[SuperWho]

Hey there,
I was wondering what's the exact meaning of this sentence at the beginning of the book (the very opening) : « we are history relived and that is all, without end that is all. » For the record English isn't my mother tongue. I feel like the first part of the sentence means we (the fallen) are just a kind of reenactment of the past, and nothing more, that is all. But the second half of the sentence is much more of a challenge for me, I think there's a play on « that is all » but I'm not sure, can you help me?
Extra question: I've read that « The Malazan Book of the Fallen » title was inspired by Napoleon's Book of the Fallen. I'm French and, sadly enough, I cannot seem to find the title in French, does someone happen to know it?
Cheers!

This post has been edited by SuperWho: 20 July 2017 - 10:08 PM

[worry]

You've got the first half right, pretty much, and the second half is just the future projection of the same sentiment. So he's looking at the past, the present, and the future as repetitions of the same human behaviors. It's like someone thinking aloud, musing cynically on the human condition.

It's something of a twist on the phrase "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" with the conclusion that we're already condemned, without an "out" for breaking the cycle.

[SuperWho]

Ok thanks for your help ! I think I get it now

[Gorefest]

SuperWho, on 20 July 2017 - 10:07 PM, said:

Extra question: I've read that « The Malazan Book of the Fallen » title was inspired by Napoleon's Book of the Fallen. I'm French and, sadly enough, I cannot seem to find the title in French, does someone happen to know it?

As far as I am aware, supposedly Napoleon had (or was considering to keep) a list of fallen soldiers, a so-called 'Book of the Fallen'. At least that's what SE said in an interview. Don't think it actually is an existing book though, if it is even a true story. If it does exist it will just be a list of names.

This post has been edited by Gorefest: 21 July 2017 - 02:09 PM