[LPO]≡ Descargar Gratis The Last of the Wine Mary Renault 9780375726811 Books

The Last of the Wine Mary Renault 9780375726811 Books

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The Last of the Wine Mary Renault 9780375726811 Books

All of Mary Renault's books are stunningly well-researched historical novels. Unlike most of the dreck passing for historical fiction written more recently, they also feature brilliant characterization that actually re-creates the feel of a person from that period, not a modern sensibility in period dress. Sex is present, but in proportion to the other spiritual and social values and interests of the characters and period. There is no political, social, or any other kind of agenda rather than to experience what the consciousness of people from a very different world would have been like. This book is perhaps the most brilliant at recreating a particular character, though the period is sufficiently depressing and confusing that it's not quite as absorbing as, say, the Greek theater and Platonic philosophers of the Golden Age presented in The Mask of Apollo.


Tags : The Last of the Wine [Mary Renault] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In <b>The Last of the Wine</b>, two young Athenians, Alexias and Lysis, compete in the palaestra, journey to the Olympic games,Mary Renault,The Last of the Wine,Vintage,0375726810,Historical - General,Greece - History - Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C,Greece;History;Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C.;Fiction.,Historical fiction,Male friendship,Male friendship;Fiction.,Young men,Young men;Fiction.,0-323,FICTION Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology,FICTION Historical General,FICTION Literary,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction-Coming of Age,Fiction-Romance,GENERAL,General Adult,Great BritainBritish Isles,Greece,History,Modern fiction,RENAULT, MARY - PROSE & CRITICISM,historical;mythology;alternate history;literary fiction;historical fiction books;historical fiction novels;folklore;fairy tales;fairy tale;folktales;historical fiction;fiction;novels;fiction books;historical novels;literature;folk tales;books fiction;realistic fiction books;books historical fiction;fairytale;rome;fantasy;ancient rome;medieval;adventure;ancient greece;ancient egypt;england;troy;classic;middle ages;christianity;crusades;knights templar;roman empire;war;plague;ancient history;saga,historical fiction; historical; ancient greece; war; literary fiction; adventure; saga; medieval; ancient egypt; historical fiction books; drama; ancient rome; middle ages; mythology; historical fiction novels; fairy tales; fairy tale; fiction; fiction books; literature; fairytale; rome; classic; england; troy; knights templar; christianity; crusades; plague; alternate history; roman empire; ancient history; english literature; ancient; boudica; roman; mystery; epic; vikings; british literature; historical fantasy; historical books,History,Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C,Renault, Mary - Prose & Criticism,Fiction,Modern fiction

The Last of the Wine Mary Renault 9780375726811 Books Reviews

Mary Renault's historical novel set in ancient Greece at the time of Socrates, "The Last of the Wine" - I read this book many years ago - a real Mary Renault fan (he book, "The Charioteer" set in war time London, my favorite). It was good to "return" to "The Last of the Wine" - Renault really makes history come alive with interesting stories - many things in this book about two men who fall in love and take part together in their society - in war, in contemplating philosophical matters - always honoring one another . . . That's a rather meager, inadequate description - the novel is so much more, One thing is sure, after reading, you'll know a great deal more about those times. A good read.
This was a vivid tale of ancient, tumultuous Greece, in its most heroic but troubled time—told through the all-seeing eyes of a young man both student of Socrates and an Athenian citizen soldier.
It helped me put in place the many disparate events and legendary figures of that famed time.
However, author Mary Renault quite often described the protagonist’s feelings in terms (that may well have been in ancient philosophical terms I didn’t know—a problem I never noticed in Renault’s The King Must Die concerning not a philosopher but Theseus); sometimes in Last of the Wine I was confused about what point Renault was trying to make.
Nonetheless, I really appreciate having read this book—one essentially enlightening and wonderful.
There is so much in this book, more to begin touching on in a review. I was moved how Renault portrayed Lysis' loyalty to Alexias, and the ways he showed the depth of his love. SPOILER. I understand the publisher wouldn't allow the story to describe how Lysis made love to Alexias but I noted three points in the story where Renault let us know it happened. Simply beautiful, especially when Alexias had cut his foot while they swam in the sea. In the end my take on the grandson's epilogue was code for the story being censored. What we may have missed is certainly tragic, yet what is left is so outstanding. Perhaps more importantly, Renault offered great philosophies and lessons learned by these characters, lessons from antiquity that continue to apply in our modern times. I'll read it again, when I'm ready.
A stunning novel, a work of art. A rare novel where one travels with the character learning not only of ancient Greece, its rituals, customs, way of life among others , but also questioning human existence, morality, honor, all through the eyes of the protagonist Alexias.
It took me a long time to read because I needed to live the book so to speak, and, I was so sad when I finished it, wishing it had been a series.
Also to mention is the relationship of Alexias and Lysis, she writes the character’s relationship beautifully, showing them as they are two people in love, having quarrels, missing each other, growing together. I truly enjoyed seeing their love blossom page after page and it brings the love between two men to the front. I can understand why this novel had such a huge impact on the gay community when it came out, and how consistent Mary is with her values on relationships be it same-sex or not love and honor first, then sex- which is not to say sex is bad, just that between the love of two people there should be a higher ideal.
Of course another point to bring out is how well researched the novel is, reading her Bio, one can see the amount of time and effort spent to do this correctly and she did succeed, bringing to life the everyday life of an ancient Athenian from then trivial things such as house chores, to being in the colonnade, the perfume shop, the drinking parties and the supper couches, posing for a sculptor, taking part in the Games.
Her debate on the nature of democracy, honor, and tyranny is quite impressive, especially since she wrote it when it was a hard time in South Africa where she had emigrated. Even today these questions on morality and handling of politics ring true.
Mary Renault did it again with this book, bringing Ancient Greece and its history to life with the realistic portrayals of Alcibiades, and Socrates, recreating what would have been like to have been part of his circle; to sit by him and debate from basic everyday questions to that of human existence.
All of Mary Renault's books are stunningly well-researched historical novels. Unlike most of the dreck passing for historical fiction written more recently, they also feature brilliant characterization that actually re-creates the feel of a person from that period, not a modern sensibility in period dress. Sex is present, but in proportion to the other spiritual and social values and interests of the characters and period. There is no political, social, or any other kind of agenda rather than to experience what the consciousness of people from a very different world would have been like. This book is perhaps the most brilliant at recreating a particular character, though the period is sufficiently depressing and confusing that it's not quite as absorbing as, say, the Greek theater and Platonic philosophers of the Golden Age presented in The Mask of Apollo.