1981; 328 pages. Book 3 in Renault's "Alexander the Great" trilogy. Genre : Historical Fiction. New Author?: Yes. Overall Rating : 8*/10.
.
It's 323 B.C. Alexander The Great is near death, unable to speak, and has never named a successor to his throne. His two wives are pregnant, but they are both foreigners (one Bactrian; the other Persian), and even if they bear sons, the Macedonian army is loath to be led by a "half-breed". Alexander's half-brother is alive, but he has the mind of a six-year-old. His mother also lives, and is a powerful political force in Macedon. But still, she's a woman. Any of Alexander's generals could rule, but they all hate each other So let the Funeral Games begin!
.
What's To Like...
The book covers the next 15 years or so (plus an epilogue), as the various parties jockey for leadership; not hesitating to kill any rivals if needed. None of the claimants are all good or all evil, and none can garner enough support and power to unite the army and rule the kingdom. Mary Renault adheres strictly to the historical facts. Basically, she fleshes out the characters and gives them voices.
.
And what characters they are! Especially the three women - Olympias (ATG's mom), Roxane (one of his wives), and Eurydike (a young Macedonian noblewoman who marries the half-brother). They are strong, they are learned, they are politically savvy, they are legitimate contenders for the throne, and they are historically accurate. The male rivals treat them as equals and threats because, well, they are.
.
There are a slew of characters to keep track of, and Funeral Games does start off kinda slow as Renault introduces them to you. But she lists the cast of characters at the beginning of the book (you will use this often), and once they've all made their entrance, the story picks up steam. The ending (again, historically accurate) is quite good, especially if you don't know the history.
.
Kewl New Words...
There were oodles of them. Emollient : soothing. Maquette : a small model of an intended work. Marmoreal : marble-like. Wittol : a man who knows about and tolerates his wife's infidelity. Inchoate : only partly in existence; imperfectly formed. Himation : a rectangular woolen or linen cloak of ancient Greece. Sutler : an army camp follower who peddles supplies to them (especially food). Revenant : someone who returns after a lengthy absence. Trull : a harlot; a prostitute. Proscribed : denounced; condemned. Glaucous : having a waxy, whitish, frosted appearance. Effulgent : beaming; radiating light (here, an "effulgent cloud").
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Excerpts...
"Alas, alas! The light is fallen from the sky, the lion of men is fallen. When he lifted his sword, a thousand warriors trembled; when he opened his hand, it shed gold like the sands of the sea. When he rejoiced, it gladdened us like the sun. As the storm-wind rides the mountains, so he rode to war; like the tempest that fells great forest trees, he rode into the battle. His shield was a strong roof over his people. Darkness is his portion, his house is desolate. Alas! Alas! Alas!" (pg. 25-25)
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"All those great men. When Alexander was alive, they pulled together like one chariot-team. And when he died, they bolted like chariot-horses when the driver falls. And broke their backs like horses, too." (pg. 32)
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A few words about Mary Renault...
Born in 1908; died in 1983. Best known for her eight Greek-themed historical novels, published between 1956 and 1981. She was gay long before being gay was acceptable in England; and in 1948, she and her lifelong partner moved to South Africa, where homophobia was less prevalent. All of her Greek novels have at least a couple homosexual allusions, although here in Funeral Games, they are relatively minor. You can read Wikipedia's entry about Mary Renault here.
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"His sign is walking among the constellations, further than we can reckon in years. You will not see it setting in your day." (pg. 4 - a prophecy about Alexander's legacy).
Sadly, none of the aspirants to the throne succeeded in taking the place of Alexander The Great. Ptolemy fared best - retreating into Egypt, establishing a dynasty, and making it clear he has no desire to expand beyond there. The rest battled among themselves and eventually, they all fell. Alexander's army, invincible to any foe, destroyed itself from within.
.
The weakening wars continued for 100 years or so. In the meantime, those upstart Romans unified their country and did away with their chief rival, Carthage. When they were ready to expand eastward, Greece and Macedonia (and later, Egypt, and the Greco-Persian realms) could no longer put up a good fight. How sadly self-inflicted.
.
I give this Eight Stars, because the cause is near and dear to my heart, and it was quite a powerful tale by the end. Highly recommended to history fanatics, but others may find it a bit dry.
.
It's 323 B.C. Alexander The Great is near death, unable to speak, and has never named a successor to his throne. His two wives are pregnant, but they are both foreigners (one Bactrian; the other Persian), and even if they bear sons, the Macedonian army is loath to be led by a "half-breed". Alexander's half-brother is alive, but he has the mind of a six-year-old. His mother also lives, and is a powerful political force in Macedon. But still, she's a woman. Any of Alexander's generals could rule, but they all hate each other So let the Funeral Games begin!
.
What's To Like...
The book covers the next 15 years or so (plus an epilogue), as the various parties jockey for leadership; not hesitating to kill any rivals if needed. None of the claimants are all good or all evil, and none can garner enough support and power to unite the army and rule the kingdom. Mary Renault adheres strictly to the historical facts. Basically, she fleshes out the characters and gives them voices.
.
And what characters they are! Especially the three women - Olympias (ATG's mom), Roxane (one of his wives), and Eurydike (a young Macedonian noblewoman who marries the half-brother). They are strong, they are learned, they are politically savvy, they are legitimate contenders for the throne, and they are historically accurate. The male rivals treat them as equals and threats because, well, they are.
.
There are a slew of characters to keep track of, and Funeral Games does start off kinda slow as Renault introduces them to you. But she lists the cast of characters at the beginning of the book (you will use this often), and once they've all made their entrance, the story picks up steam. The ending (again, historically accurate) is quite good, especially if you don't know the history.
.
Kewl New Words...
There were oodles of them. Emollient : soothing. Maquette : a small model of an intended work. Marmoreal : marble-like. Wittol : a man who knows about and tolerates his wife's infidelity. Inchoate : only partly in existence; imperfectly formed. Himation : a rectangular woolen or linen cloak of ancient Greece. Sutler : an army camp follower who peddles supplies to them (especially food). Revenant : someone who returns after a lengthy absence. Trull : a harlot; a prostitute. Proscribed : denounced; condemned. Glaucous : having a waxy, whitish, frosted appearance. Effulgent : beaming; radiating light (here, an "effulgent cloud").
.
Excerpts...
"Alas, alas! The light is fallen from the sky, the lion of men is fallen. When he lifted his sword, a thousand warriors trembled; when he opened his hand, it shed gold like the sands of the sea. When he rejoiced, it gladdened us like the sun. As the storm-wind rides the mountains, so he rode to war; like the tempest that fells great forest trees, he rode into the battle. His shield was a strong roof over his people. Darkness is his portion, his house is desolate. Alas! Alas! Alas!" (pg. 25-25)
.
"All those great men. When Alexander was alive, they pulled together like one chariot-team. And when he died, they bolted like chariot-horses when the driver falls. And broke their backs like horses, too." (pg. 32)
.
A few words about Mary Renault...
Born in 1908; died in 1983. Best known for her eight Greek-themed historical novels, published between 1956 and 1981. She was gay long before being gay was acceptable in England; and in 1948, she and her lifelong partner moved to South Africa, where homophobia was less prevalent. All of her Greek novels have at least a couple homosexual allusions, although here in Funeral Games, they are relatively minor. You can read Wikipedia's entry about Mary Renault here.
.
"His sign is walking among the constellations, further than we can reckon in years. You will not see it setting in your day." (pg. 4 - a prophecy about Alexander's legacy).
Sadly, none of the aspirants to the throne succeeded in taking the place of Alexander The Great. Ptolemy fared best - retreating into Egypt, establishing a dynasty, and making it clear he has no desire to expand beyond there. The rest battled among themselves and eventually, they all fell. Alexander's army, invincible to any foe, destroyed itself from within.
.
The weakening wars continued for 100 years or so. In the meantime, those upstart Romans unified their country and did away with their chief rival, Carthage. When they were ready to expand eastward, Greece and Macedonia (and later, Egypt, and the Greco-Persian realms) could no longer put up a good fight. How sadly self-inflicted.
.
I give this Eight Stars, because the cause is near and dear to my heart, and it was quite a powerful tale by the end. Highly recommended to history fanatics, but others may find it a bit dry.
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