The King Must Die by Mary Renault

Most people have a basic understanding of the Theseus legend, however most stories fail to fill in the cracks left barren by the original myth. That is exactly what Mary Renault’s book, The King Must Die, succeeds in doing. Some of the missing components of Theseus’ story are the experiences of his early childhood. Called by some unknown force, Theseus yearns to learn more of his past and his relation to Poseidon. Fueled by his mother’s tale of his birth, Theseus embarks upon a journey to find out more about who he is and what really happened on the day of his conception. If you find any interest in a man’s journey to discover himself and overcome unexpected confrontations, then this may be the book for you. However, Renault’s archaic use of dialogue hinders the flow of the story, and at times the reader feels slightly perplexed on some important details necessary to the understanding of the story. Despite this slight impediment, the story still fills in the gaps with occasional odd humor, but still stays true to the original legend. - Ryan J., class of 2012