Review of The Fox

[Marlese Meyer]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fox" by M. N. J. Butler.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Leotychides was born in the Eurypontid palace of Sparta. He was an heir to one of the two thrones as the only son of King Agis, but his features betray his lineage. He is the son of the great Greek hero, Alkibiades. There is no adultery in Sparta. By tradition, if a man came late to marriage or felt he could not sire a strong son, he would arrange with a handsome man who excelled in the Games to visit his wife. All the fathers in Sparta are fathers to all of her sons. When the time came, Agisiloas, the younger brother of King Agis, was selected as the new King over Leotychides. Leotychides lived a life of action, fame, and recognition. However, he became involved in a plot to overthrow Agisiloas. He was not accused of treason but was declared illegitimate and stripped of citizenship. He was penalized for marrying a Spartiate woman. Authorities deleted the records of his military service and honors. In essence, he ceased to exist.

History testifies that Sparta, once the finest military force in Greek history was brought down by poor leadership and the ambitions of lesser men.

The Fox by M. N. J. Butler is an epic saga set in an age when the adventures of Greek heroes such as Hercules and Achilles were recent memories. Boys were removed from their families and raised in flocks to breed discipline and military excellence. The daily life of Spartiate citizens thrummed against the will of the gods. War and worship merged in the harsh reality of survival.

The scenes are well described. As you read, you can feel the grit beneath your fingernails; taste the blood on your tongue. The Fox is easily one of the best books I have read set in this era.

I did not enjoy that throughout the story, a man is known by many names. There were sons named after fathers, grandfathers, kings, and heroes, all of whom sounded the same. There is a glossary and a table of Royal Houses at the beginning of the book. At times it was hard to keep track of the story.

There are anomalies attributable to pre-Hellenic terminology and phrasing. Even so, the book still has more than ten editing errors that should have been detected and corrected during the first printing in 1995.

Despite this, the book is still an informative and enjoyable read.

Casual readers and history buffs should enjoy this book.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.

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The Fox
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