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.

Listening Length

15 hours and 31 minutes
Author

Mary Renault
Narrator

Barnaby Edwards
Audible release date

April 30, 2015
Language

English
Publisher

Audible Studios
ASIN

B00WVBVYD8
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	15 hours and 31 minutes
Author	Mary Renault
Narrator	Barnaby Edwards
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	April 30, 2015
Publisher	Audible Studios
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B00WVBVYD8
Best Sellers Rank	#179,233 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #5,516 in Classic Literature (Audible Books & Originals) #23,625 in Classic Literature & Fiction

Customer reviews

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4 star		17%
3 star		3%
2 star		3%
1 star		5%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Deloss Brown

Plato as an Action Hero

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2016

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When I was writing the Tech Show (MIT) musical based on Euripides ALCESTIS, I asked my Professor of the History of the Philosophy of Science, Giorgio di Santillana, for advice. He referred me to this book as being a very accurate description of Hellenistic theater (the other indispensable source is Margaret Bieber's GREEK AND ROMAN THEATER). The actor-hero, on his travels with what we would call a touring company, is thrown into close contact with Plato (yes, that one) and his friend Dion, and part of the plot is a dramatization of Plato's famous Seventh Letter. That does not mean that the pace is anything but fast, or that the story is anything but human and sensational. Mary Renault was a very distinguished and exciting novelist, You may know her novel THE KING MUST DIE, about Theseus. If you want a good, fast-moving novel to read, this is it, whether you care about Plato or not. Did you know that when Plato irritated the tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius, he sold Plato into slavery? Five stars.

9 people found this helpful

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zamzoo

Do not be embarrassed

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2019

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Although this is a somewhat dated novel that treats homosexuality in a "don't ask, don't tell" fashion that would probably seem silly to people in the era it portrays, do not be daunted. First and most importantly this is an excellent study of the early days of Greek theater. Theater in Ancient Greece was not just entertainment, it was religious and cultural and to our modern eyes pretty freaky! The details in this novel are very accurate, and will greatly enhance any study of classical Greek theater.

3 people found this helpful

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Betsy Devine

Warm. lively hero has adventures with Plato and more

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2017

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Mary Renault is a genius at creating historical novels of ancient Greece, whose lively protagonists have virtues mitigated by (still lovable) flaws. The protagonist in The Mask of Apollo is an actor about 20 years younger than Plato, whom he meets and whose school of philosophy intrigues him. For the reader, however, the pleasure of re-discovering Plato is just one of the many pleasures of this book. The real hero is Dion, somebody I never heard of before reading Renault, a wealthy noble of Syracuse who refrains from seizing power when it is offered to him... but I don't want to spoil the story for someone who doesn't know it yet. I strongly recommend this book, one of Renault's finest.

4 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

A Wonderful Story of Actors in Ancient Greece.

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2015

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This book is another of the masterpieces written by Mary Renault. Set in ancient Greece, it explores the role of actors of plays. She explains how, based on her exploration of those sources that were available to her, the theatre and actors functioned. She is clear about how little actual history she had to work with. I find her reconstruction of event 2500 years ago extremely plausible. The philosopher Plato is a significant character in this tragedy. As a student of philosophy myself, Ms Renault ' s characterization of Plato's views seems appropriate. It is a ripping good story. I have read it several times, and enjoyed it fully every time. I recommend it without reservation yo those interested in ancient Greece, Plato, a good story.

3 people found this helpful

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Jonny

Superb Historical Fiction

Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2018

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Mary Renault's affection for her subject is matched only by her superb style and her deep and wide ranging research. I first read this book some 45 years ago and have never tired of it. I'm a classical actor and teacher of actors and learned more about the essence of our profession from this book than from any other. Just stunning writing with great humanity behind it.

3 people found this helpful

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DancerJack

the emotional connection

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2001

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there are many reviews of ms. renault's work here already, so i will keep this very brief: the reason mary renault is my favorite author is that she can bring the emotional and human quality of her characters to the surface. she makes these long dead people with strange names come alive. she gives them a quotidian life. she makes them human, and humane. true, her knowledge of the ancient greeks is encyclopedic. true, her descriptions are wonderous, but her deep empathy for the people in her novels is what separates her from other historical writers. she also handles homoeroticism/homosocial behavior with a sweetness and sensitivity that demonstrates the value of the delicate bonds that men should be encouraged to explore and nurture. her compassion for the human experience is sometimes overwhelming.

11 people found this helpful

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Zaren Jaede

Praise for Mary Renault

Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2018

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Mary Renault was an English writer best known for her historical novels set in Ancient Greece. In addition to vivid fictional portrayals of Theseus, Socrates, Plato and Alexander the Great, she wrote a non-fiction biography of Alexander. If you have not yet read her work, do yourself a favor and purchase one of her novels... I particularly recommend either The Persian Boy or The Last of the Wine.

2 people found this helpful

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Kenneth J Payne

Not only has Renault caught the very essence of the ...

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2016

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Not only has Renault caught the very essence of the period but her subtlety with the sexuality of the times and nuanced take on male bonding in general is simply breathtaking considering the era she wrote in. Her grasp of place and history is 2nd to none historically and unlike so many "scholars"around Ancient Greece she does so with elan and a gift for bringing it all alive. And its unquestionable part of being the singularly most important civilisation to have existed, as far as the Western World is concerned.She has given it the meat of everyday life to cover its historical bones. You can't ask more than that from a book.

5 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Lexi

Entertaining and thought-provoking read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2017

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This is a brilliant novel and thoroughly enjoyable. I first read it when I was quite young, and it took me several reads to fully appreciate it. I don't want to put readers off, but it's the book that made me realize that politics is, and always has been, more about personalities than policies.

The story follows Nikeratos, an Athenian actor, as he gradually becomes successful. His story is entwined with Dion's, an upright but flawed aristocrat who attempts to put Plato's political ideas into practice with disastrous consequences.

Mary Renault was such a good writer. I wouldn't advise starting with this one - The King Must Die would be my choice - but this book is excellent and totally absorbing and not one you should miss.

4 people found this helpful

Chris

A novel for those with a thirst for the experience of history

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2019

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Once vastly popular, now less so, Mary Renault has set most of her most delightful books in the classical, Helenistic world - either bringing the times to life with stories, like this, set against real events or reimagening the myths of ancient Greece as history.. If you have travelled the sites of that civilisation, these stories will draw you in .

Ronnie

Only ok

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2019

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I have read 4 previous books of Ms Renault's & thoroughly enjoyed them all. This was a disappointment. None of the characters stood out for me, and felt little or no connexion with them,which was unfortunate. For the first time, gave up on the book half way through it.

Gerald T. Walford

'In vain man's expectation: God brings the unthought to be, as here we see!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2011

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The Mask of Apollo is the story of an actor from birth who, as he climbs his way to the top of the theatrical world of c.400 bce, comes to know of the academic world of Plato and then the attempts to make the ideal 'republic' (a concept of statehood/polis actually based around a philosopher-king)in Syracuse, then the most glittering of cities in Hellenic Sicily. These attempts to fuse philosophy with political reality draw him in with stealthy inevitability at great personal risk to himself, and he a 'mere' actor.
I love Mary Renault's subtle and humane portraits of the classical world. They are densely but very thoroughly conceived. Yes I think she does buy into a rather idealised view of the past as others have noted, but it remains a very believeable one. Great stuff!

2 people found this helpful

Tony roper

History unfolds as you live the lives of Ancient Greec and share their living of it.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2020

Verified Purchase

Read this about thirty years ago and loved it. Renault has the gift of awakening your imagination
To the point you become engrossed in character, plot and narrative. Loaned it to someone and of course never got it back, hence buying it again.

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