The King Must Die Audiobook By Mary Renault cover art

The King Must Die

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The King Must Die

By: Mary Renault
Narrated by: Kris Dyer
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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 Classics Fiction Historical Fiction Royalty Inspiring Ancient History

Critic reviews

"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)
Captivating Adventure • Creative Retelling • Flawless Narration • Plausible Mythology • Historical Richness
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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

returning home

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

Ancient Greece Brought to Life

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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.

Astonishingly Good!

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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.

one of my favorite books,

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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.

Terrible narration

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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.

Luxuriously written

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(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.

Sections tied together to make a whole life

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I first read Mar Renaults books in high school, so they have nostalgia value for me. Good tales, well-researched and plausible. The Theseus story is told in King Must Die and Bull from the Sea, and the parallel Alexander one in Fire from Heaven, the Persian Boy (my favorite) and Funeral Games. Last of the Wine is a lovely picture of Greece's golden age with Socrates and Plato, and the Praise Singer much earlier in history.
The readers are adequate and the books are unabridged. Pleasant and interesting read.

Good read for classics majors

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I had to read for a class. Very little to really get attached to. Characters don't seem to act in any logical manner.

Not much happens

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There are some very creative alternate explanations of how things went down with Theseus and the Minotaur in this book. just when you think you know the story and interesting twist appears. I enjoyed reading it.

Always two sides to an explanation

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