Beverley Dixon

Professor Goldberger

History 101

10 December 1996

The Last of the Wine, written by Mary Renault and published by Pantheon Books in 1956, is a classical novel that is both historically informative and entertaining. It is a recreation of classical Greece during the Peloponnesian War, when Pericles was the leader of the city of Athens. The story is being told in the first person narrative by Alexas, an Athenian soldier who survives the war. He reflects on his childhood, his experiences as a soldier, and his society's reaction to the ravages of the Peloponnesian war. This was a time when the Spartans had the city of Athens under siege. They burned the surrounding farms, cutting off the food supply of the Athenians who sought refuge inside the city. Alexas recalls the hardships the Athenians faced and their gallant efforts to protect their city from Spartan invasion.

The main themes in this book are war, power, heroism, love, loyalty and growth. We are given further insight into the classical Greek society as Alexas reminisces about his family life, his training as an athlete, the Olympic Games, his homosexual relationship with his mentor Lysis, and his encounters with Socrates the Philosopher. The main characters seem dogged by guilt, loneliness or failure, often the failure to love. The book ends on a triumphant note, with the Athenians defeating the Spartans, and liberating their city from the corrupt politicians.

Mary Renault is an award-winning novelist who writes imaginative historical fiction. Her literary works center on the social, cultural and political ambiance of pre-classical, classical, and Hellenistic Greece. Renault "is mainly concerned with deepening and reconstructing myths for the purpose of describing contemporary problems" (Gunton 396). Her imaginative thrust is inward, as she uses this cultural framework to comment on the moods and movements of the 1930s. She makes bold statements regarding the misuse of political power and the devastating effect of World Wars I and II as British society was reduced to a state of decadence.

In The Last of the Wine, Renault cleverly uses the first person narrative to create an initial position from which to view the action, and I found myself personally drawn into her story. She skillfully constructs a dialogue between three persons from different eras sharing the common experiences of war and political corruption. Alexis talks about his experiences growing up and fighting in the Peloponnesian wars. Renault draws a parallel between his experiences and hers in Britain in World War II. These caused me to reflect on the news media's horrifying reports of numerous wars around the world, in my era. We each take the position of moralistic observer and innocent victim, reacting sensitively to the moods and movements of our times.

By highlighting the Spartan siege of Athens, Renault is bemoaning the fact that war, and the misuse of political power, have reduced her once prosperous British Society to a state of degradation. Rich and poor suffer alike, but this shared suffering can serve as a unifying force to propel the people to greater progress, as is evident by the Athenians uniting to free their city from tyranny. In Athens, as in Britain, people were suffering from starvation and diseases. They lived in constant fear of enemy attacks. Children, the aged, and the sick suffered the most. Many were abandoned as everyone used desperate measures to obtain food, and to survive. Families were torn apart as fathers and sons went off to fight, and were often killed in battle. Many affluent families were reduced to accepting aid from some kind person whom they had once considered below their status. Like Socrates, Renault is critical of the political institutions that perpetuate this pain and suffering. She wants the corrupt politicians to forget their self-interest and consider the plightof children, the poor, and the suffering. She is calling for a new world of justice, peace, and unity.

This hook has helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the Classical Greek period, and to develop greater appreciation for its culture. I consider homosexuality to be morally wrong, and find the idea of naked men sharing public bath houses, and washing each other's bodies offensive. However, I am intrigued by the Greeks' notion that homosexuality expressed their concept of romantic love and friendship. Perhaps Renault wants to compare this Greek concept with the British conventional heterosexual relationship as expressions of love and friendship. In my society, sexual freedom has gone overboard, creating numerous social problems especially among our youths.

Renault also alludes to the warring Greek cities calling a truce in order to participate in the Olympic Games. To me, this symbolizes the hope of international peace and unity in spite of cultural and regional differences. Renault identifies Socrates and the Sophists as visionaries who taught the youths to think for themselves, and question authority. Socrates plays a significant role in shaping Alexas's personality. With this view in mind, Renault appeals to every parent, educator, policy maker, and world leader to create a vision for our youths and our society at large. We are to examine our political institutions to see if they serve the interest of the people.

I can vouch for the authenticity of the information in this book. It is historically correct and can be corroborated by the textbook currently being used in my history class. The Last of the Wine makes delightful reading and will appeal to readers of all interests. Written in a style and language that is easily understood and appreciated, it bristles with excitement, adventure and heroic exploits. With all the foregoing in mind, I strongly recommend this book as a literary masterpiece.

^ILandon, C. Burns Jr., "Mary Renault" in Gunton, Sharon R, ed., Contemporanry Literature Criticism. Twaynes Publishers Inc, 1969, 394-397.

² Renault, Mary. The Last of the Wine Pantheon Rooks, 1956.