Mary Renault Fire from Heaven : A Novel of Alexander the Great: A Virago Modern

The Alexander Trilogy contains some of Renaults finest writing. Lyrical, wise, compelling the novels are a wonderful imaginative feat SARAH WATERSThe Alexandriad is one of the twentieth centurys most unexpectedly original works of art GORE VIDALIn the first novel of her stunning trilogy, Mary Renault vividly imagines the life of Alexander the Great, the charismatic leader whose drive and ambition created a legendAlexanders beauty, strength and defiance were apparent from birth, but his boyhood honed those gifts into the makings of a king. His mother and father, Olympias and King Philip of Macedon, fought each other for their sons loyalty, teaching Alexander politics and vengeance from the cradle. Hephaistions love taught him trust, while Aristotles tutoring provoked his mind and Homers Iliad fuelled his aspirations. At age twelve, he killed his first man in battle at sixteen, he became regent at eighteen, commander of Macedons cavalry and by the time his father was murdered, Alexanders skills had grown to match his fiery ambition. SHORTLISTED FOR THE 1970 LOST BOOKER PRIZE. INTRODUCED BY TOM HOLLAND. This is not just a novel its also the best imagining we are ever likely to have of a man who tore up history EMILY WILSON, GUARDIANThe Alexander Trilogy stands as one of the most important works of fiction in the twentieth century ANTONIA SENIOR, THE TIMES | Mary Renault Fire from Heaven : A Novel of Alexander the Great: A Virago Modern