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The Persian Boy
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault
Mary Renault is a shining light to both historical novelists and their readers. She does not pretend the past is like the present, or that the people of ancient Greece were just like us. She shows us their strangeness; discerning, sure-footed, challenging our values, piquing our curiosity, she leads us through an alien landscape that moves and delights us.Hilary Mantel The Persian Boy centers on the most tempestuous years of Alexander the Greats life, as seen through the eyes of his lover and most faithful attendant, Bagoas. When Bagoas is very young, his father is murdered and he is sold as a slave to King Darius of Persia. Then, when Alexander conquers the land, he is given Bagoas as a gift, and the boy is besotted. This passion comes at a time when much is at stakeAlexander has two wives, conflicts are ablaze, and plots on the Macedon kings life abound. The result is a riveting account of a great conquerors years of triumph and, ultimately, heartbreak. The Persian Boy is the second volume of the Novels of Alexander the Great trilogy, which also includes Fire from Heaven and Funeral Games. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Mary Renault including rare images of the author.
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charl08
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault
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Alexandria is a splendid city, with everything a sensible man can need. I daresay I shall end my life here, with- out ever again going far away. But when I remember the high hills, and a pass mounting to its unknown revelation, I will not think so. Even then, knowing the evil and the danger, knowing all I had known before, even then I felt it; ecstasy, prophecy, light.

ChaoticMissAdventures So pretty I love how trees insist on growing even if they have to switch directions! 😍 3mo
charl08 @ChaoticMissAdventures the Lake District is a great place for this 👌 3mo
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charl08
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault
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As we marched, the road rising through bare uplands, I suppose there was no one in the Household who was not thinking, And what will become of me?

Texreader What a lovely photo! 3mo
45 likes2 comments
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charl08
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault
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Sign me up for a babylonion spa...
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Because it is hot in Babylon, the bath is a pleasure-house, where one could spend all day; floored with marble from the west, with glazed walls, white flowers on blue. The bath is a spacious pool, whose lapis-blue tiles have gold fish impressed in them. There are pots with sweet shrubs and trees, changed at each season, jasmine and citron....

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charl08
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault
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Latest bookclub book. 3 days to go, good job it's such a pageturner.

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rwmg
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault
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bthegood Excellent!😊 2y
17 likes1 comment
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rwmg
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault
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I don't usually go in for these but I couldn't resist this one.

1. YES

2. The tagged book is the middle one of Mary Renault's Alexander Trilogy (4th century BC). I would also highy recommend Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series (1st century BC) and for those wanting a standalone book Gore Vidal's Creation (6th/5th centuries BC).

@TheSpineView

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SkeletonKey
Persian Boy | Mary Renault
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I‘ve been taking a summer writing class that had a lot of intense reading so I‘ve barely been able to read outside of that. Finally on the last chapter of this baby though, so I think I‘ll finish it this morning.

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SkeletonKey
Persian Boy | Mary Renault
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Finally picking up this ultragay classic after reading the first in the series ages ago. Hope it lives up to the hype!

#lgbtq #queerbooks

DivineDiana I remember reading this years ago, and that I enjoyed it. 📚 3y
SkeletonKey @DivineDiana - I am immediately hooked! So far quite good. 3y
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tokyoseg
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault
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Mehso-so

This fictionalized book series about the life and death of Alexander the Great is fantastic and really well written. The reason I personally disliked the second book in the series is the POV is Bagoas and he was too annoying for me. I‘d have liked to read more about Alexander‘s relationship with Hephaestion instead.

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Sadeyeboi
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault

“One must live as if it would be forever, and as if one might die each moment. Always both at once.”

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writerlibrarian
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault
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Happy Independence day to all 🇺🇸Littens. I had two back to back Quebec and Canada. Have fun, enjoy the day and of course get some reading in between fireworks. #jubilantjuly

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Trace
The Persian Boy | Mary Renault
Panpan

Well written. However, was expecting more about Alexander's campaigns and less about his bedroom activity.