Mary Renault - Alexander trilogy

[Random789]

I'm just nearing the end of the second book in Renault's Alexander trilogy, having leapt straight into it from the first book. I've really found these two novels completely mangificent. Such a compelling and vivid recreation of a distant world; so amazing in its ability to get into the minds of people with an entirely different outlook on the world, and yet to make them intimately comprehensible to us. And so fabulous, in the second volume, at taking a deeply empathic look at cross-cultural attitudes and conflicts. Oh, my. Hilary Mantel doesn't seem to me to be the queen of historical fiction anymore.

But I'm wondering: Should I go straight into the third volume, or will it be disappointing? So much depends in the first two on the IMMENSELY charismatic character she creates for Alexander and (in the second book) the genius narrative standpoint of Bagoas.

If I don't launch straight into volume three, what would be another good book to embark on next - either another novel or perhaps a very very readable factual account of Alexander's conquests?

Plunge in! Mary Renault's books are all wonderful (so is your analysis!). I've not found any other novelists able to capture the essence of Alexander in the way she did. Well, an essence of him, no one knows what he was really like. You could also try Pat Barker's retelling of Achilles' story in The Silence of the Girls and The Women of Troy.

Aren't they brilliant? The Persian Boy is the most moving and beautiful love story. I have read the first two many times but the third only once or twice. I needed the completion but didn't feel the need to revisit.

I love all her historical/myth based books. Currently in Oxford heading to the Ashmolean to see the exhibit about Knossos, because of The along Must Die.

The King Must Die.

Interested in thoughts on this too! I binge-listened to the first two audiobooks but paused before going for the third as I wasn’t sure where it would go without Alexander.
Loved reading the Theseus ones too. Would also recommend The Praise Singer.

I feel compelled to add, though, that queen of historical fiction - amazing, meaty, outrageously researched - had to be Dorothy Dunnett. If you’ve not read any then do try the Lymond Chronicles or the House of Niccolo. Probably Lymond first though it’s harder to follow. They’re amazing.

Once you've read Mary Renault you won't bother with Natalie Haynes (whose style I found irritating). Renault is the maestra. Also recommend The Mask of Apollo.

Thanks so much for these responses. It is lovely to talk to other Renault enthusiasts. It is also lovely to have the suggestions of other writers. I think I will go straight to number three. But then I may well try the recommended Pat Barker novels. I very much enjoyed her Regeneration trilogy.

Isn't it wonderful when you have the feast of a really really enjoyable novel ahead of you. Especially one that takes you to another world completely.

Thé Ides of March ( Thornton Wilder) : Caesar, Catullus and Cleopatra .

’I Claudius’ and ‘Claudius the God’ ) Robert Graves) :Suetonius reinterpreted with sympathy.

’The Flowers of Adonis’ (Rosemary Sutcliffe) : Alcibiades with all his fascination and disillusionment

‘ Island of Ghosts ‘ ( Gillian Bradshaw) Roman Britain and wagon dwelling warriors . Her Byzantine novels especially The Colour Purple .

you are right about Bagoas ; I made a sculpture of him once with ‘ tell us about the court in Darius day’ on its base……

The Ashmolean exhibit is wonderful. Highly recommended to anyone interested in this period of history.

I have always loved Mary Renault's The Charioteer, its set in WW2 not really historical when she wrote it in 1953, but it seems so now, in a way. A really well drawn picture of the time -and very romantic.

you are right about Bagoas ; I made a sculpture of him once with ‘ tell us about the court in Darius day’ on its base……

SPOILER ALERT

The description in The Persian Boy of how he's enslaved and what happened to him afterwards...I bought the book in Crete and lay on the sun lounger trying not to cry as I read it.

Going next month and realy looking forward to it. I first saw the palace of Knossos when we travelled there on a creaky old Greek bus and the village was tiny, bet it isn't now.

Those books are fantastic! She also wrote a very good non-fiction book about Alexander, which is well worth seeking out.

Thanks, IceandIndigo. I may check that out too. I've also got a yen to buy a book of historical maps so that i can understand Alexander's journey better.

BTW,the only time I failed to adore Alexander was when he was in India and had to turn back because his army was exhausted and mutinous. He got into a massive sulk about it (because he wanted to see the edge of the world at the Encircling Ocean) and for a few pages I saw him exactly as an entitled rich British student on a gap year and wanting it all.

So pleased I found other Renault enthusiasts !

I went to the Ashmolean exhibit last month - it is fascinating, worth every penny. I also really enjoyed the different forms of media in the exhibit - not just the usual of items in glass cases.

Currently re-reading the Theseus books by Mary Renault.

The Nature of Alexander.

The Persian Boy is one of my all-time favourite novels. I found Funeral Games utterly depressing in the inevitability of the way Alexander’s successors behave after his death (i.e. brutally, treacherously, and murderously). The Theseus novels are also great.

For non-fiction on Alexander, I found Robin Lane Fox’s book very readable. (I have a degree in ancient history but never studied Alexander specifically.)

An old thread but I'm just re-reading Fire from Heaven after maybe 60 years and it's so, so good!
I loved Mary Renault in my teens and later read her autobiography and The Charioteers.
I chose Mask of Apollo for book group and it fell flat. I couldn't believe it!
So I was pleased to find you here and know I'm not alone!
A lesbian herself, did she ever write about gay women?

So sorry to hear about the Mask falling flat for book group - I had the same experience when listening to The Persian Boy discussion on A Good Read. It is shocking when others don't grasp the brilliance.

I reread Mask the other day. I love how she opens with his knowledge that he was a better actor than his father, such an arresting opening.

The Persian Boy (which I'll admit I haven't read for years) is IIRC a very slow burner and takes its time to get to Alexander and develop the relationship with Bagoas (not that that's a criticism, BTW). Perhaps that's what the problem was for the Goodreads people. I love her characterisation of Bagoas and how he matures after what he goes through after being enslaved. She makes him a truly admirable character.

I recently re-read The Praise Singer, so now going out to buy a few more of the books on this thread. (Previous copies went in a clear out).

I love Mary Renault, would second those recommending the Theseus books next. I found the third in the Alexander trilogy too depressing to re read much, I usually stop at the second and then skim the third for the bits about Bagoas.

Anyone invested in a slightly different take on the same source, Stealing Fire is worth reading but not as good.

@Cooroo She did indeed write a book about gay women. It’s called The Friendly Young Ladies, published 1944. My copy is a Virago Modern Classic, reprinted 2005. It’s about a lesbian couple living on a houseboat in London.