The Rock of Arles

The city of Arles, founded 2,600 years ago, has a rich history of Roman emperors, captured slaves, pagan temples, Christian spires, bloody revolutionaries, and powerful papists. Richard Klein's book "The Rock of Arles" explores the city's history through the perspective of the Rock, its genius loci, which remembers every moment of its existence. The Rock's contrarian and dissident history resurrects the memory of three radical revolutionary minds: Favorinus, Kalonymus ben Kalonymus, and Pierre-Antoine Antonelle, who counteracted the reactionary forces that governed the city for fifteen centuries. The book tells the story of Arles to sketch the broader canvas of European history while invoking the city's possible future.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 13 February 2024
Publisher: Duke University Press

Arles, a city with a rich history spanning over 2,600 years, stands as a testament to the diverse tapestry of human civilization. Nestled upon a massive limestone eminence, it has witnessed the reigns of Roman emperors, the presence of captured slaves, the worship of pagan temples, the soaring Christian spires, the bloody revolutions, and the powerful papacy. In his captivating book, "The Rock of Arles," Richard Klein delves into the city's history, as narrated by the enigmatic Rock, its spirit that possesses an unfailing memory of its entire existence. From the Roman conquest of Gaul to the fall of feudal aristocracy, from the dominance of the Catholic Church to the present-day French representative democracy, the Rock's narrative encompasses a vast expanse of time.

However, it is the Rock's contrarian and dissident perspective that truly sets it apart. Through its recollections, it resurrects the memory of three remarkable revolutionary minds who, despite their radical ideas, have largely been forgotten in the annals of Arlesian history. These figures include the Hellenistic philosopher Favorinus, the medieval Hebrew poet Kalonymus ben Kalonymus, and the subversive aristocrat Pierre-Antoine Antonelle. For the Rock, each of these individuals represents a freethinking current that flowed through the city's history, countering the reactionary and bigoted forces that ruled Arles for fifteen centuries.

Erudite, witty, and opinionated, the Rock weaves a narrative that encompasses the history of Arles while also painting a broader canvas of European history. It raises thought-provoking questions about the city's potential future and encourages readers to consider the lessons learned from its past. "The Rock of Arles" is a captivating exploration of a city that has witnessed the ebb and flow of human civilization, leaving an indelible mark on the world.

Weight: 572g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478020981