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For everyone who love classical stories
from many centuries until millenium
with some great story-teller around the world
these is just some compilation of epic-stories
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... an everlasting stories and memories ...

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Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Showing posts with label France. Show all posts

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Books "THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ARSÈNE LUPIN"

Books “AKSI HEBAT SI PENCURI CERDIK ASAL PRANCIS”
Judul Asli : THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ARSÈNE LUPIN – GENTLEMAN BURGLAR (ARSÈNE LUPIN – GENTLEMAN BURGLAR)
[ book 2 of ARSÈNE LUPIN Series ]
by Maurice Leblanc
Penerbit Bukuné
Alih Bahasa : Airien Kusumawardani
Editor : Dewi Fita & Resita Febiratri
Proof Reader : Syafial Rustama & Widyawati Oktavia
Lay-out : Gita Mariana
Desain Sampul : Gita Mariana
Cetakan I : Juli 2012 ; 252 hlm ; ISBN 978-602-220-062-8
Rate : 3.5 of 5
~ Conclusion in English at the bottom post ~

Chapter I : The Arrest of Arsène Lupin (Tertangkapnya Arsène Lupin) | p. 7 – 28 | Rate : 3 of 5

Kapal uap transatlantik ‘La Provence’ sedang dalam perjalanan dari Perancis menuju Amerika, ketika para penumpang yang sedang menikmati pelayaran dikejutkan dengan berita, yang bersumber dari telegram yang dikirim khusus kepada awak kapal, sebuah berita berisi peringatan yang sayangnya terputus akibat cuaca buruk di atas lautan.
“Arsène Lupin berada di dalam kapal kalian, kabin pertama, rambut pirang, luka di lengan sebelah kanan, bepergian seorang diri dengan menggunakan nama R......”

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Books "THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN"

Books “MISTERI KERETA API BIRU”
Judul Asli : THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN
[ book 6 of Hercule Poirot Series ]
Copyright © Agatha Christie 1928
Penerbit Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Alih Bahasa : Ny. Suwarni A.S.
Desain Sampul : Dwi Koendoro
Cetakan VII : Desember 2002 ; 352 hlm ; ISBN 979-655-588-3
~ Conclusion (at the bottom post) in English ~

Katherine Grey, menjalani hidup di St. Mary Mead, sebagai pendamping wanita tua Mrs. Harfield yang kaya raya namun sangat sulit disenangkan selama 10 tahun (prestasi terpanjang yang pernah dicapai oleh semua pendamping yang pernah bekerja pada wanita ini), dan sebagai balas jasa dan ketulusannya dalam bekerja, Mrs. Harfield memilih Katherine Grey sebagai pewaris tunggal kekayaannya yang berlimpah, alih-alih kerabatnya yang masih hidup (dan sangat dibenci). Kini di usia 33 tahun, Katherine Grey mendapati ia bisa berbuat apa pun. Maka ia pun memilih melancong keluar negeri, menggunakan transportasi Kereta Api Biru.

Book "MURDER ON THE LINKS"

Books “LAPANGAN GOLF MAUT”
Judul Asli : MURDER ON THE LINKS
[ book 2 of Hercule Poirot Series ]
Copyright © Agatha Christie 1923
Penerbit Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Alih Bahasa : Ny. Suwarni A.S.
Desain Sampul : Dwi Koendoro
Cetakan V : September 2003 ; 320 hlm ; ISBN 979-686-187-9
~ Conclusion (at the bottom post) in English ~

Hercule Poirot bukanlah sosok detektif yang suka ‘mondar-mandir’ dalam mencari petunjuk dan bukti, ia akan memilih duduk tenang di ruang duduknya yang hangat dan nyaman, menikmati secangkir coklat hangat dan mengolah ‘sel-sel kelabu’ untuk mendapatkan jawaban dari berbagai misteri. Namun kali ini, ia harus meninggalkan kediamannya di London, Inggris, menuju wilayah Prancis bersama Kapten Hastings, atas permintaan dari seseorang bernama P.T. Renauld, pengusaha kaya asal Inggris yang menetap di Vila Geneviève, bagian luar dari kota kecil Merlinville.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Books "THE MYSTERY OF YELLOW ROOM"

Books “MYSTERY OF YELLOW ROOM”
Judul Asli : LE MYSTÈRE DE LA CHAMBRE JAUNE
Copyright © 1908 by Gaston Leroux | published by Editions Pierre Lafitte
Penerbit Visimedia
Alih Bahasa : Preti Prabowo
Editor : Zulfa Simatur
Proofreader : Tim Redaksi Visimedia
Desain Sampul & Lay-out : Nuruli Khotimah
Cetakan I : Juli 2013 ; 320 hlm ; ISBN 979-065-186-4

Sebuah peristiwa yang terjadi pada pertengahan Oktober 1892, mengguncang masyarakat kota Paris, Prancis, ketika kediaman Profesor Strangeson di Glandier, di perbatasan hutan Sanite-Genevieve, dekat Epinay-sur-Orge disusupi ‘pengunjung-tak-dikenal’ yang melakukan usaha pembunuhan terhadap Mlle. Strangeson – putri sang Profesor. Ayah dan anak ini terkenal di kalangan akademik karena penelitian yang sedang mereka lakukan sangat rahasia dan mengundang banyak minat dari berbagai pihak, termasuk pihak yang hendak mengambil keuntungan pribadi. Percobaan pencurian terhadap catatan penelitian tersebut, yang membawa kepindahan keluarga Strangeson dari Amerika, ke wilayah sunyi dan terpencil di Prancis ini.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Books "THE EMPRESS OF ICE CREAM"

Books “SEMANIS ES KRIM”
Judul Asli : THE EMPRESS OF ICE CREAM
Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Capella
Penerbit Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Alih Bahasa : Gita Yuliani K.
Editor : Tantyana Soebianto
Cover by Marcel A.W.
Cetakan I : Juni 2013 ; 552 hlm

[ Period : 17 Century ] ~ [ Setting : Florence, Italy – Paris, France – London, England ] ~ [ Facts : Great War in Europe ; The Agreement between French and England ; Secret and Intrigue inside the palace involving Louise de Keroulle – mistress of Charles II, King of England ]

Carlo Demirco hanyalah seorang bocah berusia 7 tahun dari suatu kelurga nelayan miskin, kala seorang Parsi bernama Ahmad membawanya ke Florence sebagai pesuruh usaha Ahmad sang pembuat sherbet dengan ilmu warisan keluarganya secara turun temurun, melayani keluarga Medici. Carlo adalah pemuda yang cerdas dan memiliki rasa ingin tahu yang sangat besar, ia bahkan mengadakan berbagai percobaan dalam pembuatan variasi sherbet tanpa sepengetahuan Ahmad. Hidup Carlo tidak akan pernah mengalami perubahan berarti jika saja tidak ada sosok bernama Lucian Audiger – pria Prancis yang bercita-cita menjadi confectioner ternama.  Ia berhasil membujuk Carlo untuk ikut dengannya menuju Paris dan meraih kesuksesan dengan melayani Louis XIV – Raja muda Prancis yang penuh semangat dan ambisi tinggi.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Books "LIGHT ON LUCREZIA"


Judul Asli : THE BORGIAS : LIGHT ON LUCREZIA
[ book 2 of THE BORGIAS Series ]
Copyright © 1958, 1974 by Jean Plaidy
Copyright renewed © 1986 by Jean Plaidy
Penerbit : Elex Media Komputindo
Alih Bahasa : Eka Budiarti
Cetakan I : April 2013 ; 648 hlm

Lucrezia of Borgia – yang terkenal akan kecantikannya, sekaligus sejarah mengerikan berkaitan dengan kehidupan pribadinya karena ia merupakan anggota keluarga Borgia yang menguasai dunia politik Eropa pada abad ke Ayah kandung adalah Roderigo Borgia yang juga dikenal sebagai Paus Alexander VI – pria ambisius yang menginginkan Italia berada di dalam kekuasaan kaum Borgia yang berasal dari Spanyol. Roderigo bukan saja memiliki ambisi serta otak yang brilian, ia juga dikenal sebagai pria yang tak pernah terpuaskan dalam selera seksual, hingga menjelang akhir hayatnya di usia di atas 80 tahun, ia telah memiliki ratusan gundik serta anak haram yang digunakan sebagai ‘alat’ untuk memperkuat kekuasaannya.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Books "THE PRAGUE CEMETERY"



Judul Buku : THE PRAGUE CEMETERY
By Umberto Eco
Copyright © RCS Libri S.p.A. – Milano Bompiani 2010
Penerbit :  Bentang Pustaka
Alih Bahasa : Nin Bakdi Soemanto
Editor : Mahfud Ikhwan
Desain Sampul : Andreas Kusumahadi
Cetakan I : Februari 2013 ; 616 hlm  

Pernahkah Anda membayangkan perjalanan sebuah kisah sejarah yang merubah tatanan kehidupan manusia melalui berbagai perombakan serta serangkaian peristiwa yang menngerikan ? Pernahkah Anda terpikir atau memiliki rasa ingin tahu akan kebenaran di balik kisah serta aneka peristiwa yang telah terjadi di masa silam ? Karena berbicara tentang sejarah mau tak mau kita akan mengungkit sesuatu yang telah terjadi, puluhan, ratusan bahkan ribuan tahun yang lalu. Berbekal dari rasa ingin tahu dan keinginan untuk mencari fakta serta kebenaran akan tindakan-tindakan yang berkaitan denga pembantaian dan pembunuhan inilah, diriku mencoba membuka ‘pembelajaran’ yang diberikan oleh sang penulis yang terkenal akan penulisan dengan bahasa yang indah sekaligus cukup ‘membingungkan’. Sejarah tentunya lebih baik dikenang akan hal-hal yang dianggap baik, indah dan menarik. Namun kebenaran acapkali harus berhubungan dengan pemaparan sifat-sifat manusia dari sudut pikiran terkelam. Satu jawaban pasti, sejarah takkan akan lepas dari kaitan peperangan. Dan inilah sumber ide awal yang membuat sang penulis membuat kisah yang sangat unik, sebuah konspirasi yang merubah tatanan dunia.

Short Story "THE PURLOINED LETTER"



Judul Asli : THE PURLOINED LETTER
Copyright © by Edgar Allan Poe
From “The Murders in the Rue Morgue and Other Tales”
This edition published in the Penguin English Library 2012 | 330 p
Front cover illustration : Coralie Bickford-Smith
Inside front cover : Edgar Allan Poe (photograph © The Granger collection / TopFoto)
ISBN : 978-0-141-19897-2
Chapter 16 | p. 250 – 270

This is the thirth instlament of Poe’s works that reveal a unique character name C. Auguste Dupin – a man who have special interest on detail and solving mystery surrounding several crimes. After the first appears on The Murders in the Rue Morgue follow by The Mysteryof Marie Rogêt, Dupin’s specialties have been recognise by the authority, so many of them are asking for advise when comes into unsolve or strange crime. Now Dupin’s enjoying his life in his apartement on No. 33 Rue Dunôt, Faubourg St. Germain with his best friend (who like many Poe’s works, act as a narator to the story, but never reveal who actually the person is or even his name), when familiar quest come by asking for advise, Monsieur G___, the Prefek of the Parisian police.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Short Story "THE MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGÊT"



Judul Asli : THE MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGÊT
Copyright © by Edgar Allan Poe
From “AUGUSTE DUPIN”
This edition published by Visimedia ; first edition in December 2012 | 326 p
Alih Bahasa : Istiani Prajoko
Editor : Muthia Esfand
Front cover illustration : Nuruli Khotimah
ISBN : 979-065-142-2
Chapter 2 | p. 75 – 178

The story of Marie Rogêt is another series involving C. Auguste Dupin as the main characters, when a young girl seems missing from his house without any one knows where she might be. Marie Rogêt is a beautiful and attractive young girl who works at the perfume shop in Paris. The dissapearing of this girl are the second incident, years ago she also reported missing then without warning she appears again in her family. Between those incident, and learn from the past, the related family did not report her dissapearing in appropriate time, makes the authorities starting rather late on their investigation. After perform a team of search and rescue, there is several possibelities from witnesses and point-out all the clues on her behavior the day she might missing. All evidence leads to suspects between the gang of rebellious man, who might robe and kidnaped this girl, but the investigation also suspect the girl’s fiance.

Dupin’s character performing another unique approach to seek-out the truth between piles of many clues, put-down one piece at the time, trying to build the big picture from pieces of puzzles. Not only he demonstrate his skill to ‘read-mind’ while he observe the human behaviour and suggestions, he also introduce us about ‘red-herring’ whon already known by mystery’s fans as ‘decoy’ when the suspect alledgely gave several clues to drown the investigation into another path. Between the tehnique and diagnose he made, the readers will brought into wild-goose chase before Dupin’s point-out the right path to follow.

Short Story "THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE"



Judul Asli : THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE
Copyright © by Edgar Allan Poe
From “The Murders in the Rue Morgue and Other Tales”
This edition published in the Penguin English Library 2012 | 330 p
Front cover illustration : Coralie Bickford-Smith
Inside front cover : Edgar Allan Poe (photograph © The Granger collection / TopFoto)
ISBN : 978-0-141-19897-2
Chapter 7 | p. 100 – 138


“What song the Syrens sang, or what name Achilles assumed when he hid himself among women, although puzzling questions, are not beyond all conjucture.” – Sir Thomas Browne
How we define something as a crime ? When something terrible happens on someone else or until someone got kill in the action ? If you a mystery lovers, you’ll know about Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes as the unique character who solve any crime, any puzzle and mystery especially surrounding in human’s life, but have you ever hear about Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, who live before Hercule Poirot or even Sherlock Holmes ?

‘He derives pleasure from even the most trivial occupations bringing his talent into play. He is fond of enigmas, of conundrums, hieroglyphics, and love exhibiting in his solutions of each a degree of acumen which appears to the ordinary apprehension præternatural’ (p. 100)
Dupin was a great detective in the first era when there’s not yet a story about solving mystery using method and technique as well the preliminary observations on the subject. His passion and meticulas on every detail combine with thinking ‘outside the box’ brought him to the answers on solving several unanswers mystery. And here is one of the puzzle mystery he have to solve. The horrible and mysterious tragedy just happens at the house in thr Rue Morgue, who occupancy by Madame L’Espanaye and her daughter, Madamoiselle Camille L’Espanaye. About three o’clock in the morning, neighbournhood at the Quartier St. Roch awaken by a succession of terrific shrieks, who apparently coming from the fourth story of the house. 

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Books "THERESE RAQUIN"



Judul Asli : THERESE RAQUIN
Copyright © 1868 on the 2nd Edition [ with author Introduction ]
Copyright © by Émile Zola
Penerbit Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Alih Bahasa : Julanda Tantani
Desain & Ilustrasi cover : Eduard Iwan Mangopang
Cetakan I : Agustus 2011 ; 336 hlm 

Saat hendak memulai membaca kisah ini, sekelumit keraguan muncul, lebih dikarenakan reaksi saat membaca sinopsis di sampul belakang buku ini, ditambah dengan pendahuluan terlampir yang ditulis oleh sang penulis pribadi. Namun sekali pepatah jangan pernah menilai seuatu dari tampilan luar sebelum mencoba meliaht lebih seksama isi di dalamnya, memberikan sedikit pengharapan serta usaha untuk menguatkan diri untuk menerima sebuah kisah yang terburuk yang pernah kubaca. Dan tahukah Anda, hal ini harus berlaku pada setiap aspek kehidupan yang akan kita hadapi, karena setelah membaca dan menelaah kisahnya hingga akhir, semua bayangan serta imajinasi awal terhapuskan. Yang ada sebuah kenyataan baru yang cukup mencengangkan sekaligus memberikan reaksi tak terduga menjelang akhir kisah salah satu contoh kehidupan anak manusia.

Therese Raquin adalah sosok wanita yang sepanjang perjalanan hidupnya tak pernah memperoleh penghargaan yang cukup, hingga membentuk dirinya sebagai karakter tertutup, menyembunyikan berbagai gejolak ketidakpuasan yang diderita semasa kanak-kanak hingga beranjak dewasa. Dibesarkan oleh sang bibi sepeninggalan kedua orang tuanya, ia harus menerima dan menelan segala sesuatu yang diberikan dan diajarkan oleh sang bibi. Hidup bertiga dengan bibi serta saudara sepupunya – Camille, putra tunggal yang merupakan pujaan hati ibunya, tanpa interaksi sosial serta pergaulan bebas dengan pihak lain, memberikan kesempatan untuk ‘memperkerdil’ perkembangan mental, sikap serta karakter kedua bocah ini. Mme Raquin bukanlah sosok orang tua yang terlihat jahat, ia menyediakan semua yang dibutuhkan oleh putra serta kemenakannya, namun dalam kasih sayang yang salah langkah, dirinya memperlakukan mereka dalam kapasitas bagaikan memperlakukan bayi yang belum memiliki kemauan untuk berpikir sendiri atau bahkan berusaha mandiri.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Books "THE THREE MUSKETEERS"


Judul Asli : THE THREE MUSKETEERS
By Alexandre Dumas [ first serialized in 1844 ]
Adapted by Clarissa Hutton
Pictures and illustrations by Brett Helquist
Adapted text copyright © 2011 by HarperCollins Publishers
Illustrations copyright © 2011 by Callicter-Helquist Creative LLC
ISBN 978-0-06-206013-6 | 374 p

When I bought this edition, simply because the catching and beautiful illustrated in the cover (and there’s several inside the book), in additional it was on bargain price too ... never realize that it was retold for younger reader, so this stories will be edited and more approachable to classic beginner. That’s why I also read the translation edition who had unabriged version [ you can read my review on this edition at here : Trio Musketri ].

Alexandre Dumas was one of my favorite author, ever since I read The Count of Monte Cristo, a story about innocent victim who not only survive from death-penalty that giving by his enemy, but also immerge from the death, establish a new life with only one purpose : to get-back and revenge everyone who betrayed him. If TcoM full with dark-thought, how a kind and gentle person changes after years being torture (mostly on his mind), The Three Musketeers offers another side of adventures and heroisme, by bringing back the life of Musketeers – the loyal army who their duty is to protect the King and the Queen of French, by all means from enemy from outside, and also from inside.

~ Queen Anne of Austria ~ [ source ]
This story not only provide an advetures, it’s also mixed with romance involving scandal, hidden agenda and conspiracy (what an interesting themes from a story). Using the naive young character named d’Artagnan, a boy from Gascon who have high dreams becoming member of the legendary Musketeers. Despite all the slogan of honor and heroisme who often mention during the story, I think the author also point at the truth behind the life among high society especially in Royal Family. Sets on 17th century, when French rules by King Louis XIII who constantly disagree with Cardinal Duc de Richelieu, where they both have big influence and great army of their own, split the nation into continously-war, and involving anothers as alliance such as Spain and England.

While Cardinal Duc de Richelieu, preparing secret conspiracy to break the union between England and French, using romance scandal between Queen of French with Duke of Buckingham – appointed illaison from Queen of England, his plan interupted by young d’Artagnan, naive, reckless, and have high spirit when he determine to pursue his dreams. When d’Artagnan meet Milady – a beautiful and irressitable woman, who also works as spies and ruthless assasin for Cardinal, they life changing into spider-web, involving others life and death. And the adventures begins (^_^) .... This first part of serialized from d’Artagnan Romances [ follow by Twenty Years After and The Vicomte of Bragelonne : Ten Years Later ] will gave you a tour on French Kingdom, the hidden secret lies beneath all the glamour life of high society, the war inside the Kingdom its self, where everyone have their own agenda.

Note : despite d’Artagnan was the main character of this story, the author also gave amount portion on others musketrees, between Athos, Aramis and Porthos, but the biggest and most remembering episode was between Athos and Milady, that until the end makes an expression that cannot easly forget by readers, just like when I finished reading The Count of Monte Cristo, you will pressume that Edmond Dantès | Count of Monte Cristo and Maximillian Morrel, but at the end my lasting impression caught on Albert Morcerf – another victims who taking his own destiny, just like Athos.

[ more about the author, books, and related adaptations, check on here : Alexandre Dumas | The Three Musketreers | Illustrations by Bret Helquist | Movies Adaptation (1993) | Movies Adaptation (2011) | All Movies Adaptation ]

I read this book together with Fanda, Melisa and Althesia.

Best Regards,