His friends are the young men and maidens, slaves of the gods, chosen for death in the bull dance. They werent spelt that way when i first read the book so why now. Funeral games by renault, mary and a great selection of related books. List of books and articles about mary renault online. On the path toward greatness, every hero makes a choice.
Set in preclassical greece and told by theseus himself, the novel chronicles theseus childhood. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Rather than retelling the myth, renault constructs an archaeologically and. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Published by user, 14 years ago mary renaults great historical novel of theseus begins when he is a young man in troizen, a wellbred youth who has never known his fathers identity. This retelling of the greek myth of theseus, king of athens. Renault s first novel, called purposes of love, was released in the year 1934. Mary renault is a shining light to both historical novelists and their readers. Her next three novels were written during offtime duty whilst serving in the war. Hughs college and radcliffe infirmary, oxford, completing her training as a nurse in 1937.
May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. Troizen, corinth, eleusis, athens, knossos in crete, and naxos. It is a beautifully written story with the character of theseus drawn persuasively. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. In addition to vivid fictional portrayals of theseus, socrates, plato, and alexander the great, she wrote a nonfiction biography of alexander. Although the book is very appealing to me the author did. In april 2006 the bbc aired the onehour documentary mary renault love and war in ancient greece5. Renault starts with theseus early years, showing how the mystery of his fathers identity and his small stature breed the insecurities that spur his.
Were in ancient greece, and a matriarchal society with an earthbased religion is in the process of changing to a patriarchal one that worships sky gods. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. The first, the last of the wine 1956 won wide critical acclaim. Possible ex library copy, will have the markings and stickers associated from the library. It is told by theseus as an old man remembering his early life as the grandson of a king, his search to find his father, his captivity in crete, and through his inner strength and leadership his return home. Mary renault places the legend in an historic place with san torini, the cretan labyrinth, and the minoan culture as a foundation for the story. Sign up or sign in to see availability for your saved libraries at a glance. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Theseuss legendary exploits continue in this magnificent novel of mythological adventure in classical greece.
Search your library catalogue more search options build search. Funeral games by renault, mary and a great selection of related. Accessories such as cd, codes, toys, may not be included. Drawing on modern scholarship and archaeological findings at knossos, mary renault s theseus is an utterly lifelike figurea king of immense charisma, whose boundless strivings flow from. Published by user, 14 years ago mary renault s great historical novel of theseus begins when he is a young man in troizen, a wellbred youth who has never known his fathers identity. After receiving her nursing degree in 1936, she emigrated to south africa. A lovetriangle drama set against the backdrop of hospital life working in a hospital in 1930s britain, two colleagues. In the wake of his fathers suicide, athens is now theseuss to rule. His fabled enemy is the monstrous, halfman, halfbull, minotaur, devourer of sacrificial. London clubs if it is possible to be both a midwife and a father figure, alexis korner played both roles for british rhythm and blues in 1962.
In myth, theseus was the slayer of the childdevouring minotaur in crete. She had begun to write novels but worked as a nurse during world war ii. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Having completed nursing training in 1937, she then wrote her first novel promise of love. He emerges from these pages as a clearly defined personality. Rarely does a single novelist cast such a shadow over an entire topic in a genre of fiction. Rather than retelling the myth, renault constructs an archaeologically and anthropologically plausible story that might.
This retelling of the greek myth of theseus, king of athens, is one of the truly fine historical novels of modern times the new york times in myth, theseus was the slayer of the childdevouring minotaur in crete. The title seemed like a good joke to share with my fellow hacks. Fiction, lesbian authors, men, minotaur greek mythology, theseus, theseus greek. Heres where youll find analysis about the book as a whole. A virago modern classic and over 8 million other books are available. In the wake of his fathers suicide, athens is now theseuss to. Mary renault is currently considered a single author.
The ancient world of myth and legend takes on the trappings of living history in this second of mary renault s imaginative reconstructions. Drawing on modern scholarship and archaeological findings at knossos, mary renaults theseus is an utterly lifelike figurea king of immense charisma, whose boundless strivings flow from strength and weaknessbut also one. She uses this background to retell the greek myth of theseus. Fiction, lesbian authors, men, minotaur greek mythology, theseus, theseus greek mythology. Mary renault is a shining light to both historical nove. It has all the magic of the earlier book, and the subject the imperishable story of theseus, prince of athens. She died of cancer at the age of 78 on december, 1983.
Mary renault was educated at clifton high school, bristol and st hughs college, oxford. She does not pretend the past is like the present, or that the people of ancient greece were just like us. The bull from the sea lee county library system overdrive. Renault depicts ariadne as both princess and priestess of an old earth mother religion in crete. Mary renault is a shining light to both historical novelists. Mary renault books list of books by author mary renault. In the bull from the sea, the story of theseus resumes with the heros return from knossos. This retelling of the greek myth of theseus, king of athens, is one of the truly fine historical novels of modern times the new york times.
Mary renault is the author of many superb books about ancient greece, all of which my mother owned. After the war she settled in south africa renault s bestknown sequence of greek historical novels soon appeared. Mary renault project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. This book will, i feel, win as well the plaudits of the general public. It was there that she met her lifelong partner, fellow nurse julie mullard. Rather than retelling the myth, renault constructs an archaeologically and anthropologically plausible story that might have developed into the myth. Jul1958 historical romance mary renault s portraits of the ancient world are fierce, complex and eloquent, infused at every turn with her life. The bull from the sea the ohio digital library overdrive. I paid a few shekels for it and went off happily to. Troizen, corinth, eleusis, athens, knossos in crete, and naxos, it traces the early life and adventures of theseus, one of the heroes in greek mythology. Legends sing of sir gawain, one of the most respected warriors of king arthurs reign and one of the greatest champions of all time.
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