28 review for The Argonauts: A Story of Family Drama, Greed and Wealth at Any Price (Polish Historical Fiction)

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Lesserknowngems – Sep 23, 2017

   I loved this book. It's difficult to talk about what I loved about this book without spoiling it, but I do think it should be more read. The issue of the purpose of life and why we live and what we live for are often themes that are only for the big epic stories. Ibsen was one of those writers who talked about it not when it came to die for king and country, but to live in your ordinary, day to day life. Orzeszkowa does the same. It's all about the issue with "the painted pots". I loved this book. It's difficult to talk about what I loved about this book without spoiling it, but I do think it should be more read. The issue of the purpose of life and why we live and what we live for are often themes that are only for the big epic stories. Ibsen was one of those writers who talked about it not when it came to die for king and country, but to live in your ordinary, day to day life. Orzeszkowa does the same. It's all about the issue with "the painted pots".

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Czarny Pies – Aug 18, 2015

   Faute de pouvoir donner cinq étrons, je lui donne une étoile. Given how little Polish literature is available in translation, it is very sad that this incompetently written novel should be one of the few to be have been translated. Eliza Orzeszkowa was one of the Polish writers of the second half of the nineteenth century who deserves to be better known in the English speaking world than is the case. In particular, On the Niemen is an excellent novel that provides an excellent introduction both Faute de pouvoir donner cinq étrons, je lui donne une étoile. Given how little Polish literature is available in translation, it is very sad that this incompetently written novel should be one of the few to be have been translated. Eliza Orzeszkowa was one of the Polish writers of the second half of the nineteenth century who deserves to be better known in the English speaking world than is the case. In particular, On the Niemen is an excellent novel that provides an excellent introduction both to Orzeszkowa and the Polish Positivist movement of which she was a leading figure. The Argonauts has a strong Balzacian character. It is about a single-minded real estate promoter who in his single-minded pursuit of success destroys the lives of all those around him. Unfortunately, published in 1900, the Argonauts was 50 years out of date by the time it was published. Moreover, it is totally unconvincing as a portrayal of the new class of speculators and financiers that emerged in Europe in the nineteenth century. In On the Niemen, Orzeszkowa gives a detailed and credible description of the challenges of Polish Nobles in managing their rural properties under a Tsarist regime that that was trying to ruin them. In the Argonauts, however, she is simply talking about a subject of which she knows absolutely nothing. To add to the problems which arise from an ignorance of the subject matter, Orzeszkowa compounds the problem which poorly developed characters who behave inconsistently. The plot is clumsy and melodramatic and the resolution is totally unsatisfying. It is surprising that a writer of Orzeszkowa's quality should have written something this awful. Fortunately, two much better works are available. My favourite is On the Nieman which has been available in English for just over a year and which can be purchased on-line for under five dollars. Anyone interested in Jewish issues might should also read Meir Ezofowicz which gives a profoundly sympathetic description a progressive young Jewish man grappling with the issue of whether or not and how Jews ought to integrate themselves into Polish society.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Connie Ostrowski –

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Carcinogenic –

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Loren D Morgan –

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Victor Cepero –

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Dom –

8. 

   5 out of 5

   U –

9. 

   4 out of 5

   David Blizzard –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Christina Browne –

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Helene Wargala –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Christine –

13. 

    5 out of 5

    Silvio –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Denis Norov –

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Heidi Cooper –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Helene Wargala –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Erin –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Leon James –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Peter Nguyen –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Jamie Ryder –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Andrew –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Jose Esquivel –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Danny Bobby –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Christina Browne –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    stefa1945 –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Krzysiek (Chris) –

27. 

    5 out of 5

    Joseph-Daniel Peter Paul Abondius –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    U –