Inorogul şi Zénon – călători peste timp. Despre modernitatea roma¬nelor Istoria ieroglifică de Dimitrie Cantemir şi Piatra filosofală de Marguerite Yourcenar
The Hierogliphic Story, by Dimitrie Cantemir and The Philosopher’s Stone, by Marguerite Yourcenar, two Novels which are still Modern

Summary/Abstract: Two novels written in different epochs, in two different cultures, have a common theme: they are about two men of genius who lived by the end of the Middle Ages and whose destinies were tragic. The main characters are visionaries and they truly love all human beings. This is why they are always ready to make sacrifices for them. Unfortu¬nately, they are not rewarded for their good deeds, on the contrary, they are persecuted by the cruel society of their times. These novels teach us about the sad effects power may have on the people who lead the world. People try to get rich and powerful, but they ignore the spiritual values. Cantemir wrote an allegorical novel, where he satirizes his contemporaries in a clever way, pleading for values like reason, temperance and sympathy. Marguerite Yourcenar’s novel is remarkable for the protagonist’s attitude: he is a man of science who esteems the power of reason and believes in the benefits brought by the scientific discoveries. Both novels offer us picturesque descriptions of two European societies and they also reflect the people’s mentality in a world which undergoes deep changes.

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