The Bull from the Sea (Vintage) [Paperback]

The bare bones of the story are well-known, but Mary Renault fleshes them out which such consummate skill that the reader is right THERE with Theseus in the landscape of ancient Greece. There is no doubt that Theseus is a real man, with real problems, real happinesses, and a real LIFE! This story runs from his escape from the fall of Crete and the bull-ring of the Labyrinth to his death - an older, wiser and disillusioned man, but still one who had the courage to master his own fate.

These books should be required reading for students of English literature. Mary Renault's writing never slips. Despite some of the very dramatic, even sentimental, events in the story, her prose never becomes purple - but be warned, you may need your hanky at some points.

Absolutely superb - buy buy buy! Read read read!!!!

Mary Renault has managed, quite uniquely, to turn an ancient legend into a living, historically acceptible and real set of characters. Her artistry is defined in her writing - Theseus, the King, is an ordinary man (with an extraordinary fate thrust upon him) who quickly becomes a close and dear friend. The reader identifies with the character and accepts the deeply researched period of ancient Mycenaean Greek history as though it occurred yesterday - to a friend.

No bookshelf can be complete without at least some of Mary Renault's works and The Theseus saga is a truly definitive place to start!

Instead, I would describe what is done in this book as literary restoration. Ms. Renault has taken well-known stories about a famous Greek character and made them more accessible to the modern reader. By staying within what is known about the character, that limits an author's ability to create a modern novel. For example, if Theseus was idle for many years (as he was on occasion), Ms. Renault is stuck with that as part of her story. By contrast, a historical novelist could simply invent interesting things for such a flat period, and not have to worry about dealing with any story limits other than general credibility.

Mary Renault has done an outstanding job of fleshing out the life of Theseus from the time he returned from Crete after escaping from the Labyrinth and became King of Athens until his death. We especially learn a lot about what kind of thoughts drove him as he united the Greeks, established law and order, and reformed religion.

The ancient Greeks always seemed larger than life to me as a child. They were playing on a cosmic scale, with gods and goddesses lurking behind every bush. Often with little room to maneuver, they suffered from complications of the gods' preoccupations with their own quarrels. The fate of civilization always seemed to be in the balance.

Yet these people did not seem real, despite their appeal. The story telling style of epics and plays leaves much to be desired for helping the modern reader understand the figures as people. Ms. Renault has done a skillful job of working within the outlines of those ancient tales and creating an understandable modern story out of them. For the first time, Theseus came alive for me in this book.

There is a lot of interesting material to work with in this part of Theseus' life. He finds the love of his life (Hippolyta), marries another woman (Phaedra) to secure his alliance with Crete, and fathers two sons (Hipplytos and Akamas) who could potentially vie to succeed him. Anyone who has ever lived in a step-family will soon recognize the potential for complications.

Theseus also liked to rove, and was often off acting the pirate. These tales make good adventure stories.

He was a central religious figure, constantly balancing the older religion of the Earth Mother with the newer religion of the Sky Gods (like Apollo and Poseidon). There is also a split between women and men involved in this religious tension that makes for interesting reading.

Although the gods make no more than cameo appearances (usually through causing Theseus to hear the sound of the ocean or be sick, or by omens), nature is a major character. Earthquakes and storms play an important role as irresistible forces that provide boundaries for Greek life at the time.

If you are like me, the most valuable part of this book will be your increased understanding of leadership though considering Theseus' decisions and actions. Theseus has much talent for leadership, and is constantly striving to be a role model. He is as concerned about slaves as he is about barons, and his concern for public opinion rivals that of any modern politician in a democracy. Undoubtedly, there will eventually be a book on the management lessons of King Theseus.

After you finish reading this book, stop to reflect on how your example and actions can make a difference in creating more understanding, communication, and cooperation. Then, go set that example!

Enjoy a life of inspiring purpose!