The Secret of the Kingdom
by Mika Waltari
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Against a background of the strife-torn land of Judea two thousand years ago, Mika Waltari has written what is certainly his most important novel.Seeking the meaning to his life in the study of philosophy, the young Roman. Marcus Manilianus, discovers in an Alexandrian library a vast number of predictions, all tending to confirm his own feeling that the world is about to enter upon a new era. Two chance encounters with Jews who proclaim the coming of a world leader whom they call the Messiah show more or King, cause Marcus to resolve to make a visit to the Holy City of the Jews. He arrives outside Jerusalem in time to see crowds-some curious, some shocked-staring up at three crosses on a nearby mound. Above the center cross, an inscription had been fixed: JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS.The quest that ensues leads Marcus through all parts of Jerusalem and into contact with men and women of all stations of life who had known this remarkable man. And by degrees, wonderful if strange things are revealed to him of Jesus' teaching, and he experiences the odd sensation of almost believing in the destiny of this crucified Roman among the alien Jews, Stands alone on the borderline of two worlds, feelings he belongs to neither, and it becomes vital to him to find "the way, "the Kingdom," to again knowledge and certainty, not merely belief.What follows, as Marcus pursues his search for the promised secret of the Kingdom, bring to a climax as exciting and deeply moving a novel as Mika Waltari, certainly one of the world's outstanding historical novelists, has ever written. It is a story of a time long past, yet it deals with a theme as modern as today: the dilemma of modern man and his culture in gaining and retaining a faith. And always present throughout the novel is the splendor, the irony and humor which have so delighted millions of readers of other Waltari novels from The Egyptian to The Etruscan. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
A historical novel about a roman who arrives at scene just after the crucufixation and seeks to find out more about it from disciples (of jesus). But he is denied from their company and further has to seek the answers by himself. Fascinating plot and very entertaining reading, perhaps among authors best.
This book is the reason why I'm called Marco.
My father was reading another edition of this book when my mother was pregnant.
My father was reading another edition of this book when my mother was pregnant.
Some parts a bit long winded. Ok ending.
Kniha patří k těm, které na mě nejvíce zapůsobily, protože mi dala prvotní impuls k hledání duchovní cesty. Přináší světlo a naději proti pocitu prázdnoty v životě. I proto, že jde o čtivý, lidsky a s citem napsaný román a ne nějaké strohé pojednání. Hlavní hrdina prochází od pohanství ke křesťanské víře přes mnohé pochybnosti a přestože nás od něj dělí 2000 let, i dnes často tápeme a hledáme stejně jako on. A na konci knihy můžeme být stejně jako on lepší a moudřejší, nebo se jen prostě cítit lépe ...
Jun 5, 2010Czech
Marco el romano es uno de los más célebres frescos históricos que nos legó Mika Waltari. En la novela se reproduce con intensidad y colorido el mundo judeorromano del siglo I, donde no podía faltar la figuar de Jesús y sus primeros seguidores. El protagonista al que alude el título es inicialmente un típico romano de la época, de vida licenciosa y costumbres disipadas, pero del contacto con los apóstoles surgirá un nuevo Marco. El recorrido de Marco por el mundo conocido de la época es una fascinante aventura por la que Waltari conduce el autor con mano maestra.
Dec 25, 2010Spanish
Marco el romano es uno de los mÁs cÁlebres frescos histÁricos que nos legÁ Mika Waltari. En ella se reproduce con intensidad y colorido el mundo judeorromano del siglo I, donde no podÁa faltar la figura de JesÁs y sus primeros seguidores. El protagonista
Feb 19, 2023Spanish
Me pareció malísimo, hace años que no abandonaba un libro
Jul 20, 2019Spanish
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Author Information

148+ Works 6,973 Members
Born in Helsinki, Waltari went to Paris after receiving a university education. He published his first volume of poetry at 17. At the age of 20, his second novel, The Great Illusion (1928), brought him general recognition. Waltari returned to Helsinki from Paris in 1929 and continued to write poems, plays, novels, and fairy tales, a total of 80 show more texts during the next 20 years. The Egyptian (1945), a worldwide success, brought Waltari into prominence in other countries. His three-volume historical novel From Father to Son (1942) won the national Literary Prize and was filmed and translated into 14 languages. Unfortunately, 11 English translations of Waltari's work are out of print. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Marcus de Romen
- Original title
- Valtakunnan salaisuus
- Original publication date
- 1959
- Disambiguation notice
- The Secret of the Kingdom, aka Rikets hemmelighet, aka Valtakunnan salaisuus, is NOT the same novel as The Roman, aka Rikets fiende, aka Ihmiskunnan viholliset.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 894.541 — Literature & rhetoric Literatures of other languages Literatures of Altaic, Uralic, Hyperborean, Dravidian languages; literatures of miscellaneous languages of south Asia Finno-Ugric languages Finnic languages Finnish
- LCC
- PZ3 .W16986 .S — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction in English
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 309
- Popularity
- 102,970
- Reviews
- 8
- Rating
- (3.61)
- Languages
- 15 — Czech, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 37
- ASINs
- 15




























































