The Ninth Gate (movie by Roman Polanski)

A rare bookdealer Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) is hired by an antique book collector/publishing tycoon Boris Balkan (Frank Langella),(intent on summoning the Devil) to track down the whereabouts of a book 'The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows'...



The film is based on the novel 'El Club Dumas' by spanish writer Arturo Perez-Reverte. Haven't read the novel - as I can't read spanish - and don't know if an english translation exists? Anyway, getting back to the movie - Balkan obtains a copy of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows by Aristide Torchia (Reverte based Torchia's life on 17th century philosopher Giordano Bruno). Realising the copy could have been forged, Balkan pays Corso to locate and examine the other two existing copies. If either of the two copies is original, Balkan wants Corso to bring them to him.

Corso discovers that the differences between each of the three copies is in the illustrations and not the text. Some of the illustrations are signed LCF (by Lucifer i.e. the Devil) while others are signed by the book's author Aristide Torchia (burned at the stake after accusations of having written the book in collaboration with the Devil).

There are some notable differences in some of the pictures. However, in some, the only difference is whether the illustration is signed or not.


Frontispiece from the novel (above) and film (below).
Title & Translation:

Latin: Novem Portis de Umbrarum Regni
The Club Dumas: Nine Doors of the Kingdom of Shadows
The Ninth Gate: The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows

Motto & Translation:

Latin: SIC LUCEAT LUX
Club Dumas: Thus shines the Light
Ninth Gate: Thus let the Light shine







Engraving I from the novel (above) and film (below).
Caption & Translation:

The Club Dumas:
Latin: NEMO PERVENIT QUI NON LEGITIME CERTAVERIT
English: Only he who has fought according to the rules will succeed

The Ninth Gate:
Latin: SILENTIUM EST AUREUM
English: Silence is golden

Engraving II from the novel (above) and film (below).
Caption & Translation:

Latin: CLAUSAE PATENT
The Club Dumas: They open that which is closed
The Ninth Gate: Open that which is closed

Engraving III from the novel (above) and film (below).
Caption & Translation:

Latin: VERBUM DIMISSUM CUSTODIAT ARCANUM
The Club Dumas: The lost word keeps the secret
The Ninth Gate: Wasted breath keeps a secret

Engraving IIII from the novel (above) and film (below).
Caption & Translation:

Latin: FORTUNA NON OMNIBUS AEQUE
The Club Dumas: Fate is not the same for all
The Ninth Gate: Chance is not the same for all

Engraving V from the novel (above) and film (below).
Caption & Translation:

Latin: FRUSTRA
The Club Dumas: In vain
The Ninth Gate: In vain








Engraving VI from the novel (above) and film (below).
Caption & Translation:

Latin: DITESCO MORI
The Club Dumas: I am enriched by death
The Ninth Gate: I enrich myself with death








Engraving VII from the novel (above) and film (below).
Caption & Translation:

Latin: DISCIPULUS POTIOR MAGISTRO
The Club Dumas: The disciple surpasses the master
The Ninth Gate: The disciple outshines the master








Engraving VIII from the novel (above) and film (below).
Caption & Translation:

Latin: VICTA IACET VIRTUS
The Club Dumas: Virtue lies defeated
The Ninth Gate: Virtue is conquered








Engraving VIIII from the novel (above) and film (below).
Caption & Translation:

Latin: NUNC SCIO TENEBRIS LUX
The Club Dumas: Now I know that darkness comes from light
The Ninth Gate: I know now that the shadows come from light




The captions, translations and illustrations displayed here, are available in a larger size at http://www.eclectichistorian.net/Engravings/ courtesy of eclectichistorian.

How to prepare for an English and Art History degree

Starting my degree in October 2006 - need to get used to the framework for art history.

Firstly, the English degree is English literature only... so analysis of language or sentence structure etc isn't mentioned in the prospectus/modules (for the combined studies programme). However, to obtain a good understanding of literature, and the purpose/intention of the author/s it is important to have a good understanding of the English language.

Only studied English literature at college, so definitely need to learn about how language is constructed. Grammar comes naturally (most of the time!) but to pull it apart and analyse the structure, well, that is a different 'story' altogether.

A Practical Guide to English is sitting on my bookshelf, but it states that I need access to a big thick Oxford English dictionary/thesaurus. Well, can't spend all my time in the library, and can't drag the dictionary home either (as the large volumes are for reference only)- so have to buy my own copy... and they are expensive.

Have the small paperback Oxford dictionary and thesaurus, but it doesn't include the root words (i.e. where the current words originate from - they're mainly from latin). anyway, think i'm going to have a look around the net and check out current prices, hmmm....

The combined studies course allows study of two subjects for three years (full-time) and one subject for two years (this is the minor subject - and I have a choice between Italian and Geography). Never studied Geography or Italian at G.C.S.E or A-Level, so it's a bit difficult to make my mind up.

Advantages in learning a language - it's a sociable study process, in the sense that you get to talk to people from another country, travel, and absorb the culture first hand. Italian also links very well with the art history course - and beginners have to spend at least three weeks abroad (in my case - Italy).

Disadvantages in learning Italian as a foreign language - not much really - only that it isn't spoken anywhere near as widely as the other two European languages; Spanish and French.

Advantages in studying Geography - good for travel, thinking about where to live, great for adventurers....

Disadvantages in studying Geography - hmmm, can't think of any really? it's a great subject for people interested in learning about the world, and links really well with other subjects.