Mary Renault is one of the most influential historic fiction writers for me, I think. I was exposed to her very young. The King Must Die was on a summer reading list in middle school. I find her more inspiring now as an adult, particularly when the pearl clutching 21st century parents of that same school had the book banned because of "the scene" [spoiler] if you've read it, you know this scene probably. if you haven't there's a graphic woman's cult sacrifice where they eat the man's phallus[/spoiler]
I appreciate her gritty writing to show things as they are and face harsh realities in the world, rather than romanticizing certain time periods. If you don't know her but are fans of Madeline Miller, Renault is the original writer who brought the worlds of Theseus, Socrates, Plato, and Alexander the Great to life.
I admire her positioning and brass balls as a writer now, after growing up under her as an influence.
I find her more inspiring now as an adult, particularly when the pearl clutching 21st century parents of that same school had the book banned because of "the scene"
[spoiler] if you've read it, you know this scene probably. if you haven't there's a graphic woman's cult sacrifice where they eat the man's phallus[/spoiler]
I appreciate her gritty writing to show things as they are and face harsh realities in the world, rather than romanticizing certain time periods.
If you don't know her but are fans of Madeline Miller, Renault is the original writer who brought the worlds of Theseus, Socrates, Plato, and Alexander the Great to life.
I admire her positioning and brass balls as a writer now, after growing up under her as an influence.