Maurice Rowdon : Non-Fiction

The Ape of Sorrows – From Stranger to Destroyer: The Inside Story of Humans

The Ape of Sorrows

iUniverse – 2009
www.theapeofsorrows.com

A book drawn not from the human’s stories about himself, least of all his histories, but from his far more spectacular, far more ardent and painstaking mutations and adaptations.

Reviews

‘The Theme of this book, that animal intelligence, human or otherwise, can only be judged according to how the animal leaves its habitat – either enhanced or depleted – is scarily topical. ’ Neil Norman, The Daily Express
‘Historian and philosopher Maurice Rowdon has written a profound analysis of te human animal and, in particular, of the arid, super-rationalist civilisation that has shaped Western culture... ’ Andrew Tyler, Animal Aid
[see Animal/Human Intelligence]

The Talking Dogs or Elke and Belham

Talking Dogs

MacMillan 1978
Putnam NY 1978

Review

‘One of the most remarkable animal books ever written. Some accept it. Others reject it. But nobody can put it down unfinished.’ Stanley Dangerfield, Evening News
[see Animal/Human Intelligence]

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci

Weidenfeld and Nicolson – 1975

Under construction

[see Human/Animal Intelligence]

Lorenzo the Magnificent

Lorenzo the Magnificent

Weidenfeld and Nicolson – 1974
The Renaissance brought with it immense hopes for man’s potential, and yet at the same time bore within itself a deadly contradiction – enlightment did not abolish wars or make men intrinsically better.

[see Religion/History]

Spanish Terror: Spanish Imperialism in the Sixteenth Century

Spanish Reign of Terror

St Martin’s Press NY – 1974
How today’s insoluble global problems came into being

‘In this vivid account he captures the times when dagger, poisoned phial and strangler’s gut…’ ‘He explodes the idea that the Renaissance was simply a flowering of the human spirit, and shows another aspect – that scholars and artists were at the mercy of the financial power-houses and did their work against a background of war, revolution and factional fighting in the streets’.
[see Religion/History]

The Fall of Venice or The Silver Age of Venice

The Fall of Venice

Weidenfeld and Nicolson – 1970
The Silver Age of Venice

Reviews

‘Penetrates the most intimate corners of Venetian life. His books have won wide critical acclaim. The new book is a bold and vigorous one, and though true to its title is written withsuch enthusiasm that one cannot help concluding that to fall is happier than to rise.’ Nigel Dennis, Sunday Telegraph
‘Mr Rowdon is fortunate, because after reading his enthralling essays one can still return to Venice and see so much that has survived the Fall.’ Cyril Connolly Sunday Times
[see Religion/History]

Companion Guide to Umbria

Companion Guide to Umbria

Collins – 1969

Reviews

‘Mr Rowdon has written an exceptionally well-informed and entertaining guide. This is an outstanding travel book.’ Eastern Daily Press
[see Religion/History]

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A Roman Street

A Roman Street

Gollancz – 1964

Reviews

‘I am quite delighted with it. It catches the very voice and breath of Rome’ J.I.M. Stewart
‘A first-class daily-life writer and all the Romanists will want to read him… every word of it rings true… reminds us of Lawrence.’ Bernard Wall, The Observer

[see Religion/History]

Italian Sketches

Italian Sketches

Gollancz – 1963

Reviews

‘It is a real pleasure to come across a quite original book entitled Italian Sketches. Mr.Rowdon is astonishingly acute in recognising in the Italians a quality which impels them to spare foreigners embarrassment or mortification. ..It is a relief to read this factual book about Italy… I derived much pleasure from this book and recommend it warmly.’ Sir Harold Nicolson, Observer

‘Recalls Lawrence’s Twilight in Italy almost uncannily… The perfect antidote to the effusive outsider’s travel book… The results are superficially glum, but in retrospect, and artistically, exhilarating, because so often piercingly accurate and so far under the skin of everyday appearances that it is really a new reappraisal almost of a new country… Extreme spiritual delicacy as well as physical sensibility.’ Isabel Quigly, Guardian
[see Religion/History]

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Of Sins and Winter

Of Sins and Winter

Chatto & Windus &ndash London 1955

Reviews

‘Profoundly serious’…’As an indictment of modern warfare Of Sins and Winter is extremely powerful…Here , it seems to me, is described the dilemma not only of war and peace, but that of this century…’ Encounter
[see Religion/History]

Non-fiction: Unpublished

War In Italy: War Between Friends

This forthcoming account of the Italian Campaign of World War 11 written 2006-2007 is a mature and harrowing account of how prolonged front-line warfare never leaves you. It shows what every soldier who returns knows –that his or her life has been dislocated at rock bottom.

The Indian Crucifixion 1974

‘He who believes in the devil believes in God, he who does not, is.’

‘Barbarian preliminaries’ imply minimal energy in the human being, civilization optimum energy. For this reason all forms of barbarism, from the tribal to the highly sophisticated or intellectrual, rely on this clamour and much movement, because physical action is the barbarian’s definition of energy-release. Yet in ‘deep’ meditation the body throws out more powerful currents than during the most active waking state. [see Religion/History]

The Last Italy

Hitler’s Show Biz Diaries

Diaghilev

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