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232nd out of 2,624 books
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The King Must Die (Theseus #1)
by
Mary Renault
The story of the mythical hero Theseus, slayer of monsters, abductor of princesses and king of Athens. He emerges from these pages as a clearly defined personality; brave, aggressive and quick. The core of the story is Theseus' Cretan adventure.
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
February 12th 1988
by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
(first published 1958)
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This is the edition I have now and also the edition I read in prep school(not the same book). I used to keep all the textbooks I couldn't recyle through the book store but now all of them are gone with the wind. This printing was from a couple of years later(1966). I actually found two of them at the local transfer station within a month of each other. The first one had a missing cover. To find the intact one was a gift from the past. I enjoyed reading what a real history of Theseus might have ...more
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Sath
rated it
Recommends it for:
People who enjoy older sword and sorcery fantasy and historical-fiction
Mary Renault takes the Greek Legend of Theseus and the Minotaur; combines it with real architectural findings; adds in her own literary skill.. and makes it bigger and better in the telling.
My own telling of the Theseus legend would mostl likely cover half a page. Renault has made it a 350 page adventure that is half historical-fiction and half swords and sorcery fantasy.
The style of thing reminds me a fair bit of Michael Moorcock's Elric series. It's not the ending tha...more
My own telling of the Theseus legend would mostl likely cover half a page. Renault has made it a 350 page adventure that is half historical-fiction and half swords and sorcery fantasy.
The style of thing reminds me a fair bit of Michael Moorcock's Elric series. It's not the ending tha...more
Well it was about time! I've known about this book and its sequel, The Bull From the Sea, since I was in high school. I recently read the Percy Jackson series, and wanted more Greek mythology, so I finally read The King Must Die. While reading it, I kept wondering what took me so long. Well, these things happen.
Just in case you don't already know, these novels are about what may have been the actual Theseus in ancient Athens. They depict events that would have later inspired the leg...more
Just in case you don't already know, these novels are about what may have been the actual Theseus in ancient Athens. They depict events that would have later inspired the leg...more
The King Must Die is the tale of Theseus told as if it were realistic, historical fiction. It is a retelling of the classic myth about Theseus’ adventures and most notably, his fight with the Minotaur on the island of Crete. However, the author introduces more plausible accounts for the instances throughout the myth. I really enjoyed how the author tells this story, but maybe that was because of my bias and soft-spot for all historical fiction. However, I did enjoy the idea of creating plausibl...more
I've picked this up now and again over the years, but never read the whole thing. I have this precious Pocket Books paperback edition, I'm guessing circa 1960 - sadly it's very fragile and crumbly and it took quite a beating being carried around in my purse before I realized it. The blurb on the back reads as follows:
Brave, aggressive, tough, proud, and highly sexed, Theseus faces danger after danger and overcomes them all.
His adventures will take you into a world of prim...more
Brave, aggressive, tough, proud, and highly sexed, Theseus faces danger after danger and overcomes them all.
His adventures will take you into a world of prim...more
Harmonybites
rated it
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Harmonybites by:
Assigned in High School
This book was assigned to me in high school, and after that I quickly read every historical novel by Renault I could get a hold of. It's certainly one of the books responsible for making me interested in both history and historical fiction.
Along with Robert Graves, Mary Renault is my gold standard in historical fiction--but especially Renault. I think because more than any other author, she gave me the sense that the people in other times, though complex and human, aren't simply moder...more
Along with Robert Graves, Mary Renault is my gold standard in historical fiction--but especially Renault. I think because more than any other author, she gave me the sense that the people in other times, though complex and human, aren't simply moder...more
This is a dip into my parents' library -- Mary Renault was popular back in the 1950s, and this retelling of the Theseus legend inspired my stepfather, the sculptor Harvey Fite, to create his epic carving, "The Bull Dancer."
The story is a retelling of the Theseus legend, with a mastery of the storyteller's art, and an evocative sense of time and place. Renault's Theseus believes in the gods, but Renault herself never strays from natural phenomena, so one of the joys o...more
The story is a retelling of the Theseus legend, with a mastery of the storyteller's art, and an evocative sense of time and place. Renault's Theseus believes in the gods, but Renault herself never strays from natural phenomena, so one of the joys o...more
Isis
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Isis by:
No one
Perhaps my most major criticism of the entire book is that it does get off to a bit of a slow start. Renault's attention to details and wonderfully sophisticated use of language are usually a big treat, but we are thrown right into the thick of it straight from the off and what's going on is left to the reader to figure out. As a result some readers may feel for the first couple of chapters that the conjunction of confusing situation, complex language and lack of initial events or action renders...more
I really dug this book! I checked it out only because we were headed to Crete for vacation and the book is set in Crete; I like to read books set in the location I am vacationing in.
The author retells the myth of Theseus, who went to the Labyrinth to kill the half-man, half-bull Minotaur. But instead of simply sharing the myth in all its abrupt plot turns and outlandish character motives, she retells the story in such a way as to make it much more realistic. As a reader, you ca...more
The author retells the myth of Theseus, who went to the Labyrinth to kill the half-man, half-bull Minotaur. But instead of simply sharing the myth in all its abrupt plot turns and outlandish character motives, she retells the story in such a way as to make it much more realistic. As a reader, you ca...more
I must be getting older. I was able to ingest the imagined Bronze Age dialogue, channeled through an early Twentieth Century British author. And, I understood theplot all the way through the build up to the climax of the story. But, I got lost in the denouement in the Naxos section of the story. What had Ariadne been doing where she was so exhausted and bloodied? Was she engaging in the same type of free love as Theseus, but rougher? Perhaps I need to stop reading just before I sleep, so t...more
I'm very reluctant to give anything five stars and while this one doesn't quite get there I thought about it....
The King Must Die is a retelling of the Greek myths about Theseus (most famous for slaying the Minotaur of Crete) but it tells it with the idea of what if it was real. It asks what if the monsters of the myths weren't monsters at all but other events that could happen that through time and telling were twisted into the myths we know today. With that question in mind Mary ...more
The King Must Die is a retelling of the Greek myths about Theseus (most famous for slaying the Minotaur of Crete) but it tells it with the idea of what if it was real. It asks what if the monsters of the myths weren't monsters at all but other events that could happen that through time and telling were twisted into the myths we know today. With that question in mind Mary ...more
I have finished the entire book and I thought it was really quite interesting and good. In the ending Theseus after being warned by Poseidon that a huge earthquake was coming,he got the bull-dancers armed and ready to charge out. In the process only one-bull dancer was killed and Theseus was able to kill the dreaded Minotaur.He was able to escape off of Crete safe and sound with Ariadne (his future wife). When he stops at an island the god Dionysus demands Ariadne so he leaves her there with an ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This is a historical novel based on Theseus a Greek prince who has two fathers, one Poisiden and the other the king of Athens. He grows up unaware of his lineage and when he grows old enough and wise enough, while still a teen ager, to remove a rock and retrieve a sword, his mother sends him off to Athens to meet his father and his fate which includes along the way on the coast road a place where the woman rule and a king lives one year before being slain. Hence the king must die. He survive...more
The King Must Die is an historical novel by Mary Renault that traces the early life and adventures of Theseus, a hero in Greek mythology. Naturally, it is set in Ancient Greece. Rather than retelling the myth, Renault constructs an archaeologically plausible story that might have developed into the myth. She captures the essentials while removing the more fantastical elements, such as monsters and the appearances of gods. The King Must Die was lauded by critics, with New York Times reviewer Orvi...more
There seemed to be a major violation of the basic rules of writing. "Deus ex machina" is arguable at the end. But then again, maybe that was her intent. It is about ancient Greece. I think I would have enjoyed this novel more if the editing had been more contemporary. It was published in 1962, so there is no excuse for the way it is put together. Often I would find myself lost as to who was speaking. Also, there is little to no foreshadowing of events and sometimes there seems to be no...more
It has been many years since I enjoyed Mary Stewart’s Arthurian trilogy, but The King Must Die reminded me of it. Mary Renault takes the myth of Theseus and makes it plausible; a would-be realistic telling of what might have happened to give life to the legend. Actually, the parallels go a bit further in this case. According to the myth, Theseus doesn’t know his true parentage until he successfully removes his father’s sword from under a stone; sound familiar? In any case, a little misogyny asid...more
While The King Must Die is perhaps a bit dated in style, it's still an interesting read. And I'm sure was pretty shocking in it's day with it's rather frank homosexual references, though there is nothing even remotely graphic about it, it was simply part of life back then without issue. Mary Renault brings ancient Greece to vivid life. This book is the first time I got a sense that the ancients gods were real. I don't mean that Zeus et al are actual characters meddling in the lives of mortal...more
The story of the Greek hero Theseus' early days. I'm always fond of stories like this that try to tell mythological stories in human terms, and Renault is an excellent storyteller. It's a good read--marred a bit by Theseus' misogyny, which is of course a product of its times and a fair portrayal, but grated me a bit sometimes. (ETA: I didn't know when I wrote this that it was only the first book about Theseus. In the context of the later books, it becomes clearer that his relationship with ...more
THESEUS is the PERFECT role model for men. He may be prominiscous, but hey, that´s what Greeks were in those times, right? He´s debonair, sleek, sexy, smart, and passionate. I´d like him for my husband.:) Wouldn´t you? Without the magic bliss of the myth, Renault takes you through the Greek isles and into King MInos´ ( a man who wore a bull mask, to be feared and respected, yet cowardly on the inside) palace, where a ritual of bull fighting takes place every year. Will Theseus be able to get the...more
Gerry Burnie
rated it
Gerry B's Book Reviews - http://gerrycan.wordpress.com
The name Mary Renault is almost iconic in my past, for her Nature of Alexander (1975) was the first book that dealt with homosexuality I had ever found, and as such it was like finding the Holy Grail. This was quickly followed by Fire From Heaven (1969) and The Persian Boy (1972), and just about anything I could get my hands on that had Mary Renault’s name on it.
The King Must Die [Vintage, 1988 (originally published by Pa...more
The name Mary Renault is almost iconic in my past, for her Nature of Alexander (1975) was the first book that dealt with homosexuality I had ever found, and as such it was like finding the Holy Grail. This was quickly followed by Fire From Heaven (1969) and The Persian Boy (1972), and just about anything I could get my hands on that had Mary Renault’s name on it.
The King Must Die [Vintage, 1988 (originally published by Pa...more
I had heard good things about Mary Renault, but this book really blew me away. The story of Theseus, his travels, and the Minotaur are familiar stories from Greek Mythology. Renault, however, reconstructs the culture of the Mycenaean civilization and brings the story to life in a way that is historically believable, while creating characters that go far deeper than their mythological counterparts. Renault really gets the interaction between the native earth-goddess-worshiping peoples and th...more
Jessica
rated it
Recommends it for:
Nobody, least of all unthinkingly sexist men
Recommended to Jessica by:
someone who made a mistake
Shelves:
never-read-again
I was dismayed by the attitudes that Renault reveals in this book. Though the writing is terse, the descriptions are evocative, Theseus comes to life and Renault was clearly a talented writer, I feel that I would be a hypocrite if I gave it more than this rating, because I found the attitudes towards women propogated in it so ugly.
Don't get me wrong - I came to it after glowing reviews expecting Theseus, as a patriarchal Ancient Greek King, to have a dismissive attitude towards women, to s...more
Don't get me wrong - I came to it after glowing reviews expecting Theseus, as a patriarchal Ancient Greek King, to have a dismissive attitude towards women, to s...more
I hoped to enjoy Mary Renault's work a lot. I'm not a classicist so much now, but I'm still interested, and a plausible retelling that tries to put a bit of history into fantastical myth is usually worth a look, in my view. And this was, in some ways: realistic up to a point, detailed, exciting at times...
I just really didn't like Theseus, the narrator and central character. I thought he was smug, and it rankled, especially when he was smug about breaking women's power. There are a few...more
I just really didn't like Theseus, the narrator and central character. I thought he was smug, and it rankled, especially when he was smug about breaking women's power. There are a few...more
Chris and Yuri
rated it
Recommends it for:
People who like Greek mythology
Recommended to Chris and Yuri by:
Alex Takasugi
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
From Wikipedia:
Theseus (Greek: Θησεύς) was the mythical founder-king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, both of whom Aethra lay with in one night. Theseus was a founder-hero, like Perseus, Cadmus or Heracles, all of whom battled and overcame foes that were identified with an archaic religious and social order.[1] As Heracles was the Dorian hero, Theseus was the Ionian founding hero, considered by Athenians as their own great reformer. His name comes from ...more
Theseus (Greek: Θησεύς) was the mythical founder-king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, both of whom Aethra lay with in one night. Theseus was a founder-hero, like Perseus, Cadmus or Heracles, all of whom battled and overcame foes that were identified with an archaic religious and social order.[1] As Heracles was the Dorian hero, Theseus was the Ionian founding hero, considered by Athenians as their own great reformer. His name comes from ...more
If you like adventure, and if you like learning about ancient civilizations, you'll love The King Must Die by Mary Renault. It took me a while to finish this book because my husband stole it off my nightstand. Whenever I ask him if he liked a book he read he says, "It was all right." When I asked him how he felt about this book he raved on for 10 minutes. I was stunned. Now I understand his enthusiasm. I'm going to check out Mary Renault's other books to see what else she's written. Th...more
The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur is well known. In this retelling, the author dispenses with the gods and the monsters and offers instead, a plausible account of what might have been the actual events that gave rise to the myth.
Minotaur is simply the title for the crown prince of Crete, while Minos is the title for the king, much like Pharoah is the title of the king of Egypt. The children taken as tribute are trained in the art of bull leaping, which is depicted as a semi-reli...more
Minotaur is simply the title for the crown prince of Crete, while Minos is the title for the king, much like Pharoah is the title of the king of Egypt. The children taken as tribute are trained in the art of bull leaping, which is depicted as a semi-reli...more
I read this book, because it was an influence for "The Hunger Games". Even though it took me a while to get into this book, I ended up liking it better than "The Hunger Games", and saw a lot of parallels between the two books. But I would only expect this book to appeal to more dedicated teen readers, since the language is less accessible to teens and it takes a while to see where the story is going. (Even though the main character is in his late teens, the book was written f...more
The King Must Die is the tale of Theseus told as if it were realistic, historical fiction (even tempting to classify it as such). I knew virtually nothing about Theseus other than he killed the Minotaur (which I gleaned from the back cover), and there was somehow a ball of twine involved. After reading up on the myth, I was impressed by the faithfulness despite the 'realism'. In general, I like the idea of creating plausible events that could have mutated into myth, and it was well done here....more
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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, Eng...more
More about 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, Eng...more
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“A man is at his youngest when he thinks he is a man, not yet realizing that his actions must show it.”
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