The King Must Die: A Novel

by Mary Renault

book data

628 ratings, 3.97 average rating, 57 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		30%
4		43%
3		19%
2		4%
1		1%

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published

February 12th 1988 (first published 1958) by Vintage

binding

Paperback, 352 pages

url

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_renaul...

characters

Theseus

isbn

0394751043 (isbn13: 9780394751047)

description

The story of the mythical hero Theseus, slayer of monsters, abductor of princesses & king of Athens. He emerges from these pages as a clearly defined ...more

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07/08/08

Chris and Yuri rated it:

Read in June, 2008

recommended to Chris and Yuri by: Alex Takasugi
recommends it for: People who like Greek mythology

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

I've been thinking a lot about myths lately, partly because I'm going to become a father in October, and myths were one of the things my parents used to read and recite to me when I was a child.

Greek myths are my favorites: Perseus, Jason and the Argonauts, Theseus and the Minotaur. They have a deeper and more ancient connection for me than even Mother Goose or the Bible.

Time and again I've read and re-read them, in different versions and translations. But after Yuri and ...more I've been thinking a lot about myths lately, partly because I'm going to become a father in October, and myths were one of the things my parents used to read and recite to me when I was a child.

Greek myths are my favorites: Perseus, Jason and the Argonauts, Theseus and the Minotaur. They have a deeper and more ancient connection for me than even Mother Goose or the Bible.

Time and again I've read and re-read them, in different versions and translations. But after Yuri and I went to Athens, Santorini, and Crete for our honeymoon, I felt that wide-eyed wonder all over again.

After we got back, Alex recommended that I read The King Must Die, a retelling of the myth of Theseus, the Labyrinth, and the Minotaur. I found it slow-going at first, with Renault sometimes being too florid with her prose or too frustratingly elliptical. But once Theseus gets to Crete, the tale becomes something else, something which is somehow both new and more true than the original myth.

What do I mean by that? Well, in Crete, Yuri and I visited the Palace of Knossos, which is a 4000-year old archaeological treasure: this is the place where King Minos actually lived. Evidence of bull worship abounds in the ruins, from bull-shaped masks for kings to bull-shaped earrings and trinkets, and horn-shapes on the palace walls.

Murals and frescoes have also been found which show the ancient Minoans girls and boys bull-dancing.

In addition to the Minoan's fantastic works of art, the ruins of Knossos also attest to a breathtakingly sophisticated civilization: the palace had running water, flushing toilets, buildings with multiple floors, and even dentistry.

There is also ample evidence to show that the palace was destroyed 4000 years ago, perhaps by a tsunami, which could've resulted from the eruption of a volcano. Santorini, the other island we visited, is a caldera, a crater-lake of an island also formed about 4000 years ago when its volcano erupted.

Renault takes all of this relatively new archaeological evidence and speculates on what the original Theseus story may have been. She guesses, for example, that rather than fight a Minotaur who is half bull, half man, Theseus instead was forced to be a kind of gladiator-toreador in the Minoans' violent bull dances. She also uses the eruption of Santorini to stand for the wrath of the God Poseidon: the tsunami that results from the eruption wipes out the palace and its decadent aristocrats, setting Theseus free.

To capture the voice of the ancient world, Renault does her best Homer impression: she uses long, complex metaphors, some of them veering off into tangents and tales of their own. Some of this language might feel overwritten to modern readers, but it captures, for me at least, the flavor of Homer, whose style is oral and sung.

I'd call this book a fascinating read. But to get the most out of it, I'd recommend flipping through some pages on the ancient Minoans, the Palace of Knossos, and maybe reading or re-reading The Odyssey.(less)

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02/25/08

Linda added it

bookshelves: historicals

Read in June, 2008

recommended to Linda by: Reb
recommends it for: History fans

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

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08/20/07

bkwurm rated it:

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

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02/09/09

Mary Frances rated it:

Read in February, 2009

First read this book when in high school. Enjoyed revisiting it for book club and still have a very favorable opinion of it, though I would have given it five stars all those years ago. I still think Renault does a great job evoking a realistic and plausible world where the gods are real and fate is a controlling factor.

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12/02/08

Missy rated it:

This book is the first of the Bull From the Sea two book pairing. It is the first part of Theseus's life. It is amazing how the Minotaur is presented and depicted as well as how the Labyrinth is explained. This is a sexually graphic book (as much as Renault lets it be), so be prepared.

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04/05/09

Jason rated it:

Read in April, 2009

First-person tale from Theseus' perspective. Really good historical novel. It contains a plausible story of the origins of the Minotaur myth. Excellent insight into Ancient Greek societies.

It's particularly fun to read about his descriptions of places I've actually been!

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07/26/07

Michelle rated it:

(review of isbn 0553128671)

Read in August, 2007

Mary Renault had a gift for plucking out a figure from the larger-than-life tales of antiquity and giving them a very real and personal voice. in this particular instance, she's unearthed a plausibly realistic tale to account for the fable of theseus & the minotaur of crete. his story reads like a first-person memoir, traveling from one marvelously detailed royal court to the next. Renault's obvious care of and research into her subject matter never weighs down the book, but provides a fantas...more

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06/15/09

Cassandra Caterson rated it:

Read in June, 2009

I really couldn't get into this book. Maybe it's just that I'm not at the right time in my life. I love Greek mythology and I totally support Mary Renault. I just couldn't get past the first 50 pages or so.

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04/14/09

Carolyn rated it:

Read in January, 1980

This would be in my top ten favourite novels and that's saying a lot. Fabulous exciting moving adventure story based on the myth of Theseus. Mary Renault's books are all worth a go but this is one of her best.

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11/25/08

tracey rated it:

Very good historical fiction about ancient Greece. Read it 20+ yrs ago in college and just read it again and I'm glad I did. Recommended to those looking for something different.

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06/15/09

Jenni rated it:

(review of isbn 0394431952)

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Read in June, 2009

Always a delight to read Mary Renault's books, and this is one of my favourites. Theseus is such a strong and compelling character, as done by Renault; and his world likewise.

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04/12/09

Ann rated it:

Read in April, 2009

There's a summary of the myths regarding Theseus at the end of this book. I really wish I had read it before jumping in to the story--I kept trying to remember back to my Intro to Mythology class. The book starts slowly, but it does get more interesting.

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1 comment

06/27/09

Rebecca rated it:

Read in December, 2006

Theseus. The more you know about the Greek myths, the more you get it. I don't know a lot, but I learned.

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05/24/09

Charles rated it:

bookshelves: historical-fiction

I remember this one well, and with considerable fondness, even though it's been a long time since I read it.

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12/27/08

Journeywoman rated it:

Read in August, 2008

Story of Theseus. Author is meticulous in detail. Fascinating glimpse into ancient culture.

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06/20/09

Craig Coleman rated it:

In my opinion, she was the greatest of historical novelists, and this is her masterpiece.

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06/30/07

Beth (moonivy) rated it:

Read in April, 2007

recommends it for: historical fiction readers.

Read 4/19-4/22/07
The King Must Die is the first book in Renault's duology about the mythical Greek hero Theseus. Renault stunningly brings to life this proud, complicated character and the "feel" of Bronze Age Greece. Theseus's adventures in the Eleusis kingdom and the Cretan Bull Court are beautifully drawn, vivid and compelling. This book propelled me to spend hours researching ancient Greece
on the Net, my highest compliment to a work of historical fiction - that it made ...more

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06/08/09

Lexi rated it:

bookshelves: 15pts, summer-challenge

Read in June, 2009

15pt (2 of 2 books necessary to complete)
#10 Initial Thoughts - Read 2 Books Where the First Letter of the First Word In The Titles Matches Your Initials.

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1 comment

02/23/08

Kristine Hankins rated it:

This historical novel weaves an engaging and epic tale centered in Greek mythology. The book follows the young adult development and adventures of Theseus, including a wonderful section on bull dancing in the Palace of Knossos. My husband suggested this book before we went to Greece (including Knossos) and it really whet my appetite for the trip. However, I would recommend it to almost anyone. For me, the mark of a good book is that I'm disappointed it ends. This book cleared that hurdle easily ...more

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12/27/08

Pipgargery added it (review of isbn 0553207067)

Kings Must Die by Mary Renault (1981)

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