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Mary Renault Book Discussion
Kerry:
--- Quote from: injest on December 30, 2006, 01:15:54 am ---"count upon nothing, but make your own nest against the storm"
"I lit the nightlamp and set it by the bed, and watched with him, til at morning the embalmers came to take him from me and fill him with everlasting myrhh."
-The Persian Boy by Mary Renault
--- End quote ---
So wonderful to meet a fellow Mary Renault fan. I love this quote from The Persian Boy:
"I used to wonder at first what faint pleasant scent he (Alexander the Great) used, and would look about for the phial; but there was none, it was the gift of nature."
This demonstrates brilliantly the depth of Renault's research skills, for she is quoting from Aristoxenus' memoir, where he says a very pleasant scent came from Alexander's skin and that there was a fragrance in his breath and all his body which permeated the clothes he wore.
I love the extremely intimate insight these few words allow us into Alexander's most personal self. In an age when bathing and dental hygiene were not high on Macedonian soldiers' priorities, especially when on campaign, it's no wonder Alexander's men worshiped him. Not only did he have the gorgeously handsome appearance of a god, he smelt like one too! (whereas they, I imagine, would not be so nice to be near!)
I'll try to locate some more favourite quotes to share.
Kerry
injest:
I love the character of Bagoas...she took a handful of historical records of his existance and created this incredible person that endured so much yet never grew bitter...
I find myself thinking on what she wrote very often. So many lessons to learn from her...she was a very wise woman...
Glad to meet another fan too!!
Kerry:
--- Quote from: injest on December 30, 2006, 07:54:03 am ---I love the character of Bagoas...she took a handful of historical records of his existance and created this incredible person that endured so much yet never grew bitter...
I find myself thinking on what she wrote very often. So many lessons to learn from her...she was a very wise woman...
Glad to meet another fan too!!
--- End quote ---
Have you read "Mary Renault - A Biography," by David Sweetman? It's an authorised biography and has lots of lovely pics of Mary and her partner,Julia Mullard. It is published by Harcourt Brace & Co.
Here's another wonderful description of Alexander by Bagoas, from "The Persian Boy":
"He was seemly in sleep, his mouth closed, his breathing silent, his body fresh and sweet. The room smelled of sex and cedarwood, with the tang of salt from the sea. Autumn drew on, the night wind blew from the north. I drew the blanket over him; without waking, he moved to me in the great bed, seeking warmth."
So beautiful.
Kerry
injest:
One of my favorite things about The Persian Boy is the tender love that Bagoas expresses for Alexander...here is this slave that has spent the last four years being sold to men and as a concubine but he seems so innocent in the love he develops for Alexander...
"But although in my calling I felt as old as time, my heart, which no one had trained, was young, and suddenly it mastered me"
these are the first books I have ever seen that accept homosexuality completely...it is not presented as an 'issue' just a normal part of life...(and isn't it?)
injest:
--- Quote from: Kerry on December 30, 2006, 08:13:28 am ---Have you read "Mary Renault - A Biography," by David Sweetman? It's an authorised biography and has lots of lovely pics on Mary and her partner,Julia Mullard. It is published by Harcourt Brace & Co.
Here's another wonderful description of Alexander by Bagoas, from "The Persian Boy":
"He was seemly in sleep, his mouth closed, his breathing silent, his body fresh and sweet. The room smelled of sex and cedarwood, with the tang of salt from the sea. Autumn drew on, the night wind blew from the north. I drew the blanket over him; without waking, he moved to me in the great bed, seeking warmth."
So beautiful.
Kerry
--- End quote ---
no I had not...I was JUST going to ask you if you had ever seen anything on her life! thank you I will order it.
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