The Praise Singer

Rating:
Summary: The Least Favorite Thus Far
Review: I have two more of Mary Renault's historical Greece novels to go. Last of the Wine, and elusive hardback find, and The King Must Die. I looked forward to this, the Praise Singer, with great anticipation, thinking that, being a part time singer, perhaps it would appeal to me as much as The Mask of Apollo appealed to me as an actor. However, this was not the case.

Although I greatly enjoyed the creation of the world of the Praise Singer, Simonides, I found this story lacking in real substance, like her other works. Although its own, autonomous work, unlike the Alexander Trilogy, and the two novels of Theseus, it lacked in the full scope of a man's life and work that Mask of Apollo had in abundance. Simonides was without a doubt a graceful, elegant man, despite his self-declared 'ugliness', he showed inner beauty, and overcame the people's perception of what is beautiful, enticing them to look deeper into a person than what is visible on the surface.

Although this novel I found to be very limited, it still was an enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: The Least Favorite Thus Far
Review: I have two more of Mary Renault's historical Greece novels to go. Last of the Wine, and elusive hardback find, and The King Must Die. I looked forward to this, the Praise Singer, with great anticipation, thinking that, being a part time singer, perhaps it would appeal to me as much as The Mask of Apollo appealed to me as an actor. However, this was not the case.

Although I greatly enjoyed the creation of the world of the Praise Singer, Simonides, I found this story lacking in real substance, like her other works. Although its own, autonomous work, unlike the Alexander Trilogy, and the two novels of Theseus, it lacked in the full scope of a man's life and work that Mask of Apollo had in abundance. Simonides was without a doubt a graceful, elegant man, despite his self-declared 'ugliness', he showed inner beauty, and overcame the people's perception of what is beautiful, enticing them to look deeper into a person than what is visible on the surface.

Although this novel I found to be very limited, it still was an enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: Poetic, but limited
Review: Maybe Mary Renault intended "The Praise Singer" to reflect the work of Simonides of Keos--compact, yet expressive and beautiful. Well, "The Praise Singer" is beautifully written. It is also too short. On the one hand, I'm grateful she avoided the temptation to have Simonides' fingers in every political pie in pre-democratic Athens; on the other, I wish she'd fleshed the story out more.

The book is typical Renault: exquisitely drawn characters (I will never forget her Anakreon) and lyrical language that moves you along (necessary, because there's not much of a plot). But her retelling of the story of Harmodios and Aristogeiton (which feels like a random vignette, unfortunately) is flat compared to the downfall of Polykrates of Samos, which is told second-hand but still gave me chills to read. The book is no epic, and it isn't one of her best historical novels, but if you like Renault's novels on ancient Greece, you will like "The Praise Singer," faults and all.

Rating:
Summary: Poetic, but limited
Review: Maybe Mary Renault intended "The Praise Singer" to reflect the work of Simonides of Keos--compact, yet expressive and beautiful. Well, "The Praise Singer" is beautifully written. It is also too short. On the one hand, I'm grateful she avoided the temptation to have Simonides' fingers in every political pie in pre-democratic Athens; on the other, I wish she'd fleshed the story out more.

The book is typical Renault: exquisitely drawn characters (I will never forget her Anakreon) and lyrical language that moves you along (necessary, because there's not much of a plot). But her retelling of the story of Harmodios and Aristogeiton (which feels like a random vignette, unfortunately) is flat compared to the downfall of Polykrates of Samos, which is told second-hand but still gave me chills to read. The book is no epic, and it isn't one of her best historical novels, but if you like Renault's novels on ancient Greece, you will like "The Praise Singer," faults and all.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderfully and Beautifully Crafted Historical Novel
Review: The classical world comes alive in all of Renault's books about Greece, and this is one of her best. Her scholarly background combined with her literary talent not only teaches the reader the factual history of the characters but gives them real personality and depth. Simonides, the blacksheep of his family rises from his rustic beginnings to the courts of the most powerful men of his time. We follow him from child to old man and experience his loves, sorrows, adventures, friendships, and triumphs all woven together by his craft----singer of praise.

Rating:
Summary: the emotional connection
Review: there are many reviews of ms. renault's work here already, so i will keep this very brief: the reason mary renault is my favorite author is that she can bring the emotional and human quality of her characters to the surface. she makes these long dead people with strange names come alive. she gives them a quotidian life. she makes them human, and humane. true, her knowledge of the ancient greeks is encyclopedic. true, her descriptions are wonderous, but her deep empathy for the people in her novels is what separates her from other historical writers. she also handles homoeroticism/homosocial behavior with a sweetness and sensitivity that demonstrates the value of the delicate bonds that men should be encouraged to explore and nurture. her compassion for the human experience is sometimes overwhelming.

Rating:
Summary: the emotional connection
Review: there are many reviews of ms. renault's work here already, so i will keep this very brief: the reason mary renault is my favorite author is that she can bring the emotional and human quality of her characters to the surface. she makes these long dead people with strange names come alive. she gives them a quotidian life. she makes them human, and humane. true, her knowledge of the ancient greeks is encyclopedic. true, her descriptions are wonderous, but her deep empathy for the people in her novels is what separates her from other historical writers. she also handles homoeroticism/homosocial behavior with a sweetness and sensitivity that demonstrates the value of the delicate bonds that men should be encouraged to explore and nurture. her compassion for the human experience is sometimes overwhelming.