Fire From Heaven [Paperback]

This is the first novel of Renault's Alexander Trilogy (continued in The Persian Boy and Funeral Games) and in some ways is the most successful. We see Alexander grow from a 7-year old boy conscious of the tensions between his mother and father, through his education by Aristotle, early relationships, with a girl to prove his parents wrong about his sexuality, and with Hephaistion who remains his life-long soul-mate and friend, to his arrival on the Macedonian throne after the assassination of his father.

The emphasis is on how the experiences of the child form the man who becomes leader of the known world, but Renault is subtle and understated rather than thrusting moral lessons on us. She evokes the 4th century Macedonian world in all its cruelty and alien splendour and yet never leaves her readers behind: she is erudite without ever being earnest or overtly scholarly.

This is a elegiac novel, far removed from the trite and souless tales of Manfredi or the overtly modern and masculine take of Pressfield: beautifully written, haunted and haunting, it will stay with you for a long time.

This is the first in a trilogy of historical novels on Alexander the Great, whose phenomenal military and political achievements in the ancient world have fascinated students of history throughout the ages. How could he have created such an expansive empire before his very youthful death at the age of 33? Mary Renault's recreation of his life seems authentic, based both on the objective record, and what we know of human interactions. And her prose is lively and lucid.

"Fire from Heaven" covers Alexander's "coming of age,' and in his era, for certain individuals like him, it meant having to kill another human, which he did at the age of 12. To create the empire he did, he had to be what is called an "alpha type" today; a trait he inherited from his headstrong parents. His father was King Phillip of Macedonia. Renault portrays an equally strong mother who is worried about her son's apparent lack of enthusiasm in women. In one scene, she is goading him: "Soon your father will be making you a marriage. It is time you showed him it is a husband he has to offer, and not a wife." She is on her throne when she says this, he approaches, glaring, and looks down at her and says: "You will never say that to me again." Renault then goes on to describe the young girl of 15 who will have Alexander's virginity: "'I am here,' she said like a child repeating lessons, `because I have fallen in love with you. Please don't send me away.' He walked steadily across to her. The first shock had passed; one must not be seen to hesitate. This one was not liked the painted jeweled hetairas with their easy charm, the patina of much handling."

Renaud was a lesbian, who had a life-long partner in Julie Mullard. In 1948 they left what they considered to be the more restrictive social climate of England, and emigrated to what they considered was a more tolerate South Africa. Homosexuality in the Greek world is a strong theme in her novel, and although the actual historical record is not conclusive, she clearly implies a life-time homosexual relationship between Alexander and his youthful friend, Hephaistion. This novel was originally published in 1969, the same year that the Stonewall riots occurred in Greenwich Village. The Gay community embraced Renault; but she did not eagerly reciprocate, since she did not want to be known as simply a "gay writer."

But consider the following, which is a dialogue between Alexander and Hephaistion, in which the former quotes from a book of Plato's: "Love makes one ashamed of disgrace, and hungry for what is glorious...Suppose a state or an army could be made up only of lovers and beloved. How could any company hope for greater things than these, despising infamy and rivaling each other in honor? Even a few of them, fighting side by side, might well conquer the world." A reasonable quote to support the repeal of the subject line policy.

Other sections can also be used to support a policy opposed to having a professional army which fights foreign wars. Consider: "But it's the Thebans who will decide. You know their constitution. A moderate oligarchy they call it, but the franchise test is low; it takes in any man who can afford a hoplite panoply. There you have it. In Thebes, it's the electorate that fight in any war it votes for." Voting for a war, and then be compelled to fight in it! It is enough to make you hanker for "traditional Theban values."

Overall, Renault has produced a well-written insight into one of history's most remarkable individuals. 5-stars.

Fire from Heaven is an historical novel of Alexander the Great's life from his birth through the death of his father when Alexander was a young man. The focus of the book is on the development of the man's character and skills as a leader, displayed both in the context of his war experiences and his family.

One of the repeating themes in literature and biography is the difficulty that eldest sons have in succeeding in their fathers' eyes. Alexander the Great was a notable historical exception to the usual rule. His father was exceptionally able, and united the Greeks prior to his assassination. Alexander was a greater man, and this book explores the development of their relationship amid the backdrop of court intrigues and Hellenic politics. Plutarch's Lives is the primary source for Fire from Heaven, but Mary Renault has drawn from other post-Alexander sources to weave a compelling historical novel of what it might have been like back in Pella.

The Macedonians had a number of habits that some would be uncomfortable with today. These behaviors included killing as a rite of manhood, slavery, taking physical advantage of weaker people, plundering, polygamy, open bi-sexual relationships, raiding neighbors for pecuniary advantage, and sacrificing of animals to the gods. If any of these things distress you, this may not be the novel for you. These behaviors play a big role in the story.

Alexander's father and mother did not see eye-to-eye. Part of the reason was that his mother was probably overly politically ambitious. Another part of the reason was the his father rarely saw a beautiful young person he did not find attractive, and he was a man to act on his impulses. The book explores how Alexander developed his independence of character and action from both of his parents.

Much of the novel can only be guess-work, but the record is fairly clear that Alexander was able to command respect as a field commander by the time he was only 16. He also displayed a dislike for taking the easy way out, so his many principled stands make sense. The book also looks into his relations with his friends and colleagues, and leaves it open as to whether these were sexually chaste relations or not. The author's note leaves it up to you to decide what his preferences really were.

The book was most appealing to me before Alexander was butting heads with his father. One of the most revealing episodes though is one where Alexander saves his father's life, and his father pretends to be ignorant of the fact. Actually, their relations were probably harmed by this, because it made them into peers before they were ready to accept one another in that way.

If you are like me, you will find it intriguing that it could be difficult to be the son of a successful king, even if you are about to conquer the known world on your own. It was also interesting to read about what it might have been like to have had Aristotle as a tutor. The sections about Demosthenes also added to my appreciation of the role of an orator in Athens at the time.

If you are not fascinated by Alexander, you will probably grade this book down to about three stars. If you would like to understand Alexander a little better, you will find the insights here more accessible than Plutarch's and the novel to be very interesting. If you want to learn about military strategy, this book will be a one star effort for you.

After you finish reading the book, I suggest that you think about what kinds of experiences can help form the character of your children in positive ways. I also hope you will learn from the example here to let the relationship evolve easily as your children become ready for more responsibility.

Help your child create an inner spur to be the finest person of character your child can be!