Latest News
Student Book Review - 'Fire From Heaven' by Mary Renault
Review of Fire From Heaven by Mary Renault
Mr Giles would like to credit Wantang in Nightingale 1 for the following book review:
Fire From Heaven is the first in the trilogy about the life and death of Alexander the Great. It was written in 1969 by Mary Renault and concerns the childhood and youth of Alexander.
First of all, it is a fantastic read and I strongly recommend it to everyone interested in Alexander the Great or ancient history in general. That said, it is not at all an easy read. Mary Renault’s style of writing, though reflective of the archaic atmosphere in ancient Macedonia, is complex. It may also prove difficult for people who are not familiar with the geography, history and politics of ancient Macedonia. (There are a lot of places and a lot of names which can get very confusing at times.) This is not a book to be read while one’s mind wanders; it demands your attention at all times but is worthy of study and ultimately, very satisfying to finish.
This book focuses on Alexander but switches perspectives quite regularly throughout (which again can get confusing), allowing the reader access to the reactions, thoughts and motivations behind a large number of characters. This thus forms a narrative which is rich in detail and quite unbiased in its story. There is not necessarily a protagonist nor antagonist in the story, rather the reader is allowed to freely judge each character themselves, for example the reader may (certainly I did) feel sympathy for Demosthenes due to his disadvantage in the Macedonian court despite Demosthenes himself being an enemy of Phillip who then later develops a cold hatred for Alexander. Each character is fully fleshed out with their own faults and skills which reminds the audience of the multiple dimensions in the story as well as the fact that although this is a fictionalised piece of work, it is heavily and well researched and quite reflective of history.
The main plot is Alexander’s growth from a bright young child to a charming and commanding presence in the Macedonian Court, one with arguably enough influence and skill to contest Phillip for the position of ruler. Certainly, we see a lot of unease and tension between the father and son in the later parts of the book where Phillip is trying to limit Alexander’s actions. This theme of family and familial relationships is also one of the main sub-plots in the book; with Olympias, Phillip and Kleopatra. Olympias starts as the loving and caring mother (perhaps overly so which immediately creates a sense of twistedness and unease in her controlling behaviour) to a manipulative yet tragic woman. Phillip’s first impression is that of drunken and repulsive ogre who then goes on a redeeming storyline but still leaves a bitter aftertaste. These changes from love to hate and back again in the relationships are quite relatable for the reader as they also pinpoint the exact years in their lives when the agreeable child transitions into an independent and free-thinking young adult. (Though perhaps this came a bit earlier for our remarkable Alexander. He kills his first man at 14!)
It is also quite important to note the relationship between Alexander and Hephaestion, who became the most important confidante and pillar of support for Alexander as he matured. Renault does not avoid this relationship nor cheapens it to mere friendship but instead writes it in a delicate style with very implicit meanings. It is interesting to note that a large sum of the romance parts in this relationship is written from the perspective of Hephaestion who utterly devotes himself to Alexander. Perhaps the story is allowing us to see a different and more sensitive version of Alexander through Hephaestion’s eyes. Certainly, the suggestion that Alexander does not reciprocate this love is mistaken- we all know how he despaired over Hephaestion’s death.
To conclude, Fire From Heaven is a fantastic book that delves into the world of ancient history during Phillip’s reign very thoroughly. It has moments which leaves the reader in a panic, heart beating through their chests in the action-packed chapters while others hold gut-wrenching moments of betrayal and bitterness. I strongly recommend it to everyone.