Pierre Benoit (1) (1886–1962)

Atlantida by Pierre Benoit

Even though this is a bit of a classic I enjoyed reading it.
It reminded me of those old Tarzan movies.

What it is though is more of an example of the old Trope about the beautiful, seductive, feminine character whom the protagonists all fall in love with.

It seems there was once some argument that Pierre plagiarized this from H.R. Haggard's SHE.

Though it does use the same template for lost world and has Africa as a setting and a lovely irresistible woman as the centerpiece the similarities end there.

Where She, Alesha, the centerpiece of H.R. Haggards story is an almost tragic woman trapped in her own tragic love story, the centerpiece of Alantida, Antinea, is more of a sinister siren that would be a complete opposite to Alesha.

Alantida seems in many ways much more short on being an examination of morals and ethics as She is.

It's still an interesting read but as I mentioned it reads more like some of the movies I have seen long ago where the players are under the influence of an obvious though hideously seductive evil.

I would recommend this to anyone who has read SHE and I'd recommend to anyone who reads this and hasn't read SHE to do so.

J.L. Dobias… (mehr)

Ah ! Que n'a-t-elle pas fait rêver, la belle et mystérieuse Antinéa, au milieu de ces corps conservés dans les sarcophages rouges ? Le pays mystérieux de l'Atlantide, reconstruit dans le massif du Hoggar sous la plume de Pierre Benoit, offre autant de mystères et de nostalgie que le château de la fête du Grand Meaulnes. Il fait partie de ces lieux hors du temps, là où se fondent les mythologies.

Pierre Benoit, ce grand voyageur en chambre dont les noms d'héroïnes commencent toujours par A, a très bien composé son livre, avec une grande maîtrise du déroulé de l'action. Il instille progressivement du mystère, de la distanciation, de l'érotisme discret.… (mehr)