The Bronze God of Rhodes

Light, fluffy novel concerning Chares of Lindos, a sculptor, fl. 282 BC. The author has constructed a delightful story about Chares and others living at that time--we only know a few facts about any of them. Despite the title, most of the novel is taken up with the Siege of Rhodes by Demetrios Antigonou Poliokortes "The Besieger", both attack and ingenious defense. The defense was drawn out and took up most of the book. Partway through the siege [p.194], Chares, although an atheist, prays to Helios-Apollon and promises the god if victorious he will build him a gigantic statue in tribute. Chares is leader of a catapult crew. He sails to Egypt with others to implore Ptolomaios, King of Egypt, to help them. Much of the Egyptian story is show more taken up with a stolen robe of Demetrios's and attempts to retrieve it without being killed. Upon its presentation to Ptolemaios, the Rhodians beseech his help. Chares comes up with the idea of a "universal library"--the Great Library of Alexandria, only he gets no credit for it. The actual planning and construction of the statue takes up only a small part of the story. If facts are true about the building plans, they are most interesting. The author's Note is worth reading.

There is much humorous banter and comedy in the novel. I loved Kavaros the Kelt and his tall tales about his great-grandfather. The novel may not be Tolstoy but it is certainly enjoyable. I liked the way the author used different word order than English--mostly German-style with word order inversion and verbs standing last--to indicate the non-Rhodians and other Hellenes. I liked the sea battles--catapult to catapult--and the attempt to wrest the robe from the villain, Tis, whose stolen scrolls become the core of the Great Library.

Recommended. show less

Set in Rhodes during the Successor Wars, Chares of Lindos is an arrogant but talented sculptor, who regularly gets people's backs up. He is, of course, the creator of the Colossus of Rhodes. A historical about a little-known sculptor set in Rhodes, Asia Minor and Egypt.

Recommended.