A brief comment in response to some reviewers who liked other of Mary Renault's historical novels, but didn't particularly like this one ... I first read this book when it came out, some time in the '80's, and wasn't especially taken with it. In the intervening 20 years, during which I have become a practicing poet and storyteller, my perceptions have changed: I now think it one her best, if not *the* best - subtle, insightful, and quotable - and am now on my third copy, having read the first two to pieces.

I share many of Kris Dotto's opinions about this short novel by Ms Renault but I have some of my own to add.

The plot is strangely detached, far away, a sort of foreign dream told by a confused stranger. All the characters share the same trait: it is not that they are not well rounded, they are distant, someone you cannot care for. The story of Harmodios and Aristogeiton is cold, contrived, but even Simonides, the main hero, never really comes to life.

More than this, the writing is often very convoluted, rather unclear, sometimes even clumsy. Dialogues are often spoilt because it is not clear whom each line belongs to.

All in all, a work not worth the general praise Ms Renault always gets.

I love every book I've read of Mary Renault's, but I could not "get into" this book. The Praise Singer, though well written, is just soooo boring. There isn't one thing in the book that "grabbed me". It's hard for me to believe that it was written by the same author. Well, there are many giving it 4 or more stars, so I eagerly bought it. Disappointed, yes, but really just BORED.

I must confess to being an ardent Renault partisan. You must therefore approach my review with skepticism, though I will attempt to win you over. I have read every one of Mary Renault's historical novels, some twice, as well as her nonfiction "The Nature of Alexander," and a competent biography about her (1993, by David Sweetman).

While the virtues of Renault's various historical novels naturally vary, they are, every one of them, of a quality deserving Amazon's five stars, meaning they are in the top 80 to 100% of available novels (to my understanding, that is the meaning of a system that rates from 1 to 5). I do not think it is fair to knock stars off the rating, just because you prefer another of her works. Instead, the rating should compare hers against all by other authors. When that is done, I fail to see how anything by Renault falls below the top 80%.

I do have my own favorites, but don't wish to prejudice the reader, because all of them are worth trying. Her fiction of Alexander (begin with Fire From Heaven) is so much better than others I have browsed in the bookstore, including one by an Italian prone to flowery, artificial sentiments.

If you want to be transported to Ancient Greece, you will find no better vehicle than Mary Renault, period. I have tried many other authors, and many of them fail to come close to Renault. Indeed you might be advised NOT to start reading Renault, because once you do, entire tribes of authors will fail to please you anymore. She sets the bar very high. Even Gore Vidal, another historical novelist, pales before Renault. She simply "gets" Ancient Greece like no one else does. She has the classic virtues, duty and decorum, and writes with authority as one who has burned the midnight oil studying the ancient works and getting inside the bones of the ancients.

The only author I have found to surpass Renault in historical fiction is Patrick O'Brian, but he deals with a different age, with high sea adventure in the British navy in the early 1800s. But it must be mentioned here, that Mary Renault was supplied manuscripts of the younger O'Brian, when he was coming up, and she warmly recommended him to her legion of fans; he returned the compliment. What could be more fitting, than for the two greatest historical novelists to be in a mutual admiration society? As publishers already arrange for the exchange of compliments, ideas, and research, I firmly believe that in the future, they must also arrange for the exchange of DNA. I can only speculate what kind of masterpieces their lovechild might have created. It is to be regretted by future generations that Mary Renault, as far as we know, never did procreate, although her books represent spiritual and intellectual children of sorts, as their influence will be felt for many hundreds of years, as they are classics of the English language.

The dollars you pay for any historical novel of Renault's will be amply rewarded. Choose the subject that interests you most, and buy with confidence.

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.