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Greetings,This query is related to another discussion group. Does anyone know the date that Thomas Burnett Swann published his "How Are The Mighty Fallen?"?I know he dedicated at least one book to Mary Renault; I am wondering if he wrote this one before or after her "Fire From Heaven".Also, did "Fire From Heaven" come before or after "The Last Of The Wine"? Thank you.Regards,
Sikander

Dear SikanderThe Last of the Wine (1956) (such a sad book)
Fire from Heaven (1970)according to:http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/Renault/ ... mlActually it is interesting that she was writing "around" Alexander even then, as the LotW book ends with a reference to Alexander. Also the youthful Alexander and Hephaestion are in The Mask of Apollo.Linda

Greetings L*inda,And thank you. Do you happen to know when Swann wrote "How Are The Mighty Fallen"?Both Renault and Swann has a *similar* though not *same* way of bringing the ancient world alive; Renault focused on humans, Swann on nymphs, fauns, dryads etc at the time their world was yielding to humans. "How Are.." was a slight departure but I am curious as to whether he was influenced by Renault or she was influenced by Swann or both just happened to develop similar interests.Regards,
Sikander

wow, am so happy that others have read and hopefully enjoyed "the last of the wine".yes, it was beautifully sad but beautiful nonetheless. i re-read it yearly and cry yearly. this was my 1st book that got me interested in alexander the great. mainly because of mary renault's writing. and i'm so grateful she did. if anyone here has not read " the last of the wine", please do so. tina rollsrite

I have always been a huge fan of Renault and I have her very first books (before she started writing about the Greeks). Her two books about Theseus are also excellent. (The King Must Die and Bull From the Sea). I read the first one the first time I visited Knossos.Unfortunately her third Alexander trilogy book "Funeral Games" was her last and I found it disappointing compared to the others. I think she must have rushed it through and it seemed more documented from her notes, the characters not developed so well. I believe she died soon after it was published.

Greetings L*inda, Tina and Ruth,Yes, but (laughing) has anyone here read the Swann book or know its publication date?I think Mary would be pleased knowing her books continue to awaken the interest of so many people to the ancient world.Regards,
Sikander

Goodness! Thomas Burnett Swann! That takes me back - I last
read one of his (Days of the Minotaur) about 10 years ago! His
books aren't that easy to come by since the demise of "Dark they
were & golden eyed..." (a fantasy/scifi bookshop in Soho, closed in
the late 1970s) - except, of course, via the internet 2nd hand
bookshops. However, a colleague of mine has a copy of "How are
the mighty fallen" which is a first edition paperback, published
1974 (so he tells me). (Not v. helpful, but I guess gives a vague
timespan). I've not read "How are the might fallen" - do you
recommend it?wmp

SikanderI have never heard of Swann. Is he worth searching out? http://www.stevensaylor.com/ThomasBurne ... o.htmlSays 1974 for How are the Mighty Fallen, so he is post-Renault, for that book.Great book covers..Linda

I didn't know that Alexander and Hephaestion were in "The Mask of Apollo". Wow! Thanks Linda.lightofdawn

Hi Rollsrite,I too, became aware of Alexander and even Ancient history from Renault's "The Persian Boy". I remember reading the back of the book at the bookstore. It was unlike anything I had found before. It even seemed a little forbidden to read about a eunuch, so I had to have the book. Renault has a way of endearing her characters to the reader.lightofdawn

At the very end - just a cameo role

Greetings WMP and Linda,You inquired about "How Are The Mighty Fallen". If you are familiar with Swann, you know he has a particular way of writing.. some like it, others do not. What I found interesting about the story was the approach to the story of David and Johnathon and how Swann wove it into his mythological world. I wondered whether he had received inspiration from "Fire From Heaven" because some aspects of the relationship seem to bear a similarity to the one Renault has created between Alexander and Hephaistion. I would probably suggest reading the book but not to expect Renault. Regards,
Sikander

Greetings Linda,For a "taste" of Swann, here is a link sent to mehttp://www.geocities.com/nodotus/hbswann.htmlRegards,
Sikander

Alexander is in one of the closing chapters. Not sure if Hepahestion was there too. I'll have to take another look. It's an excellent book about the ancient theatre world.