The Persian Boy by Mary RenaultMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
“It is better to believe in men too rashly, and regret, than believe too meanly. Men could be more than what they are, if they would try for it. He has shown them that… Those who look in mankind only for their own littleness, and make them believe in that, kill more than he ever will in all his wars.”
The second book of the Alexander trilogy was very different in tone from the first, as the entire thing is narrated by the true-to-life lover and faithful companion named Bagoas. But of course, the quality of Renault's writing remains ever so lyrical and excellent. I feel like reading a single page ennobles me, if that makes sense??
Renault writes very sympathetically of the relationship between the two, a love that was greater than jealousy borne from Alexander’s two marriages and his older relationship with Hephaistion. She points out that as of his lifetime, "the Christian ideal of chastity was still unborn,” and treats the tender relationship with respect and compassion, never vulgar nor explicit.
It is a love that makes Bagoas follow Alexander through continent after continent, war after war. Through barren deserts and raging rivers and mountain eyries, Bagoas follows and bears all suffering because he can’t bear to be where Alexander is not… until the very end. And even without all his riches, one may call Alexander rich for having a love such as this. *sniff*
I leave the second book with a heavy heart, knowing that the disintegration of the mighty empire is yet to come in Book 3.
See my review for Book 1 here.
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