The King Must Die

De: Mary Renault

Narrado por: Kris Dyer

The epic of Thesus, the boy king of Eleusis, ritually preordained to die after one year of marriage to the sacred queen but who defies God's decree and claims his inheritance - the throne of Athens. This re-creation of a Greek myth is written by the author of The Last of the Wine.

©1958 Mary Renault (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

Reseñas de la Crítica

"One of the truly fine historical novels of modern times. Not since Robert Graves's I, Claudius has there been such an exciting living image of the Ancient World on this grand scale." ( New York Times)
"Takes the raw material of myth and makes it credible - I am spellbound by Miss Renault's art." ( Observer)
"Vivid and convincing...it brims with feeling." ( Sunday Times)

Ancient Greece Brought to Life

Just as wonderful, magical and entertaining as when I first read this 65 years ago.

Astonishingly Good!

This is the first book I’ve listened to by Mary Renault and I’m utterly amazed! I joined Audible to listen to the current offer by Margaret George and was very disappointed by a writer I’ve loved for years. So glad I did listen to Ms George because it led me to Ms Renault. Incredible writing and the narration is flawless! I absolutely couldn’t put it down.

one of my favorite books,

I love mary renaults writing, she makes mythology seem real and keeps the mystery intact at the same time. this Audible selection is well- performed.

returning home

it's a pleasure to know what I enjoyed reading at 16 sounds just as good listening at 80. if you haven't met Mary Renault see that you do because she is still beautiful Rider. we have Homer only in memory she will do as a substitute a little more could he said in appreciation

Terrible narration

I just couldn’t handle this story. In addition to the serious internalized misogyny the author is dealing with, the story is just choppy and dull— how do you make green mythology *dull*?? Even worse, the narrator has such a weird & pausing delivery. Even speeding it up to 1.3 speed didn’t help. I didn’t even finish the third chapter.

Luxuriously written

This is so good, so well crafted, a real pleasure. I think I might have liked the reader's performance slightly more than the book itself.

Sections tied together to make a whole life

(As posted in GoodReads)
I had actually read this book years ago, but I really only remembered snapshots from it, so as I listened this time, at first I thought that it was the wrong book. I did not remember the actual connections between the various snapshots that I had. Hearing the whole book together and being able to re-place the remembered scenes in order and importance was very enlightening. I remember having really enjoyed the book, but the only part that left a lasting impression on me was the very end.
I find the representation of the religions and vast relevance thereof to the characters far more powerful that I observe Christianity or Islam, or even Judaism in the current modern lives. Our current knowledge of nature and the scientific basis really doesn't leave appropriate room for the mythology of current religion, but that ancient religion was mythology was highly appropriate. As an atheist, I can appreciate the good done by belief in gods in ancient Roman times despite the fact that our knowledge now leaves only room for imagination.
This book traces the whole life of a king with five (I think) separate stages, each of them unique and complete, although they all complement each other. And the main character executes SOME horrendous activities, but they are all consistent with his beliefs and personality.

Astounding

Any additional comments?

This is the rare book that functions as a great story regardless of how much of the background material you are familiar with. As a retelling of a classic myth, it reads as a coming-of-age story set in antiquity. But, the more familiar one is with the source material, the more astounding the book becomes. There is a ton of historical referencing done, but the genius of it is that it doesn't stand out from the story, it only serves it. The more you know about the mystery cults of Hellenic and pre-Hellenic Greece, the more fascinating the story goes. A little background reading on the Eleusinian and Bacchic/Dionysus mystery cults, as well as the Minoan culture and Palatial periods and even the volcanic eruption on Thera/Kalliste ca 1500BCE open up an entirely different perspective on Renault's talent. For me, this is the finest historical novel I've read. Kris Dyer's narration here is spot-on as well.

Finally! An unabridged old favorite

I've loved this book since I first read it 25 years ago as assigned reading for a university course. Mary Renault makes the story of Theseus so plausible. I thoroughly enjoyed the unabridged audio version.

Archeological Fiction

Enjoy this archeologically based fictional account of Theseus's adventures. Renault has done a great job crafting a plausible history from the myths.