Review of The Fox
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Palesa Etsane
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- Latest Review: The Fox by M. N. J. Butler
Review of The Fox
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fox" by M. N. J. Butler.]
The Fox by M.N.J. Butler was as enjoyable read for me, as one who enjoys anything historical and cultural. The story is told through the life of Leotychides, a son of one of the Royal Houses of Sparta. The author uses the story to weave a picture of the life of Spartan Royalty, with all the drama and intrigue one usually associates with such historical periods.
The story begins in his early childhood and carries us through the confusion and heartache of not belonging, to demanding recognition, right up to his noble exile and death. In the middle of all that lies a sea of drama, disappointment, betrayal and the triumph of integrity and cultural norms. Some of us may frown on the norms of the day, which included an acceptance of homosexuality which was widely practiced as well as the fact that both men and women quite commonly had lovers outside of their marriages, but the author keeps the accounts quite clean and matter of fact. There is no sense of an imposition of ideas or values at any point in this narrative.
A thread running through the story is the pride and honour of being a citizen of Sparta, with all that it meant and the obligations that came with it. All this is explored using the life of Leotychides, winding through the story of two Spartan Royal families and their feud. Central to the culture and values of Sparta is the 'flock' which refers to the institutions where children were communally reared until they became of age; with the boys being groomed to take on responsibility as citizens and well trained soldiers of the Spartan army. Out of those relationships grew the bonds of friendship that carried through the rest of their lives.
What was particularly good in The Fox, was the way the author used the story to give such interesting insights into the world of Sparta and its rich culture. For someone who loves history, this novel will be a treasure. He gives a detailed glossary at the beginning of the book, and that is useful in building a bridge for those who may not be exposed to the world of Greek culture, and Sparta in particular.
What may not work for some is that this same glossary, although useful, may also end up being too much for those wanting a simple read that tells the story of life in Sparta. Making sense of all the characters and their relationships may also get a bit complex.
I gave the book a rating of three out of four stars because, although I enjoyed reading it, it may be a bit too deep and heavy for other readers, and not have a generic appeal as a historical novel.
The book is highly recommended for those who have a love of Greek history and culture.
m
******
The Fox
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Fox by M.N.J. Butler was as enjoyable read for me, as one who enjoys anything historical and cultural. The story is told through the life of Leotychides, a son of one of the Royal Houses of Sparta. The author uses the story to weave a picture of the life of Spartan Royalty, with all the drama and intrigue one usually associates with such historical periods.
The story begins in his early childhood and carries us through the confusion and heartache of not belonging, to demanding recognition, right up to his noble exile and death. In the middle of all that lies a sea of drama, disappointment, betrayal and the triumph of integrity and cultural norms. Some of us may frown on the norms of the day, which included an acceptance of homosexuality which was widely practiced as well as the fact that both men and women quite commonly had lovers outside of their marriages, but the author keeps the accounts quite clean and matter of fact. There is no sense of an imposition of ideas or values at any point in this narrative.
A thread running through the story is the pride and honour of being a citizen of Sparta, with all that it meant and the obligations that came with it. All this is explored using the life of Leotychides, winding through the story of two Spartan Royal families and their feud. Central to the culture and values of Sparta is the 'flock' which refers to the institutions where children were communally reared until they became of age; with the boys being groomed to take on responsibility as citizens and well trained soldiers of the Spartan army. Out of those relationships grew the bonds of friendship that carried through the rest of their lives.
What was particularly good in The Fox, was the way the author used the story to give such interesting insights into the world of Sparta and its rich culture. For someone who loves history, this novel will be a treasure. He gives a detailed glossary at the beginning of the book, and that is useful in building a bridge for those who may not be exposed to the world of Greek culture, and Sparta in particular.
What may not work for some is that this same glossary, although useful, may also end up being too much for those wanting a simple read that tells the story of life in Sparta. Making sense of all the characters and their relationships may also get a bit complex.
I gave the book a rating of three out of four stars because, although I enjoyed reading it, it may be a bit too deep and heavy for other readers, and not have a generic appeal as a historical novel.
The book is highly recommended for those who have a love of Greek history and culture.
m
******
The Fox
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Fox by M. N. J. Butler
