Hypatia


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(4.6 stars; 5 reviews)

Charles Kingsley (June 12 1819 - January 23 1875) was an English divine, university professor, historian, and novelist, particularly associated with the West Country and north-east Hampshire. As a novelist, his chief power lay in his descriptive faculties, which are evident in this novel as he pictures the Egyptian desert and the ancient city Alexandria.

Hypatia, 1st published in 1853, is set in 5th Century A.D. Egypt. It centers upon a young orphan monk from a desert monastery who feels called to continue his religious life in the city. He discovers a sister, who is a prostitute living with a band of Goths. Other characters include Hypatia, a lady philosopher based on a historical personage; Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria; Felix, the Roman prefect; a Jewish man who has lost his faith; and an elderly Jewish woman who is like a sorceress. St. Augustine of Hippo makes a brief appearance. (Summary from Wikipedia with additions by Karen Merline)
(18 hr 22 min)

Chapters

Preface (3648 words) 23:19 Read by dexter
Ch 01: The Laura (4633 words) 31:22 Read by Bob Neufeld
Ch 02: The Dying World, pt 1 (3605 words) 22:44 Read by dexter
Ch 02: The Dying World, pt 2 (3015 words) 19:52 Read by dexter
Ch 03: The Goths (4851 words) 27:55 Read by serenitylee
Ch 04: Miriam, pt 1 (2380 words) 17:32 Read by David Cole
Ch 04: Miriam, pt 2 (2398 words) 16:33 Read by David Cole
Ch 05: A Day in Alexandria, pt 1 (4022 words) 27:51 Read by Paul Huckerby
Ch 05: A Day in Alexandria, pt 2 (4862 words) 30:58 Read by Imagine
Ch 06: The New Diogenes, (3340 words) 19:38 Read by Paul Stephens
Ch 07: Those by whom Offenses Come, pt 1 (3306 words) 23:28 Read by David Cole
Ch 07: Those by whom Offenses Come, pt 2 (2548 words) 18:50 Read by David Cole
Ch 08: The East Wind, pt 1 (3002 words) 21:38 Read by musil
Ch 08: The East Wind, pt 2 (3140 words) 23:41 Read by musil
Ch 09: The Snapping of the Bow (3508 words) 25:31 Read by David Cole
Ch 10: The Interview, pt 1 (2135 words) 15:18 Read by David Cole
Ch 10: The Interview, pt 2 (2359 words) 17:14 Read by David Cole
Ch 11: The Laura Again (3941 words) 26:20 Read by Brendan Tannam
Ch 12: The Bower of Acrasia (3548 words) 20:41 Read by Ada Kerman
Ch 13: The Bottom of the Abyss, pt 1 (4300 words) 26:45 Read by Mike Harris
Ch 13: The Bottom of the Abyss, pt 2 (4539 words) 29:42 Read by Chris Caron
Ch 14: The Rocks of the Sirens (2768 words) 18:23 Read by Chris Caron
Ch 15: Nephelococcugia (3532 words) 23:32 Read by Chris Caron
Ch 16: Venus and Pallas, pt 1 (3077 words) 19:26 Read by Chris Caron
Ch 16: Venus and Pallas, pt 2 (3025 words) 21:10 Read by Phil Chenevert
Ch 17: A Stray Gleam (3444 words) 6:16 Read by Mike Harris
Ch 18: The Prefect Tested, pt 1 (2407 words) 14:21 Read by Anna Simon
Ch 18: The Prefect Tested, pt 2 (2659 words) 16:11 Read by Anna Simon
Ch 19: Jews Against Christians, pt 1 (2570 words) 17:14 Read by Nadine Eckert-Boulet
Ch 19: Jews Against Christians, pt 2 (2220 words) 15:06 Read by Nadine Eckert-Boulet
Ch 20: She Stoops to Conquer, pt 1 (2974 words) 19:08 Read by Chris Caron
Ch 20: She Stoops to Conquer, pt 2 (3043 words) 18:41 Read by Chris Caron
Ch 20: She Stoops to Conquer, pt 3 (3076 words) 19:54 Read by Chris Caron
Ch 21: The Squire-Bishop, pt 1 (4094 words) 27:47 Read by Pentti Hirvonen
Ch 21: The Squire-Bishop, pt 2 (2966 words) 19:49 Read by Pentti Hirvonen
Ch 21: The Squire-Bishop, pt 3 (4101 words) 29:36 Read by Pentti Hirvonen
Ch 22: Pandemonium, pt 1 (2979 words) 24:31 Read by Pentti Hirvonen
Ch 22: Pandemonium, pt 2 (2925 words) 24:03 Read by Pentti Hirvonen
Ch 23: Nemesis (1618 words) 9:15 Read by Lucy Perry
Ch 24: Lost Lambs, pt 1 (3536 words) 20:20 Read by Paul Stephens
Ch 24: Lost Lambs, pt 2 (3615 words) 19:55 Read by Paul Stephens
Ch 25: Seeking after a Sign, pt 1 (3033 words) 23:44 Read by Vira Denton
Ch 25: Seeking after a Sign, pt 2 (2899 words) 24:03 Read by Vira Denton
Ch 26: Miriam's Plot, pt 1 (2486 words) 16:36 Read by Nadine Eckert-Boulet
Ch 26: Miriam's Plot, pt 2 (2956 words) 20:21 Read by Nadine Eckert-Boulet
Ch 27: The Prodigal's Return, pt 1 (3795 words) 25:08 Read by Brendan Tannam
Ch 27: The Prodigal's Return, pt 2 (3687 words) 24:31 Read by Brendan Tannam
Ch 28: Woman's Love (2778 words) 16:55 Read by Anna Simon
Ch 29: Nemesis, pt 1 (2400 words) 16:41 Read by Nadine Eckert-Boulet
Ch 29: Nemesis, pt 2 (2299 words) 15:18 Read by Nadine Eckert-Boulet
Ch 30: Every Man To His Own Place, pt 1 (4007 words) 23:39 Read by Chris Caron
Ch 30: Every Man To His Own Place, pt 2 (3754 words) 23:47 Read by Chris Caron

Reviews

The last ancient philosopher's fate retold


(5 stars)

A very detailed and erudite retelling of the life of Hypatia of Alexandria, one of the last Classical philosophers, this story is deeply Christian, but anti-clerical in character. For lovers of Victorian literature and those interested in late classical antiquity, this book will be a treasure.