Review of The Fox
Posted: 11 Sep 2021, 20:51
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fox" by M. N. J. Butler.]
Sparta derived its laws from Lykourgos who forbade the use of money to acquire assets such as land, instead, Lands were divided equally among all its citizens. Boys below the age of ten were enrolled into flocks within their age bracket and trained till they turned twenty. During their training, they were taught the laws of lykourgos, the traditions of Sparta, self-discipline, and were engaged in various physical exercises. This made Spartan soldiers more disciplined, showing no fear of death during battles. So was Sparta established and revered by its allies and adversaries. In the fox, Leotychides is charged by King Philippos of Macedon to put in writing his account of the siege at Matinea, so he sets about his task zealously. He starts by painting Sparta in all its grandeur before telling of his time as a young prince in the Eurypontid palace, which was one of the two thrones of Sparta. From thereon, all his adventures are detailed in flashback mode, although he occasionally tells of his present.
The fox is a well-researched work of historical fiction rich in Greek culture. There is a careful description of the cities mentioned in the novel, when a new city is introduced, its culture is detailed giving the reader a clear picture of the city before relating it to Sparta. M.N.J. Butler touched most aspects of Sparta's social system including but not limited to religion, politics, Social hierarchy, ceremonies, war strategy, the penalty for specific crimes, sexual orientation…and what made Sparta feared by its adversaries. The fox is packed with adventure, never is there a dull moment in the novel. There is the dispute for the Eurypontid throne, the battle at Lechion, the siege at Matinea, the Polyponessian war…the reader can enjoy the action as it happens from a Leotychides point of view. The conversations are really enjoyable, the exclamations were that of old, which suited the novel. I enjoyed the relationship between Dorieus and Leotychides; it was emotional. One charm the fox possessed is the ability to command attention from its reader.
The fox contains numerous characters and unknown words, but there is a glossary for that, which is okay. However, the characters could be confusing as two or more characters are bearing the same name in a four-generation line. Some readers might find the disparity between the past and the present not clear enough. As Leotychides tells the story in a flashback procession, he only stops to talk about the present which the author indicates as a pause with three asterisks, sometimes the flashback continues before or after the asterisks.
I enjoyed the novel, so I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I find it very entertaining and well-edited. The ambiguity of the characters and differences between the past and present is dependent on the reader.
Readers of historical fiction and non-fiction will find this work very delightful.
******
The Fox
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Sparta derived its laws from Lykourgos who forbade the use of money to acquire assets such as land, instead, Lands were divided equally among all its citizens. Boys below the age of ten were enrolled into flocks within their age bracket and trained till they turned twenty. During their training, they were taught the laws of lykourgos, the traditions of Sparta, self-discipline, and were engaged in various physical exercises. This made Spartan soldiers more disciplined, showing no fear of death during battles. So was Sparta established and revered by its allies and adversaries. In the fox, Leotychides is charged by King Philippos of Macedon to put in writing his account of the siege at Matinea, so he sets about his task zealously. He starts by painting Sparta in all its grandeur before telling of his time as a young prince in the Eurypontid palace, which was one of the two thrones of Sparta. From thereon, all his adventures are detailed in flashback mode, although he occasionally tells of his present.
The fox is a well-researched work of historical fiction rich in Greek culture. There is a careful description of the cities mentioned in the novel, when a new city is introduced, its culture is detailed giving the reader a clear picture of the city before relating it to Sparta. M.N.J. Butler touched most aspects of Sparta's social system including but not limited to religion, politics, Social hierarchy, ceremonies, war strategy, the penalty for specific crimes, sexual orientation…and what made Sparta feared by its adversaries. The fox is packed with adventure, never is there a dull moment in the novel. There is the dispute for the Eurypontid throne, the battle at Lechion, the siege at Matinea, the Polyponessian war…the reader can enjoy the action as it happens from a Leotychides point of view. The conversations are really enjoyable, the exclamations were that of old, which suited the novel. I enjoyed the relationship between Dorieus and Leotychides; it was emotional. One charm the fox possessed is the ability to command attention from its reader.
The fox contains numerous characters and unknown words, but there is a glossary for that, which is okay. However, the characters could be confusing as two or more characters are bearing the same name in a four-generation line. Some readers might find the disparity between the past and the present not clear enough. As Leotychides tells the story in a flashback procession, he only stops to talk about the present which the author indicates as a pause with three asterisks, sometimes the flashback continues before or after the asterisks.
I enjoyed the novel, so I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I find it very entertaining and well-edited. The ambiguity of the characters and differences between the past and present is dependent on the reader.
Readers of historical fiction and non-fiction will find this work very delightful.
******
The Fox
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon