Rating: 
Summary: The most serious novel by Renault I have read thus far
Review: The Charioteer reminded me very much of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, in theme rather than style. Renault's aversion to the sexual tribalists is very much apparent by the end of the book; it parallels Austen's disdain for romanticism. The book is eminently readable, if a bit slow (I give it 4 stars instead of 5 for its tendency to be a tedious read at times). The potential reader will get more out of this novel if he/she has a good grasp of Plato (especially the Phaedrus). In any case, Renault's departure from her powerful historical fiction set in Ancient Greece is a positive thing; The Charioteer is among Mary Renault's finest.
Rating: 
Summary: Unusual, Thought-Provoking, and Unique
Review: The complicated romances of closeted gay men in England at the height of World War II seems an unlikely subject, but Renault endows The Charioteer with such depth of perception that virtually any reader will be fascinated by her story of three young men who strive to reconcile the frequently opposing forces of sex, love, and personal integrity in their lives and relationships. Considerably more than just a "gay love story," Renault's novel examines what it means to be completely honest and completely fair in even the most difficult of relationships at even the most difficult moments of life.Written with both on-the-surface (as in the myth of the Charioteer) and covert (it is no accident that many of the characters are in some way physically damaged, or that the story is set during England's darkest hours of the war) symbolism, Renault's novel encourages the reader to take time over it. Although sometimes demanding, the book casts a spell; I can honestly say that I did not want it to end, but I wanted to know more about what the future held for the characters. It is a book to which readers will return again and again.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic (and I don't use that word lightly).
Review: This book is, yes, romantic -- but don't think cheese, for this book is literary. It is the story of two soldiers during a World War who come to love each other. Renault is well known for her vivid prose and three-dimensional characters. I highly recommend this one and am guessing that it is a book that men and women both enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: This is my favorite novel
Review: This was the best novel I have ever read! This story is about what love between two people really is. This book shows the difference between infatuation and love. The story is very intimate and gets into the emotions of human beings
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