Review of The Fox
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Zolex Paula Avina
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Review of The Fox
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fox" by M. N. J. Butler.]
The ancient Spartan kingdom is frequently related to values such as courage, perseverance, and grit. In The Fox, M.N.J. Butler narrates the story of a significant era in Spartan history in the words of someone at the center of that era. Leotychides, the narrator, is the son of the Spartan king, Agis, and is supposed to ascend the throne upon his father’s death. This ascension is, however, complicated by his father’s reluctance to recognize Leotychides until he was on his deathbed. Thus, Leotychides’ uncle, Agisilaos, takes over power, denying his nephew the throne. The book narrates how Sparta suffered many wars under King Agisilaos. It also covers the contribution of Leotychides to national security as a general.
The story in The Fox is the recollection of Leotychides in the court of the Macedonian king. The story covers activities during the 4th Century B.C. Butler tries to provide his readers with the closest thing to an actual historical narrative from those times. This attempt reflects in the narrative style, diction, and the narrator’s confession that he is modeling the story after Herodotos, a renowned historian. The Fox not only tells the story of Leotychides but also gives readers an insight into ancient Spartan life. The book describes Spartan customs, their military prowess, and their culture of resilience. It also establishes a mixture of fiction and historical accuracy in the relationship between many great people in military and political history. As a reader, I was treated to the stories of characters such as Artaxerxes, Philippos, Tachos, and Polyanthes, to mention a few.
I hold numerous aspects of the book in high regard, beginning with the story itself. As a fan of history and ancient politics, I relish any opportunity to learn about the great Greeks and their neighbors. The Fox piques my interest with its engaging tales of war and power. Learning about the Spartan culture is an experience that can keep anyone fixated on a book. I, for one, have heard disjointed stories about Spartans and their famed grit. However, reading a book about a great Spartan and his interactions with other great Spartans helped me fill the gaps created by my old stories. I especially liked the prestigious role of women in the Spartan kingdom, especially when compared to the trends of those times.
However, my favorite Spartan story is about a boy who stole a fox and refused to cry out when the fox was gnawing at him under his clothes. This story represents the entire Spartan system, designed according to the laws of Lycurgus. It shows how the Spartans are willing to endure pain as long as it protects their pride. In The Fox, Butler uses apt narrative and descriptive techniques to bring his audience closer to the events and principles of the famous Spartan kingdom.
I did not find much to criticize about the book except for the length. While I understand the author’s attempt to make the book seem like a memoir, I believe he was not obligated to make the book as long as he did. I also found it very difficult to keep up with the many foreign names I came across in the book.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because I love the story of the Spartan kingdom as told by Butler. It was very educational without losing its entertainment value. I also believe that the book was exceptionally edited. I lack any significant reservations enough to earn the book a lower score.
Finally, I recommend Butler’s The Fox to lovers of ancient war and politics, told with fiction. I also think it would be great for young students of history.
******
The Fox
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The ancient Spartan kingdom is frequently related to values such as courage, perseverance, and grit. In The Fox, M.N.J. Butler narrates the story of a significant era in Spartan history in the words of someone at the center of that era. Leotychides, the narrator, is the son of the Spartan king, Agis, and is supposed to ascend the throne upon his father’s death. This ascension is, however, complicated by his father’s reluctance to recognize Leotychides until he was on his deathbed. Thus, Leotychides’ uncle, Agisilaos, takes over power, denying his nephew the throne. The book narrates how Sparta suffered many wars under King Agisilaos. It also covers the contribution of Leotychides to national security as a general.
The story in The Fox is the recollection of Leotychides in the court of the Macedonian king. The story covers activities during the 4th Century B.C. Butler tries to provide his readers with the closest thing to an actual historical narrative from those times. This attempt reflects in the narrative style, diction, and the narrator’s confession that he is modeling the story after Herodotos, a renowned historian. The Fox not only tells the story of Leotychides but also gives readers an insight into ancient Spartan life. The book describes Spartan customs, their military prowess, and their culture of resilience. It also establishes a mixture of fiction and historical accuracy in the relationship between many great people in military and political history. As a reader, I was treated to the stories of characters such as Artaxerxes, Philippos, Tachos, and Polyanthes, to mention a few.
I hold numerous aspects of the book in high regard, beginning with the story itself. As a fan of history and ancient politics, I relish any opportunity to learn about the great Greeks and their neighbors. The Fox piques my interest with its engaging tales of war and power. Learning about the Spartan culture is an experience that can keep anyone fixated on a book. I, for one, have heard disjointed stories about Spartans and their famed grit. However, reading a book about a great Spartan and his interactions with other great Spartans helped me fill the gaps created by my old stories. I especially liked the prestigious role of women in the Spartan kingdom, especially when compared to the trends of those times.
However, my favorite Spartan story is about a boy who stole a fox and refused to cry out when the fox was gnawing at him under his clothes. This story represents the entire Spartan system, designed according to the laws of Lycurgus. It shows how the Spartans are willing to endure pain as long as it protects their pride. In The Fox, Butler uses apt narrative and descriptive techniques to bring his audience closer to the events and principles of the famous Spartan kingdom.
I did not find much to criticize about the book except for the length. While I understand the author’s attempt to make the book seem like a memoir, I believe he was not obligated to make the book as long as he did. I also found it very difficult to keep up with the many foreign names I came across in the book.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because I love the story of the Spartan kingdom as told by Butler. It was very educational without losing its entertainment value. I also believe that the book was exceptionally edited. I lack any significant reservations enough to earn the book a lower score.
Finally, I recommend Butler’s The Fox to lovers of ancient war and politics, told with fiction. I also think it would be great for young students of history.
******
The Fox
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The MECE Muse by Christie Lindor
