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The Last of the Wine

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The Last of the Wine

By: Mary Renault
Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
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About this listen

Alexias, a young Athenian of good family, grows up just as the Peloponnesian War is drawing to a close. The adult world he enters is one in which the power and influence of his class have been undermined by the forces of war, and more and more Alexias finds himself drawn to the controversial teachings of Sokrates.

Among the great thinker's followers, Alexias meets Lysis, and the two youths become inseparable, wrestling together in the palaestra, journeying to the Olympic Games, and fighting in the wars against Sparta. On the great historical canvas of famine, siege, and civil conflict, their relationship captures vividly the intricacies of classical Greek culture.

©1956 Mary Renault (P)2015 Audible, Ltd Fiction Historical Fiction Ancient History Ancient Greece War Sports

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All stars
Most relevant
An interesting account. Renault writes brilliantly and the novel is beautifully read, with the many characters nicely distinguished.

Expertly written and beautifully read.

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As it happened I’d been reading about Ancient Greek history of the classical period and about Socrates and his fate. From my lay persons point of view this seems so well researched and of the time. I doubt you’ll find a better experience of what life might have been like in Ancient Greece for an average citizen class male, in particular.

Really good.

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A beautiful book, and a perfect performance. The more I come back to it the better it gets.

Kάλλιστος

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Beautifully read, with sympathy, colour and character.
An authentic account of this period, and frequently moving even in its understatement.

Superb rendition of a brilliant book

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Read at your own risk - this book will haunt your dreams and make your soul grow.

Meticulously researched, written in beautifully stark English, Renault brings to life a time and place long gone in a way that will make you smell the food, feel the cloth on your skin and make you swear that, yes, you have walked the streets of ancient Athens yourself!

Set during the Peloponnesian war, the story follows Athens’ struggles in that bitter conflict in a way that makes it more vivid than many current events. It also acquaints you with Socrates and his circle.

Is there no flaws then? Well, sometimes Renault’s Platonic concepts are a bit esoteric. But that is a very minor complaint.

Very nicely preformed.

A book to change your soul

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