The Classical Novels

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Mary Butts had a keen interest in classical history, and an imagination tuned to understanding the personalities of visionary rulers. These two historical novels, published in England in her lifetime to considerable acclaim, are surprisingly well-suited for publication in one volume: the segue from Alexander the Great's death and legacy is readily made to the rise 250 years later of a strong, intelligent, and capable Queen in Alexandria. Each novel is thoroughly researched and richly imagined, Butts' style is fluid, the writing is crisp and colloquial, and the scenes she composes are dramatic. These are historical novels unlike all but a few others, Butts' purpose is to go so far beneath the conventional understanding of Greek and Roman history as to retrieve specific meaning relevant to the contemporary social and political arenas. She realized, for example, how distorted and sexually compromised the figure of Cleopatra had become in the hands of male historians and dramatists (only Shakespeare is partly exempted), and so with fierce dedication Butts sought to retrieve the truth and dignity of her life (a very telling essay is appended to Scenes). In addition to two complete novels, this third volume of Mary Butts' work includes three related short stories: "The Later Life of Theseus, King of Athens, " "Bellerophon to Anteia, " and "A Roman Speaks.