Fire from Heaven (1969)

Like all of Mary Renault's books that I have read, this one will put you in a trance. Renault's thorough knowledge of Ancient Greece turns her historical account of Alexander the Great into an intimate experience with the ancient Macedonians. Much of the story directly concerns warfare, since war is what Alexander spent his entire life, heart, and soul on. I am impressed that Renault had such an understanding of ancient warfare: tactics, gear, etc. This book, as many of her others on Greece, is a much more effective medium for learning about the history. The reason being is that she keeps her dates, names, and events as factual as an academic history book, but she introduces the material in a way that sticks with you long after the book is done. ( )

Fictionalized biography of Alexander the Great ( )

The story of Alexander the Great opens with Alexander as a young child waking to find a snake in bed with him. He assumes it is his mother's pet snake, Glaukos. From there we are, guided by Renault's excellent storytelling, witness to Alexander's rise to greatness with fiction interwoven with nonfiction. For example, Renault wasn't there for Alexander's first battle and there is little documentation of it. So, the battle and subsequent kill at the age of twelve is purely fictional but Renault makes it easy to picture it as fact even if it is a little incredulous. With no ornament or artifact to take from the body as a trophy, Alexander saws off the head of his enemy.
Renault skillfully shows Alexander growing up, becoming more and more of a leader. Played against each other are his parents, the ever jealous Olympia and King Philip. Alexander learns how to manipulate them equally. Hephaistion starts his relationship with Alexander as a schoolmate and, as both boys mature, becomes a devoted friend with a level of intimacy that borders on homosexuality. Renault does not shy away from such relationships as they were commonplace. ( )

Although I read Renault's Theseus novels in high school, I somehow missed her Alexander the Great trilogy - bad, bad me. Fire from Heaven is a masterpiece - lyrical prose with detailed descriptions, transports you into the ancient world. Renault knew her subject matter, and the notes at the back explain the historical facts that she used in writing this novel. She weaves historical fact and speeches with invention to give us a picture of the politics, the entertainment, the education, the sacred rites (I'll never forget poor, lovely, doomed Gorgo) and the battlefields of Alexander's day. I finished this novel feeling like I had travelled in time.

Fire from Heaven is the story of Alexander's childhood and his young adult years, growing up with a powerful warrior-king father, Philip of Macedon, and a sorceress/priestess mother, Olympias - each manipulative, vindictive, and trying to turn their son against the other. Philip's taking of fifteen year old Eurydike as a new bride, drives a permanent wedge between father and son.

Alexander comes alive in these pages a brilliant and ambitious young man, an inspiring warrior with a surprising empathy for those weaker and defenseless, and a keen interest in history, politics and culture. Renault describes his first time in battle at age twelve, his tutelage under Aristotle, his taming of the horse Bucephalus, and his love for Hephaistion - the parallel is there between their relationship, and the romantic relationship between Achilles and Patroklus, whom they idolize. Renault also mentions, briefly, the heroes Herakles and Iolaus. The Sacred Band, an army of Theban warriors, same-sex lovers who fought side-by-side, also feature in the novel.

An amazing novel. I can't wait to read The Persian Boy. ( )

An astonishing book, in its beauty, intensity, and brilliance. Renault is vast in her capabilities. She has not only written a fully believable and entrancing story about equally believable humans, she has a huge understanding of the times in which it took place. She has a sensitivity toward her characters that is courageous and which keeps the story aloft through all its tenderness, brutality and sorrow.

I know I am going overboard with the gosh wow here but this book blows me away as few ever have. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would happily do it. Thank heaven there is the occasional book that is this good. ( )