Funeral Games - Mary Renault - A Short Summary & Review
Funeral Games - Mary Renault - A Short Summary & Review
By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures
A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review
A short summary:
Funeral Games opens in the immediate aftermath of Alexander the Great’s death, when the vast empire he forged begins to fracture under the weight of ambition, grief, and political maneuvering. With no clear successor, Alexander’s generals, wives, and family members circle one another warily, each seeking control or survival, as alliances form and shatter.
Rather than focusing on conquest, Renault turns her attention to consequence. The novel follows the power struggles that erupt as Alexander’s legacy is divided, charting the unraveling of unity and the brutal realities of succession in the ancient world. What emerges is a sober portrait of an empire’s end, shaped as much by personal rivalry as by political necessity.
My favorite quote from the book:
Questions to ponder while reading:
My review:
This is not a sweeping hero’s tale, it’s a reckoning. Funeral Games jumps between perspectives and regions, reflecting the instability of the moment it depicts. While that structure can feel disorienting at times, it ultimately serves the subject well: the story of an empire breaking apart should not feel orderly.
Renault’s research is meticulous, particularly in her portrayal of the many cultures caught in the collapse of Alexander’s rule. Customs, loyalties, and regional identities matter here, and the novel offers a rare look at ancient society beyond the battlefield, especially the precarious positions of women and children used as political currency.
The tone is restrained, thoughtful, and unsentimental. Triumph is absent; survival is hard-won. This is a novel for readers who appreciate historical realism and who want to understand not just how empires are built, but how they end.
Funeral Games is an absorbing, intellectually satisfying conclusion, less dramatic than inevitable, and all the more powerful for it.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
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