Meet Mary Renault

[close] “You literally want more— the second you finished one, you want to move on to the next, and that’s something that’s shared by extremely successful books today such as Game of Thrones,” says literary agent, Gordon Wise on Mary Renault. “So I don’t think the fact that these books were written 50-60 years ago changes that at all. She’s taking us into this world that anyone should discover.”

Renault, a celebrated English writer, is best known for her historical novels on the life of Alexander the Great: Fire From Heaven, The Persian Boy, and Funeral Games. Her in-depth depictions of Greece led many readers to believe she had spent a great deal of time there— but during her lifetime, she actually only visited the Aegean twice.

Watch as scholars, members of the BBC, and friends discuss the incredible details and lasting impact of Renault's works.