![]() Proust, a more recent French forbearer, also sought better to know himself and the world around him. ![]() Yourcenar’s literary ancestor, Michel de Montaigne’s motto was, “que sais-je?” (What do I know?). Yourcenar’s exquisite skill allows us to clearly understand Hadrian who is concerned with the judgment of posterity, welfare of heirs, condition of the world, and who especially tries to learn more about himself.Ĭertainly this book follows the concept of self-examination. His basic inner thoughts are closer to ours than we might expect. In any case, we need not be an enlightened Aristotelian monarch nor match the talented and poetic Marguerite Yourcenar to empathize with the aging Hadrian, (Publius Aelius Hadrianus). But if we could, a memoir like the one written for Hadrian would be a fine model. ![]() Alas, for most of us that day will never be. It says much to us who must die sooner or, (as we hope), later and who are reviewing and contemplating his or her own life and who might intend to write an accounting some day when, as they say, if one can get around to it. ![]() The book has an immediate and forceful impact for many of us. I found this an extraordinary book, ingenious, intellectual, interesting, and in many ways, beautiful. ![]() We have spent the last few weeks reading the remarkable novel, Memoirs of Hadrian. ![]()
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