Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
The Mask of Apollo cover art

The Mask of Apollo

By: Mary Renault
Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £19.00

Buy Now for £19.00

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Praise Singer cover art
The Last of the Wine cover art
The King Must Die cover art
Fire from Heaven cover art
The Persian Boy cover art
The Bull from The Sea cover art
Funeral Games cover art
The Charioteer cover art
Hand of Isis cover art
Eleanor the Queen cover art
Esther cover art
Rain and Other Stories cover art
The Satyricon cover art
Sons cover art
Empress cover art
Colossus: Stone and Steel cover art

Summary

In a vivid depiction of Ancient Greece and its legendary heroes, The Mask of Apollo tells the story of Nikeratos, the gifted tragic actor at the centre of political and cultural activity in Athens, 400 B. C.

Wherever he goes, Nikeratos carries a golden mask of Apollo, a relic and reminder of an age when the theatre was at the height of its greatness and talent. Only a mascot at first, the mask gradually turns into Nikeratos' conscience as he encounters famous thinkers, actors, and philosophers, including the famous Plato himself.

©1966 Mary Renault (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about The Mask of Apollo

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Simply marvellous

An amazing reconstruction of ancient greek life and the art of the theatre. it interweaves politics, philosophy, and lives both worthy and base. There is no writer like her and her work is performed supremely in this reading.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

A superbly evoked story of art and politics in Ancient Greece, full of atmosphere and intrigue. A magnificent performance by Barnaby Edwards - in particular his portrayal of the hero is faultless.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best audiobook performance I have ever heard

I haven't even finished the book yet, but already I have to say, this is the best narration of an audiobook I have ever had the pleasure of listening to.
Edwards strikes the perfect balance between bringing characters to life and letting the text speak for itself.
His narration of Niko is so lively and delicate, that I feel like he could step right out of the headphones.

When I am done with The Mask of Apollo, I will be looking for more books narrated by Edwards

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting story, amazingly narrated

Really great narration, well distinguished characters with different voices. Story was enjoyable and not my usual thing but as I'm interested in Greek mythology I gave it a go.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amusing theatre talk - and political tragedy

The story is set around the middle of the forth century in Ancient Greece and Sicily, and follows the life of the fictional actor Nikeratos, who gets a peak into the (then) hot political issues centred around Dion of Syracuse - and the philosophy of Plato.

Renault made a brilliant use of her real life theatre friendships and writes very vibrant theatrical chatter. Did historical ancient actors sound like this? Well, likely not - but it’s fun and makes the story persuasive.

Are there no flaws then? Well, no. Plato was a personal hero of Renault’s, but I feel that she manages to portray the famous philosopher with a critical eye, which makes the character believable.

Beautifully performed! Also extra points for including the Author’s Notes!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

What an interesting story. I read a book long ago with the same theme in Spanish and I was looking for the story again as I believe we have not changed since Plato's times. we are still making the same errors.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unique plotting

What a great way of portraying the philosophical and theatrical issues of ancient times, by plotting around an actor’s life. Sometimes this kind of historiography can feel clunky and staged, but this novel is masterfully plotted. Well done to the author!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!