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Description edit
Keenly intelligent and brilliantly rendered, The Golden Mean is a bold reimagining of one of history’s most intriguing relationships—that between the legendary philosopher Aristotle and his most famous pupil, Alexander the Great. Aristotle is initially reluctant to set aside his own... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Quotes edit
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“'It's the whole course of a character's life,' he says. 'The actions he takes, decisions, the choices that bring him right up to the present moment. Having to choose.' He points at me. 'That's what you want to say. You're surrounded by evils, a banquet of evils, and you have to choose. You have to fill your plate and eat it.'”
Carolus to Aristotle -
“"And what we spoke of the day before yesterday, about finding the mean between two extremes. The point of balance. I've been thinking the same applies to people. We're all versions of each other. Repetitions, cycles."”
Alexander -
“"You go into every battle knowing you're fighting your own self."”
Alexander -
“"The inside of me was not empty, but viciously disordered. On the ship to Athens we'd been sitting below at a meal, my sister passing out plates of food, when a sudden swell sent everything sideways, she and the baby tumbling over, food swept to the floor, plates and cups shattering, everyone crying out. My mind was like that now, prone to such sudden upendings."”
Aristotle -
“Soon I'll be alone in a quiet room where, for the rest of my life, I can float farther and farther out into the world; while my student, charging off the end of every map, falls deeper and deeper into the well of himself. Never be afraid to enter an argument you can't immediately see your way out of. Can anyone tell me what a tragedy is?”
Aristotle
First Sentence edit
The rain falls in black cords, lashing my animals, my men, and my wife, Pythias, who last night lay with her legs spread while I took notes on the mouth of her sex, who weeps silent tears of exhaustion now, on this tenth day of our journey.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Annabel Lyon (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Random House of Canada
Country: Canada
Publication Date: August 11, 2009
ISBN: 0307356205
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Random House of Canada
Country: Canada
Publication Date: August 11, 2009
ISBN: 0307356205
Page Count: 304
Awards edit
- Giller Prize (Finalist, 2009, Shortlist)
- BC Book Prize's Ethel Wilson Fiction Award (Finalist, 2010)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813
Subjects edit
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