The Persian Boy

A Novel of Alexander the Great

By: Mary Renault

Narrated by: Roger May

The Persian Boy traces the last years of Alexander's life through the eyes of his lover, Bagoas. Abducted and gelded as a boy, Bagoas is sold as a courtesan to King Darius of Persia, but finds freedom with Alexander the Great after the Macedon army conquers his homeland.

Their relationship sustains Alexander as he weathers assassination plots, the demands of two foreign wives, a sometimes mutinous army, and his own ferocious temper. After Alexander's mysterious death, we are left wondering if this Persian boy understood the great warrior and his ambitions better than anyone.

©1972 Mary Renault (P)2014 Audible Studios

Critic reviews

"Mary Renault's portraits of the ancient world are fierce, complex and eloquent, infused at every turn with her life-long passion for the Classics. Her characters live vividly both in their own time, and in ours." (Madeline Miller)

"All my sense of the ancient world - its values, its style, the scent of its wars and passions - comes from Mary Renault. I turned to writing historical fiction because of something I learned from Renault: that it lets you shake off the mental shackles of your own era, all the categories and labels, and write freely about what really matters to you." (Emma Donoghue)

An author and narrator at the top of their craft.

This book is stunning. I love historical fiction but this book takes the genre to the next level and then some. I found the world building truly incredible, rich, dense in the best possible way, and the character development something to behold. Alexander is such an exciting character and I found myself on wikipedia, almost as much as reading this book, to cross reference the historical facts with the stories and references in the book. I'm very interested in ancient Greece and this book brought me so many new and exciting stories and historical facts, simply mentioned in an offhand manner interwoven into the story, and they have inspired me to continue my reading and researching long after I'm done with this book. I discovered things like the Tyrannicides, wow-very cool. The amount of exciting events that happen in this book is astonishing and they will propel you at an alarming rate. I kept wanting to slow down to savor the book more but the story is rich with suspense and you will be desperate to see how events unfold, all the while keeping Bagoas and Alexander's emotional states in mind, as I said a stunning book.

The narrator is spectacular. He does the voice variations for all the characters in such a remarkably simple and effective way I'm sure he must considered to be at the top of his craft. He brought the pain and happiness to life perfectly and which such tenderness. I feel in love with Bagoas, the main character, within the first few chapters and his internal dialogue is so endearing and engaging I will truly miss his voice in my head.

I absolutely adored "The Song of Achilles" and while this is a very different book, and in some ways far superior, I was so excited to be back in a gay world in ancient Greece, which I have discover to be one of my favorite places to be. ;) I need to find some more and Ill next try Mary Renault's "The Last of the Wine."

I will add this book to my favorites "shelf" to be sure.

Absolutely captivating

One of my favorite audible books I could listen to it over and over. I felt like I was there. Beautifully written and the narrator was perfect.

Heartfelt Story on an Immense Scale

An excellent and interesting experience from start to finish. The Persian Boy's descriptions of people, places, and events are immaculate, shedding some light on some of the most important figures in history, as well as the epic journeys that shaped them. Our protagonist is not one of these men, he is a little known yet relatable and sympathetic character; who goes on his own journey, eventually influencing the events that would shape the world as we know it.

The performance by Roger May is fantastic and thoroughly engaging, as each character is given a voice of their own.

If you have any interest in Alexander and his empire, the lands and people he conquered, or the story of a loyal eunuch finding his true purpose, pick this book up.

Great story beautifully told

Alexander was a historical phenomenon but the story bring some to life in a way in which you never thought of. How is interpersonal relationships affect his decisions and the history around them the story is wonderfully narrated can't recommend it highly enough

Stick with it

This novel is really good. If you are a fan of this history I highly recommend this book

Still a beautiful story 30 years later!

I loved Mary Renault in high school so much I wanted to become an archeologist! 30 years later, listening on audible, she makes me wish I had kept with it! I did not think I could enjoy these books more as an adult, but I think they are even more precious now. If you enjoy ancient history, you should find a treasure trove with Mary Renault!

Excellent Continuation of Alexander’s Life

This e book is well read. I loved the character’s viewpoint. Now, for The Funeral Games.

Amazing tale of Alexander the great. <br />

A true love story! Full of vibrant description of every moment...seen through the eyes of a boy.
stole my heart!

Better than five

The story is excellent and the narrator positively brings it to life!
Anyone with an interest in history will love this book.

Power and love

A remarkable well researched story of power and unconditional love between two males of different status but equal in wisdom. One of the best recordings I have heard.