain hours; but I spoke Greek to the guards, and for love of the Greek, they permitted me to enter. M. Barraud did not seem to weary of my company; he took me everywhere for the pleasure of discussing Botany and speaking French. In his absence, I hunted up the head gardener and questioned him in German: it is well to be polyglot.
I searched for plants every day in the surrounding country, but never as far from the city as I should like to have gone; there were many brigands around Athens. I am not a coward, the following story will prove it to you, but I love my life. It is a present which I received from my parents; I wish to preserve it as long as possible, in remembrance of my father and mother. In the month of April, 1856, it was dangerous to go far from the city: it was even imprudent to live outside. I did not venture upon the slopes of Lycabettus without thinking of poor Mme. Daraud who was robbed in broad daylight.
I never cared especially for M. Mérinay; I looked at Giacomo Fondi with the indifferent curiosity with which one gazes at foreign animals; the little Lobster inspired me with luke-warm interest; but I conceived a warm affection for Harris. His frank face, his simple manners, his sternness which was not without sweetness, his hasty yet chivalrous temper, the oddities of his humor, the enthusiasm of his sentiments, appealed to me more strongly as I was neither enthusiastic nor hasty. We admire in others what we lack ourselves. Giacomo wore white clothes because he was black; I adore Americans because I am a German. As for the Greeks, I knew little of them even after four months' sojourn in their country. Nothing is easier than living in Athens without coming in contact with the natives. I did not go to a café; I did not read the Pandore, nor the Minerve; nor any other paper of the country; I did not go to the theater, because I have a sensitive ear and a false note hurts me more cruelly than a blow; I lived with my hosts, my herbarium, and with John Harris. I could have presented myself at the Palace, thanks to my diplomatic pass-port and my official title. I had sent my card to the Master and Mistress of Ceremonies, and I could count upon an invitation to the first Court Ball. I kept in reserve for this occasion, a beautiful red coat, embroidered with silver, which my Aunt Rosenthaler had given to me the night before my departure. It was her husband's uniform; he was an assistant in a Scientific Institute, and prepared the specimens. My good aunt, a woman of great sense, knew that a uniform was well received in all countries, above all if it was red. My elder brother had remarked that I was larger than my uncle, as the sleeves were too short; but Papa quickly replied, that only the silver embroidery would catch the eye, and that princesses would not examine the uniform closely.
Unfortunately, the Court was not dancing that season. The winter pleasures were the flowering of almond, peach, and lemon trees. There was a vague report of a ball to be given the 15th of May; it made a stir in the city, as a few semi-official journals took it up; but there was nothing positively known about it.
My studies kept pace with my pleasures, slowly. I knew, by heart, the Botanical Gardens of Athens; they were neither very beautiful nor very full; it was a subject soon mastered. The Royal Gardens offered far more to study: an intelligent Frenchman had collected for it all the riches of the vegetable kingdom, from the palms of the West Indies to the saxifrage of the North. I passed whole days there studying M. Barraud's collections. The garden is public only at certain hours; but I spoke Greek to the guards, and for love of the Greek, they permitted me to enter. M. Barraud did not seem to weary of my company; he took me everywhere for the pleasure of discussing Botany and speaking French. In his absence, I hunted up the head gardener and questioned him in German: it is well to be polyglot.
I searched for plants every day in the surrounding country, but never as far from the city as I should like to have gone; there were many brigands around Athens. I am not a coward, the following story will prove it to you, but I love my life. It is a present which I received from my parents; I wish to preserve it as long as possible, in remembrance of my father and mother. In the month of April, 1856, it was dangerous to go far from the city: it was even imprudent to live outside. I did not venture upon the slopes of Lycabettus without thinking of poor Mme. Daraud who was robbed in broad daylight.
132 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1857
5 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Edmond About
512 books6 followersEdmond François Valentin About was a French novelist, publicist and journalist. His book on Greece, La Grèce contemporaine (1855) was an immediate success. In Tolla (1855), About was charged with drawing too freely on an earlier Italian novel, Vittoria Savelli (1841). This aroused prejudice against him, and he was the object of numerous attacks. The Lettres d'un Bon Jeune Homme, written to the Figaro under the signature of "Valentin de Quevilly", provoked more animosities. During the next few years, he wrote novels, stories, a play (which failed), a book-pamphlet on the Roman question, many pamphlets on other subjects of the day, innumerable newspaper articles, some art criticisms, rejoinders to the attacks of his enemies, and popular manuals of political economy, L'A B C du travailleur (1868), Le progrès (1864). His more serious novels include Madelon (1863), L'Infâme (1867), the three that form the trilogy of the Vieille Roche (1866), and Le roman d'un brave homme (1880) - a kind of counterblast to the view of the French workman presented in Zola's Assommoir. He is best remembered as a farceur, for the books Le nez d'un notaire (1862); Le roi des montagnes (1856); L'homme à l'oreille cassée (1862); Trente et quarante (1858); Le cas de M. Guérin (1862).
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 5, 2020
Το εντυπωσιακό με αυτό το βιβλίο είναι ότι η πένα του About δεν χαρίζεται σε κανέναν. Όσο καυστικός είναι με τους Έλληνες, άλλο τόσο είναι και με τους Ευρωπαίους πρωταγωνιστές του. Επίσης μας θυμίζει ότι η ληστοκρατία μπορεί να αλλάζει φορεσιά στο πέρασμα του χρόνου, όμως δεν σταματά να είναι παρούσα στην ελληνική πραγματικότητα. Όσο περισσότερα διαβάζει κανείς για την ιστορία μας, τόσο πιο σαφές και εξηγήσιμο γίνεται το παρόν μας.
February 24, 2010
Super quick read that has been translated from its original French. Herman Shultz is sent to Greece to collect samples for the London Botanical Society. Once there he learns about a group of thieves that work under The Mountain King, Hadgi Stavros. The Mountain King has quite a setup and is in league with the government officials and business owners. He will kidnap people (tourists especially) and hold them for ransom. He allows them to write letters to friends, family, whoever has the money and then he collects the ransom. If the ransom does not arrive, he kills the prisoners. Mr. Shultz is kidnapped and when Stavros finds out he is a man of Science- well he sets his ransom at an astronomical price. Shultz tries to escape and then the twist comes in. I won't spoil it but it is pretty funny and I really enjoyed this story.
March 23, 2020
FRANÇAIS: Critique mordante du banditisme et la corruption politique en la Grèce nouvellement libérée du joug de l'Empire ottoman. Aventures d'un botaniste allemand et deux anglaises qui tombent entre les mains du chef des bandits qui donne son titre au roman. Bien qu'au début le roman semble ironique, vers la fin il devient de plus en plus cruel.
Une curieuse citation: lorsque les anglaises ont payé la rançon et sont livres, la mère dit au Allemand:
–Et maintenant, priez ce Stavros de nous donner une escorte de cinq ou six brigands.
–Pour quoi faire, bon Dieu?
–Mais pour nous protéger contre les gendarmes.
ENGLISH: Scathing criticism of banditry and political corruption in Greece newly freed from the yoke of the Ottoman Empire. Adventures of a German botanist and two English ladies who fall into the power of the chief of bandits who gives the novel its title. Although at first it seems ironic, towards the end it becomes increasingly cruel.
A curious quote: when the English ladies have paid their ransom and are free, the mother says to the German:
"And now, ask this Stavros to give us an escort of five or six brigands."
"What for, my God?"
"But to protect us from the police."
ESPAÑOL: Crítica mordaz del bandolerismo y de la corrupción política en la Grecia recién liberada del yugo del Imperio Otomano. Peripecias de un botánico alemán y dos inglesas que caen en poder del jefe de bandoleros que da título a la novela. Aunque al principio parece irónica, hacia el final se vuelve cada vez más cruel.
Una cita curiosa: cuando las inglesas han pagado el rescate y quedan libres, la madre le dice al alemán:
–Y ahora, pídale a Stavros que nos dé una escolta de cinco o seis bandidos.
–¿Para qué, por Dios?
–Pues para protegernos de la policía.
Une curieuse citation: lorsque les anglaises ont payé la rançon et sont livres, la mère dit au Allemand:
–Et maintenant, priez ce Stavros de nous donner une escorte de cinq ou six brigands.
–Pour quoi faire, bon Dieu?
–Mais pour nous protéger contre les gendarmes.
ENGLISH: Scathing criticism of banditry and political corruption in Greece newly freed from the yoke of the Ottoman Empire. Adventures of a German botanist and two English ladies who fall into the power of the chief of bandits who gives the novel its title. Although at first it seems ironic, towards the end it becomes increasingly cruel.
A curious quote: when the English ladies have paid their ransom and are free, the mother says to the German:
"And now, ask this Stavros to give us an escort of five or six brigands."
"What for, my God?"
"But to protect us from the police."
ESPAÑOL: Crítica mordaz del bandolerismo y de la corrupción política en la Grecia recién liberada del yugo del Imperio Otomano. Peripecias de un botánico alemán y dos inglesas que caen en poder del jefe de bandoleros que da título a la novela. Aunque al principio parece irónica, hacia el final se vuelve cada vez más cruel.
Una cita curiosa: cuando las inglesas han pagado el rescate y quedan libres, la madre le dice al alemán:
–Y ahora, pídale a Stavros que nos dé una escolta de cinco o seis bandidos.
–¿Para qué, por Dios?
–Pues para protegernos de la policía.
January 22, 2021
Η ιστορία αυτή του About είναι αρκετά αληθινή για να είναι βγαλμένη από παραμύθια αλλά και αρκετά σουρεαλιστική για να πηγάζει από την αλήθεια. Ωστόσο η Ελλάδα η ίδια δεν είναι κάτι αντίστοιχο έτσι κι αλλιώς; Αληθινή/αυθεντική και σουρεαλιστική ταυτόχρονα..
Ο About νομίζω δείχνει με κάθε του λέξη την αγάπη του και τον θαυμασμό που του προκαλεί το ελληνικό βασίλειο, καθώς η ειλικρίνεια με την οποία του δίνει ζωή στα βιβλία του μόνο αγάπη αποκαλύπτει.
Ένα βιβλίο με αστείρευτο χιούμορ και πολλούς ληστές!
Ο About νομίζω δείχνει με κάθε του λέξη την αγάπη του και τον θαυμασμό που του προκαλεί το ελληνικό βασίλειο, καθώς η ειλικρίνεια με την οποία του δίνει ζωή στα βιβλία του μόνο αγάπη αποκαλύπτει.
Ένα βιβλίο με αστείρευτο χιούμορ και πολλούς ληστές!
November 22, 2014
idk what i read lol i think abridged version in amazon?
pretty action packed and small - the version i read :P
Not too meaty to comment upon
pretty action packed and small - the version i read :P
Not too meaty to comment upon
February 10, 2015
One of the first book that i red, i was just in love with it , the story is so passionate and the style is very beautiful, i highly recommend it.
April 13, 2024
Ένα απολαυστικό, παλιομοδίτικο ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα σχετικά με τη ληστοκρατία και την Ελλάδα του 19ου αιώνα, από έναν Γάλλο συγγραφέα-περιηγητή που αγάπησε την Ελλάδα, αλλά παρ' όλα αυτά δεν ήταν τυφλός, έβλεπε τα χάλια μας και δεν δίσταζε να τα αναδείξει και να τα κρίνει, όχι όμως κακόπιστα. Πρόκειται για ένα άκρως ψυχαγωγικό μυθιστόρημα, γεμάτο δράση και ωραία σκηνικά, με τα οποία μας δίνεται η δυνατότητα να δούμε την παλιά Ελλάδα, όπου ένας λήσταρχος, ο Χατζησταύρος, δρα ανεξέλεγκτα, με την ανοχή των διωκτικών αρχών. Ο Αμπού δεν χαρίζεται σε κανέναν, είναι καυστικός τόσο απέναντι στους Έλληνες, όσο και απέναντι στους Ευρωπαίους χαρακτήρες. Η γραφή είναι ευχάριστα παλιομοδίτικη, άκρως ευκολοδιάβαστη και σε πολλά σημεία ιδιαίτερα γλαφυρή. Γενικά, πέρασα καταπληκτικά την ώρα μου, ταξίδεψα στον χρόνο και έζησα ωραίες περιπέτειες χωρίς να το κουνήσω από το σπίτι. Μια χαρά!
April 4, 2025
Αθήνα, μέσα 19ου αιώνα. Ένας Γερμανός βοτανολόγος και δύο Αγγλίδες κυρίες κρατούνται όμηροι για λύτρα από τον διαβόητο ληστή Χατζησταύρο, στο λημέρι του στην Πάρνηθα.
Ο Edmond About αφηγείται το περιστατικό με χιούμορ και σαρκασμό, προσφέροντας όχι μόνο ένα γοητευτικό αφήγημα περιπέτειας, αλλά και μια σαρκαστική αποτύπωση μιας Ελλάδας όπου η κρατική εξουσία παραπαίει και η ληστεία ανθεί ανενόχλητη.
Ο Edmond About αφηγείται το περιστατικό με χιούμορ και σαρκασμό, προσφέροντας όχι μόνο ένα γοητευτικό αφήγημα περιπέτειας, αλλά και μια σαρκαστική αποτύπωση μιας Ελλάδας όπου η κρατική εξουσία παραπαίει και η ληστεία ανθεί ανενόχλητη.
January 11, 2023
3.5
I found this rather entertaining, ironic , even a little adventurous, though stereotypical (published in 1856) The tale of a German botanist who is taken hostage by bandits ruled by the self-proclaimed King of the Mountains just on the outskirts of Athens. The botanist and some English gentry are held for ransom of which if it is not procured by a certain date, they will be executed.
I found this rather entertaining, ironic , even a little adventurous, though stereotypical (published in 1856) The tale of a German botanist who is taken hostage by bandits ruled by the self-proclaimed King of the Mountains just on the outskirts of Athens. The botanist and some English gentry are held for ransom of which if it is not procured by a certain date, they will be executed.
April 18, 2025
This was fun and creative, though Photini was a wasted character, and I felt the story kind of came apart at the end. Like we lost most of what made Stavros so interesting early on. I really thought About was going to do more to subvert the Victorian lad kidnapped by dastardly Eastern European bandits trope than he ended up doing.
February 16, 2026
J'ai lu ce livre l'été dernier pour pratiquer mon français. Un jeune botaniste est capturé par un riche bandit avec les liens politiques. C'était une histoire drôle qui vous transporte à la campagne grecque dans les années 1800.
July 25, 2018
I was often reminded of the current US political situation. Since this is satire, that was awkward.
July 15, 2019
Un peu démodé mais très interessant et bien écrit.
April 6, 2021
A solid 3.50.
Good writing, sarcasm, clarity and comical scenes that put a smile on my face.
Good writing, sarcasm, clarity and comical scenes that put a smile on my face.
February 5, 2024
ωραίος, ότι πρέπει για ανάγνωση, στο τραίνο για Ισταμπούλ.. και να τρίζουν τα ξύλινα καναπέδια, και να θολώνουν τα τζάμια..
February 21, 2020
The plot is improbable. Hermann a German botanist is herborizing in the mountains behind Athens. He catches up with a very English couple Mme Simon and her daughter Mary-Ann, with whom Hermann immediately falls in love. They are captured by brigands led by the cruel Hadgi-Stavros, who demands high ransoms and if not paid by a given date, they are killed and if obstreperous tortured first. Hadgi-Stavros claims complicity with the police and sets up a company with his enormous profits. Mme Simon is exaggerated upper class English, her daughter is a bit of a mystery, bland in fact, and Hermann tries hard to help but frequently makes a fool of himself. Mme Simon and Stavros use the same bank in London, and as Stravros is illiterate (he claims he doesn’t need to read as he makes enough money anyway) Hermann arranges for a receipt that somehow (I didnlt quite get this) falsely shows the Stavros has received the 90,000 francs ransom and so the Simons go free. After a failed escape attempt, Hermann stupidly tells Stavros this and is of course severely punished. He tried to escape agin by using his botanical arsenic in the brigands’ and Stavros’s dinner. Some fall sick, others revolt and it is a mess. Oddly Stavros saves Hermann from the mutinous brigands so Hermann forces Stavros to vomit out the arsenic and they become the best of friends after that. Harris an American officer Hermann met in Athens who comes to the rescue, Stavros goes to Athens where he imagines he will become president, Hermann tries to meet Mary-Ann at a royal ball and tells everyone he is going to marry her, but she doesn’t recognise him, he is not allowed to talk to her as they have not be introduced formally. It limps to a close the final word from the author being ... (a spoiler deleted) In all a satire on the obvious foibles of the English stiff and formal, The Greeks, corrupt and in denial of any wrongdoing of any kind, and poor Hermann who is more a send up of a naïve scientist rather than of Germans. He is searching for a particular rare Greek flower, which he never gets, but there it is in Mary- Ann’s hair: Mary-Ann’s hair is so lovely that he wants to “herborize” in it. What greater happiness? There are some very witty passages, very French of course, satirical, improbable, funny. I last read this nearly 70 years ago in 6th Form. I didn’t remember much except that I liked it and the French wasn’t too difficult. Still wasn’t with the odd recourse to the French dictionary. I was rather pleased about that. Near the end I realized that Kindle had a built-in dictionary -- hold your finger lightly on an unknown word and the meaning would pop up.
December 28, 2023
Qu’est-ce qu’il se passe quand un docteur d’un pays riche comme l’Allemagne se retrouve entre des brigands Grecs?
Le livre est plutôt vieux, mais il est en tout cas plus ou moins facile à lire, même si on a un niveau (de Français) intermédiaire.
L’histoire se déroule en Grèce, où un jeune docteur Allemand se déplace pour chercher des herbes particulières. Il y rencontre plusieurs personnages, chacun avec ses propres bizarreries (et, notamment, avec une nationalité différente), et il finit par accompagner deux dames, avec lesquelles il tombe prisonnier du roi des montagnes (le chef d’un gang des brigands). Il parvient à s’échapper (avec les deux femmes, bien sûr) en utilisant des astuces et (surtout) avec l’aide des amis qu’il a connus pendant sa mésaventure.
Le livre est un plaisir à livre, sauf pour la première partie, laquelle ne contient que des séquences descriptives, notamment sur les personnages, lesquels peuvent apparaître snobinards pour un mec qui vit dans le vingtième siècle. Les personnages eux-mêmes ne font pas trop de choses, car ils n’apparaissent qu’à la fin dans la deuxième partie du livre. Cela dit, c’est beaucoup mignon comme le protagoniste aide les femmes à s’échapper avec une connerie (en se profitant du fait que le roi des brigands ne sait pas lire), et, à son tour, il construit un chemin (après avoir bien étudié le camp où il était prisonnier) pour faciliter sa fuite, même si, au final, il est secouru par ses amis (avec beaucoup de violence, dans un livre lequel était plutôt pacifique auparavant, et ça m’a vraiment surpris).
Je crois que presque tout le monde peut apprécier ce roman, car il est court et traite de sujets pas trop profonds.
Le livre est plutôt vieux, mais il est en tout cas plus ou moins facile à lire, même si on a un niveau (de Français) intermédiaire.
L’histoire se déroule en Grèce, où un jeune docteur Allemand se déplace pour chercher des herbes particulières. Il y rencontre plusieurs personnages, chacun avec ses propres bizarreries (et, notamment, avec une nationalité différente), et il finit par accompagner deux dames, avec lesquelles il tombe prisonnier du roi des montagnes (le chef d’un gang des brigands). Il parvient à s’échapper (avec les deux femmes, bien sûr) en utilisant des astuces et (surtout) avec l’aide des amis qu’il a connus pendant sa mésaventure.
Le livre est un plaisir à livre, sauf pour la première partie, laquelle ne contient que des séquences descriptives, notamment sur les personnages, lesquels peuvent apparaître snobinards pour un mec qui vit dans le vingtième siècle. Les personnages eux-mêmes ne font pas trop de choses, car ils n’apparaissent qu’à la fin dans la deuxième partie du livre. Cela dit, c’est beaucoup mignon comme le protagoniste aide les femmes à s’échapper avec une connerie (en se profitant du fait que le roi des brigands ne sait pas lire), et, à son tour, il construit un chemin (après avoir bien étudié le camp où il était prisonnier) pour faciliter sa fuite, même si, au final, il est secouru par ses amis (avec beaucoup de violence, dans un livre lequel était plutôt pacifique auparavant, et ça m’a vraiment surpris).
Je crois que presque tout le monde peut apprécier ce roman, car il est court et traite de sujets pas trop profonds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2015
C'est un roman adapté pour les enfants donc j'imagine que le texte original a été coupé. L'histoire est pleine d'aventures et de rebondissements farfelus et violents. Le personnage principal est risible. Mais l'intérêt est assez limité.
September 9, 2010
Sur Wikisource
December 6, 2010
Not exactly my type of book. You have to be into kidnapping and such. But it is a quick read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews