Mary Renault

BritishLiterary FictionHistorical FictionClassic Literatureb. 1905 — d. 1983

Mary Renault, born Eileen Mary Challans, was a British-born South African novelist best known for her historical novels set in ancient Greece. She also wrote a non-fiction biography of Alexander the Great. Her works are noted for their vivid storytelling, meticulous historical research, and sympathetic handling of male homosexuality, which caused some controversy at the time of their publication. Renault's novels attracted a large gay following and are considered landmark works in gay literature. She moved to South Africa with her partner, Julie Mullard, in 1948, where she felt she could write more openly about gay characters.

Awards

['MGM Prize for Return to Night']

Notable Works

['The Last of the Wine', 'The King Must Die', 'The Bull from the Sea', 'The Mask of Apollo', 'Fire from Heaven', 'The Persian Boy', 'Funeral Games', 'The Praise Singer', 'The Charioteer', 'The Nature of Alexander']