- Mass Market Paperback
- Publisher: Bantam Books (December 1984)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0553250485
- ISBN-13: 978-0553250480
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 10.4 x 3.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 181 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #281,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Book Description
Bringing Greek mythology to life this book and its sequel, The Bull from the Sea, tell of the amazing adventures of Theseus, famous for slaying the Minotaur, defeating the Amazons and rescuing Persephone from the underworld.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
Mary Renault was born in London and educated at Oxford. She then trained for three years as a nurse, and wrote her first published novel, Promise of Love. Her next three novels were written while serving in WWII. After the war, she settled in South Africa and traveled considerably in Africa and Greece. It was at this time that she began writing her brilliant historical reconstructions of ancient Greece, including The King Must Die, The Last of the Wine, and The Persian Boy. She died in Cape Town in 1983.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Theseus saga of Greece retold without the myths,
By
This review is from: The King Must Die (Paperback)
For fans of ancient Greek myths this is well worth reading - I loved it and it is very compelling read. It is told in first person style by Theseus himself and Renault has clearly done her research on the period and on Ancient Greek and Cretan culture and legends.The book de-mythologises the story of Theseus and carries it off with great conviction. No longer is the god of the sea, Poseidon an active participant in the tale, but rather the myth of his parenting of Theseus explained in a convincing manner. In this same way the other vital keys to the tale have mortal and plausible explanations. For those who don't know the myth, the story of Theseus is explained in the notes, as are the basis for many of her selections for what Theseus looked like, and the art of bull jumping which was popular in Cretan art in this period. While I do enjoy the Greek myths it was a nice to read something that gave a possible explanation to the stories. Renault writes well, and I would certainly be interested in following up any more of her novels.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Book :),
By Jen (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The King Must Die (Paperback)
I read this book for my Themes In Literature class (a fancy title for a mythology class), and I must say that out of all the books I've ever had to read for school, it is one of my favorites (along with The Giver). I tend more towards Science Fiction and Fantasy books, so I really enjoyed being handed this book. Greek and Roman history intrigues me. This rendition of the Theseus myth brought the story more to life for me and caught my fascination.
5.0 out of 5 stars
the emotional connection,
By
This review is from: The King Must Die (Paperback)
there are many reviews of ms. renault's work here already, so i will keep this very brief: the reason mary renault is my favorite author is that she can bring the emotional and human quality of her characters to the surface. she makes these long dead people with strange names come alive. she gives them a quotidian life. she makes them human, and humane. true, her knowledge of the ancient greeks is encyclopedic. true, her descriptions are wonderous, but her deep empathy for the people in her novels is what separates her from other historical writers. she also handles homoeroticism/homosocial behavior with a sweetness and sensitivity that demonstrates the value of the delicate bonds that men should be encouraged to explore and nurture. her compassion for the human experience is sometimes overwhelming.
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