Memoirs of Heinrich Schliemann: A documentary portrait drawn from his autobiographical writings, letters, and excavation reports

by Leo Deuel, Heinrich Schliemann

English (translation)

Genres: Biography, Memoir, Nonfiction

405 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Ryan Holiday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schliemann is an almost unbelievable figure. As a commodities trader, he made his fortune through unswerving self-confidence, repeatedly, from next to nothing in St. Petersburg, Indiana, California and in Paris. Then, through a blind faith that the epic poetry of Homer was literal fact, he discovered the lost city Troy. And then Priam's Treasure at Mycenae. And then at Tiryns. Just try to imagine someone of his level of wealth today--a tech millionaire perhaps--doing anything that cool after they made their fortune. He was also a language polymath and a scholar. Schliemann's accomplishments in archeology and in classical studies are just an amazing example of the powers of hustling when channeled into a field where they typically aren't many other hustlers. He just blew the science wide open. When I'd heard that his autobiography was worth reading, I figured it would have just been a typical 19th century memoirs. The book I chanced upon getting it much different. It's about half-writings from Schliemann and half analysis from a very astute, very fair biographer. Leo Deuel has not only done an amazing job excerpting Schliemann's published works but he's also filled this book with letters, notes and even telegrams the man sent. The selection of photos is great too but the black and white does not do the treasures much justice (try Wikipedia). The reason I like Schliemann so much is because he is someone I wouldn't want to be anything like--yet, I realize his personality is the type that's necessary to move certain mountains. His petty ear for criticism, his restlessness, his grandiosity, I don't want any part of that. But you have to respect what the man did, especially considering he packed more into the latter half of his retirement than most of professionals did their entire lives...in business and in archeology.

[Arlomisty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book!

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to tell fact from fiction