The Etruscan by Mika Waltari

Review by: Samantha M. Siciliano

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Quick Summary:

The Etruscan is a historical fiction novel that chronicles the life of Turms, an immortal Etruscan on a quest to discover his identity. The story opens with Turms ready to end his life; however, he is struck by lightning and loses his memory. He then embarks on a long journey of self-discovery. During his soul-searching travels, he becomes a pirate, a man of war, a farmer, and eventually something much more. This book takes place around 480 B.C.E. in ancient Greece and Rome. 

 

The Review:

As a former history educator, I find immense fulfillment in exploring histories from around the world, both during my college years and throughout my teaching career—especially while teaching 7th-grade Ancient History classes. However, one challenge in teaching this subject is not being able to cover every event that occurred in different regions during those times. Mika Waltari’s book does a remarkable job of filling in gaps in my knowledge about events and people from that era. Having some background knowledge about the history, names, and regions featured in the book helped me follow along more easily than with The Adventurer, another work by Waltari.

Waltari’s greatest strength lies in his ability to immerse the reader in the culture and time period of his novels. He consistently excelled in each book I have reviewed; the Egyptian being my personal favorite. I especially appreciate the inclusion of maps, which help me visualize where the characters are throughout their journey. While reading, I could vividly imagine the houses, décor, scents, food, appearances, and the cultural differences among the communities Turms encounters.  The section about the Siccani people was particularly fascinating—their way of life and interactions (or lack thereof) with outsiders took up a significant part of the book. I truly appreciated Waltari’s dedication to researching the Siccani and bringing their culture to life.

Having read three other books by Waltari, I have noticed a recurring issue: his portrayals of women tend to be limited, often casting them as either a harlot or a vestal, with little in between. In The Etruscan, Arsinoe—Turms’ partner—embodies this trend. She is depicted as manipulative, conniving, and unfaithful, making her an untrustworthy character. Arsinoe reminded me of Nefer Nefer Nefer from The Egyptian. Conversely, many young women in the book are described as virgins, which, to be fair, was historically considered an important attribute for young women.

Currently, the United States is experiencing a period of turmoil—people are angry, scared, and saddened by the divisions within the country. This nation has faced division many times throughout its history, and is deeply divided as of September 2025. The book highlights several principles that America was founded upon, and I want to conclude my review with a few quotes that stood out to me:

·       “… I do not believe that it is the gods’ intention that only one man or one nation rule the entire world. Nations keep one another in balance. They grow and progress as a result of mutual competition. All nations are equal and human suffering is the same, no matter whether the person be Etruscan, Greek, or black…”^[1]

 

·       “Intelligence, courage, and integrity suffice for a man. Pity the suffering, support the weak, slap the insolent across the mouth, tear the pouch of the greedy, concede the plowman has plowed land, protect the people from robbers and usurpers.”^[2]

 

·       “The law must protect the weak against the strong. The strong do not need protection.”^[3]

I hope that those in positions of influence and elected leadership in our government will champion these values. Compassion and empathy must shine in America again. Without them, I fear we risk falling into the grips of fascism.

This novel is well written and thoroughly researched, offering a wealth of historical information. I give it a solid 4 out of 5.

IN CONCLUSION, READ THE FRACKING BOOK!

Up Next: Beyond the Mark: Ashes of the Hero by Kevin Gallant

^[1] Waltari, Mika. “The Lucumo.” Story. In The Etruscan , 317–317. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1956. 

^[2] Waltari, Mika. “The Lucumo.” Story. In The Etruscan , 350-350. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1956.

^[3] Waltari, Mika. “The Feast of the Gods.” Story. In The Etruscan , 378-378. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1956.