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The Mask of Apollo

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 874 ratings · 47 reviews

Set in fourth-century B.C. Greece, The Mask of Apollo is narrated by Nikeratos, a tragic actor who takes with him on all his travels a gold mask of Apollo, a relic of the theater's golden age, which is now past. At first his mascot, the mask gradually becomes his conscience, and he refers to it his gravest decisions, when he finds himself at the center of a political crisi...more

Paperback, 384 pages

Published February 12th 1988 by Vintage (first published October 1966)

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Mar 12, 2013 Smcleish rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

The Mask of Apollo is one of my favourite straight historical novels (using the word "straight" to distinguish it from crossover historical crime novels, which seem to have taken over fiction set in the past since the sixties).

Set in the fourth century BC, the narrator of the novel is a notable Athenian actor named Nikeratos, who travels to Syracuse (then a Greek city) and accidentally becomes involved with the city state's turbulent politics. Syracuse was ruled by a tyrant, Dionysius, who is dy...more

The Mask of Apollo is one of my favourite straight historical novels (using the word "straight" to distinguish it from crossover historical crime novels, which seem to have taken over fiction set in the past since the sixties).

Set in the fourth century BC, the narrator of the novel is a notable Athenian actor named Nikeratos, who travels to Syracuse (then a Greek city) and accidentally becomes involved with the city state's turbulent politics. Syracuse was ruled by a tyrant, Dionysius, who is dying as Nikeratos approaches the city from the sea, fresh from a triumph in Athens with a play written by the ruler himself. The problem is with his successor. Dionysius had a son, also named Dionysius, but kept him from any semblance of power during his lifetime , leaving him lacking in both judgement and confidence. He also has a nephew, Dion, who is highly respected and who was given many privileges by his uncle (including the right to appear in his presence armed, something no one else was allowed to do). But even so Dion is not likely to be named as the successor over Dionysius' own son, nor (with his suspicious involvement with the foreign "sophist" Plato) popular with other powerful figures in the Syracusan court.

The combination of theatre and politics works well. Renault makes Nikeratos a character based on ideas of what an important actor manager would be like in the twentieth century, a Terry or someone from that kind of acting family. I don't normally like the use of characters with a modern outlook in historical novels, but here it works well.This is partly because nothing is really known about what an ancient Greek theatrical production was like backstage, and it seems likely that the concerns of actors then were similar to those of actors today: gossip about other people in the profession, upstaging and working together, the audience's lack of understanding, and, of course, sex. And in other ways, the character is not at all contemporary. Nikeratos is a proper pagan Greek, who believes that an old fashioned mask of Apollo given to him by another actor is periodically inhabited by the spirit of the god, and treats it as a kind of shrine.

The Mask of Apollo could be considered an archetypical historical novel. It is narrated by an (imaginary) character at the centre of a series of interesting historical events, who knows people the reader may well have heard of (Plato, Dionysius father and son, Dion; Aristotle and Philip of Macedon - the father of Alexander the Great - are also mentioned). Nikeratos isn't interested in politics, and becomes involved with the Syracusan power struggles unwillingly - and this is useful to the story, because he constantly needs things explained to him which would not be needed by a more involved politician but are going to also be unfamiliar to many readers. The history of Greek Syracuse is probably not terribly well known today, but it is eventful and has fascinating characters, so makes an excellent choice of subject for a historical novel. It also balances out the much better known Athenian characters (Plato in particular, as someone whose influence on the development of European culture is immense), even though Nikeratos is himself from that city. And even in the parts of the book set in Athens, Renault manages to combine the relatively unfamiliar with things which are much more likely to be obscure or unknown to a modern reader.

The background is meticulously researched yet made accessible to the reader without becoming a series of lectures on the ancient Greek way of life. In fact, I would say that the novel is one of the very greatest of its type, not just one I like personally. Renault does not indulge in the kind of literary games which can be seen in The French Lieutenant's Woman, almost contemporary, but still achieves a literate power without this postmodern slant.

One of the themes explored by the novel is the nature of personal pagan religious feeling. Nikeratos' attitude to the mask is one of several examples of devotion to a god or goddess to whom an individual worshipper feels a particular affinity. This is striking as it is a major difference to today's largely secular western world, where even those who attend places of worship tend to separate off their everyday life from their religious observances; the chosen deity was a major part of the worshipper's daily life, with an idol (like the mask) as a focus for the relationship. Evangelical Christians talk about a personal God, but the very fact of monotheistic belief makes this God seem much more remote and unconcerned than who is a patron of your profession, or shares your name; and the Protestant history of deism (a God who is relatively uninvolved with His creation) in their theology makes this remoteness even greater. Ignoring the issue of whether or not either the pagan or Christian gods are real, this seems to me to be less appealing to the imagination.

So The Mask of Apollo is interesting, readable, thought provoking, well researched, and has good characters.(less)

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Aug 26, 2012 Cody VC rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 stars, more like. felt like the prose was much better than in "the persian boy" - simple, straightforward, with some nicely plain descriptions here and there. ("he was thinnish, and held himself like a man with a stoop who had never before pulled back his shoulders. sometimes he forgot, and let his neck poke forward.") the environment is richly detailed; you can tell that she's done her work in both research and imagination, and i particularly enjoyed her incorporation/presentation of the co...more

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Aug 14, 2010 Kit Dunsmore rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of classical Greek culture

Shelves: fiction

I'm currently on a ancient Greece/Roman kick, having just finished a lecture series on Classical archaeology, so this seemed like a good time to read this. Enjoyed it, although it feels a lot more uneven than I remember her other books, which I really liked (The King Must Die and Bull From the Sea). Of course, it's been years since I read them.

The main story is about political events happening around the main character, who is an actor and only indirectly involved. She has to work to get her cha...more

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Mar 17, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 10, 2012 John Nevola rated it 4 of 5 stars

Most of the poor reviews for this book are from disgruntled schoolchildren forced to read it as a mandatory assignment. One must have a taste for this period and a desire to learn more about it before it could be fully appreciated.

Mary Renault immerses the reader in the art, culture, habits and times of ancient Greece. Told through the eyes and thoughts of an actor (all of whom wore masks on stage), Renault tells of the conflicts between logic and passion, good and evil and power and weakness. S...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Christy English rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite books of all time...re-reading it now and loving it yet again...

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Sep 09, 2010 Faith Justice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: given-away

Mary Renault is a favorite of mine and I couldn't remember if I had read this one way-back-when. I don't think I have - it didn't strike any memory chords and I'd like to think I haven't gotten so old, I'd forget the books I read in my youth.

The story is told from an actor's point of view during the waning years of Plato's Academy and follows the experiment of democracy in Syracuse after the overthrow of a dictatorship. Although written decades ago, it resonates in today's political milieu. A fi...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Alicja rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ancient-greece, historical-fiction, lgbt-fiction, favorites, to-re-read, ancient-world

Rating: 5.5/5 (It was that brilliant!)

Summary: Nikeratos (Niko), a 4th century B.C. Greek tragic actor finds himself in a middle of a political drama involving among others the famous Plato and Dion. He carries with him a mask of Apollo, an old relic from the past as he travels performing (and carrying secret messages for political leaders).

Review: I was in awe reading this novel. In short, this is an (ancient Greek) political thriller. It is probably my new favorite from Mary Renault (although...more Rating: 5.5/5 (It was that brilliant!)

Summary: Nikeratos (Niko), a 4th century B.C. Greek tragic actor finds himself in a middle of a political drama involving among others the famous Plato and Dion. He carries with him a mask of Apollo, an old relic from the past as he travels performing (and carrying secret messages for political leaders).

Review: I was in awe reading this novel. In short, this is an (ancient Greek) political thriller. It is probably my new favorite from Mary Renault (although I always get excited when I pick up one of her books); I just couldn’t put in down. For days I carried it with me everywhere, reading every free moment I could find.

Niko is such a wonderful fictional character; through his eyes we see city-states, ideas of democracy vs. tyranny, politicians, philosophers, and culture clash. Niko is born into a theatrical family, acting the only vocation he knows; it is his life. But being an actor in ancient Greece gave him the ability to freely travel between cities, bringing him straight into a the middle of a political drama which he never wanted to be a part (he never claimed to know anything about politics which is great for us because we get everything explained). He meets amazingly drawn historical figures such as Plato, Dion, Dionysios (elder and son) as they play for power and rule.

Filled with philosophical and political ideas (Plato’s) and a continuous questioning, this novel is a heavy read. I think I may need to read Plato’s Symposium and then re-read this one to have an even better understanding of the depth of issues brought to the reader. Also, there is a slight tie in with the Alexander the Great trilogy that is really amazing, putting the happenings of this novel within an even greater historical context.

Renault’s beautiful style of writing is present throughout; she seamlessly weaves descriptions of the ancient world with personal interactions/relationships. Her characters are real, complex, and compelling. They also give insight and deeper cultural understanding of ancient Greece and the vast differences between the city states. Among all this, she brings the ancient theatre to life and a perspective on acting that is unique.(less)

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Feb 07, 2011 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: british-literature, historical-fiction, greeks, authors-qrs

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Nikeratos is an actor in fourth century BC Greece, following in the footsteps of his famous father. Everywhere he performs, he brings a golden mask of Apollo, to which he goes for advice and guidance. After an impressive performance at Delphi, Niko meets Dion of Syracuse, who is a distinguished politician and a dear friend of Plato's, the inspiration for Plato's philosopher-king. Niko is drawn to Dion and because of this is also drawn into the political turmoil in Sicily after King Dionysios die...more

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May 11, 2013 Yanni Croft rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book, but I don't feel that this was as strong as some of Renault's other novels. Niko, while enjoyable to read, seemed flat and predictable in comparison to the other characters. Dion and Plato were fascinating, and I wish I had more time to read them. By squishing the political side of the story and the theatrical side, Renault downplays both storylines, and I wasn't entirely interested in the plot when politics and theatre combined. Overall, it was good, but not Renault...more

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Jan 16, 2009 James rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I love the historical fiction of Mary Renault and this is the first of her novels that I read. At the time I already had begun to acquire a love of ancient Greece from a wonderful Latin teacher in high school. Luckily for us in addition to teaching us Latin she imbued a an interest in learning about everything classical that grew for me into more reading and eventually led me to Mary Renault. The story involves the world of live theatre and political intrigue in the Mediterranean at the time. Th...more

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Feb 10, 2011 Betsy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I re-read this book. I read it last time in the 60's!! I thought it was marvelous and a true story! I'm going to look for her other books! i love ancient Greece.
When I say "true story", I mean tale that unfolds well and draws you into its reality. Something I'd reccommend to a young reader or someone that's into appreciation of story.

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May 17, 2012 Brenda Clough rated it 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful book. Mary Renault is as good as your own personal time machine (if you do not mind only ever traveling to classical Greece). She is also a total whiz at taking you into a specialized world -- in this case, the theater -- and making its thrills and excitements your own.

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Jul 10, 2012 Yarrow rated it 5 of 5 stars

i am halfway through this, and it's so good that i find myself going slowly, so that it won't end. it's cheerfully queer, which i really appreciate in a book of this vintage (it doesn't feel any need to justify itself, it just *is*). it also probably wouldn't be half as fun if i hadn't spent a whole semester immersed in reading Greek drama back in college; the story definitely presumes the reader's familiarity with Greek theatrical conventions. it is delicious prose, elegant, spare, impactful. g...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another success for Mary Renault. I have not read a single one of her books that is not well above the average fare. This one is set in Sicily and ancient Greece, following the theater and the political intrigues of the era.

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Jun 20, 2010 Christin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: greeks-and-romans-too, m-m, mary-renault

My first venture into non-Alexander Mary Renault. I can't help but be sucked in by the first page. Something about her work... it just takes you by the hand and gently leads you into the world and you never ever want to leave. At least, I don't.

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Oct 09, 2012 Diana Grogg rated it 5 of 5 stars

My absolute favorite of her books. I studied theater in college, including theater history. This book will give you insight into what it might have been like to be an actor in the Grecian era.

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Oct 05, 2012 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars

It took me a little while to get through it, but I certainly did enjoy reading it and it made me want to go back and re-do my grade 10 ancient history class with some new perspective!

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Mar 07, 2011 Brian rated it 5 of 5 stars

So far, all of Mary Renault's books have gotten five stars from me. If you want to visit ancient Greece in a fictional but well-researched book, look to Ms Renault's works.

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Mar 30, 2007 Patrick Lacey rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Yes

This is one of my touchstone books, one I return to frequently, and always enjoy. Mary Renault is a favorite author, this is probably my favorite book of hers. There is so much here for me to sink my teeth into; Greek history, some great stuff about acting and theatre, the question of what constitutes a good life and a good person, how that can be helped or hindered by art, what one's responsibility is to public life, it's all explored sensitively and intelligently. It's also just a great story;...more

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Dec 11, 2010 R.a. rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's been years since I've read this book (15 . . . 20 years?). So, this review suffers from memory (loss) but benefits from the memory of a good, fun, read.

A fictional account that takes place in Ancient Greece, and centered on an actor.

Simply, I remember it as enjoyable and incredibly interesting—the recreation of "how things were," and "what things were like."

My rating probably should be three (3) stars instead of four (4); but again, the memory of a pleasant experience boosts it.

And again, I...more

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Apr 08, 2009 Carolyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this in highschool... so it's been a while. I think this is the book that got me interested in all types of historical fiction.

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Jul 31, 2011 Alex Benjamin added it

A little slow-moving, but it's a very great taste of what an actor's life could have been like in Ancient Greece.

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Jul 13, 2011 Claire Haeg rated it 5 of 5 stars

I know I must have read this at some point before, but I did not remember a word, so it was a great read (or re-read!)

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Feb 18, 2013 Roberta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Read this year's ago and reread in preapration for Sicily. Very good historical novel.

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Dec 31, 2008 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found this historical fiction to be informative and captivating.

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Jan 03, 2012 Erik Graff rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: those interested in ancient Greek theatre and in Syracusan politics in the time of Plato

Recommended to Erik by: no one

Shelves: literature

I read Renault's Mask of Apollo during the Christmas break from seminary during 1976 along with her Last of the Wine, Pesian Boy and Fire from Heaven and not long after The Bull from the Sea and The King Must Die. While I remember reading all of the others and the gist of their contents, this one, while recorded in my listing of book's read at the time, made no lasting impression. Perhaps I knew too little of Syracusan politics of the era, having not yet read through all of the Platonic dialogs...more

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Jul 21, 2011 Jenni Buckley rated it 1 of 5 stars

I usually like historical fiction, but I just could not get into this!

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Mar 03, 2013 Care marked it as to-read

Shelves: historical-fiction

(Because Jenny says this is the best!)

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Nov 14, 2012 Paolo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars

One of Mary Renaults best books. Read it.

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About Mary Renault

Mary Renault
AKA Eileen Mary Challans

Born: 4-Sep-1905
Birthplace: London, England
Died: 13-Dec-1983
Location of death: Cape Town, South Africa

Father: Frank Challans (physician)
Mother: Clementine Newsome Baxter
Sister: Joyce
Girlfriend: Julie Mullard (life-long companion)

High School: Clifton Girls School, Bristol, England
University: BA, St. Hugh's College, Oxford University (1928)
Medical School: Radcl...more

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Books by Mary Renault

The Persian Boy (Alexander the Great, #2)

Fire from Heaven (Alexander the Great, #1)

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