Review of The Fox

[Esther Godwin Ogechi]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fox" by M. N. J. Butler.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Some people can bravely suffer in silence, the afflictions imposed on them by their making or by others, or by circumstances beyond their control. This is true in the story told by Doreius (in the flock) of the legend of the Spartan boy who stole a fox and hid it under his cloth. The boy, desperate to prove his bravery and unwilling to admit his theft, showed no sign of pain nor did he once wince at the damage caused to his body by the carnivore, until he dropped lifeless. Only then was the fox discovered, along with the gravity of the damage it caused the boy. The same could be said of Leotychidis, who suffered in silence throughout his life. From the early age of three, when he learned he was the Eurypontid Prince, he knew people looked at him differently, a look he was to discover as disdain. People already questioned his right to the Eurypontid crown even before he laid claims to it. His father, King Agis II, did not once acknowledge him throughout his life (except on his deathbed). The matter of his illegitimacy was the reason the throne was usurped from him by his uncle Agisilaos. As a youngster, Leotychides had a liking for Alkibiades, unaware of the connection they had, or how thick his shadow over him was.

At the tender age of seven, Leotychidis was sent to the agoge to train with other young Spartans. They were educated in music, literature, dance (which he excelled at), singing, fighting, and the act of warfare. In the flock, Leotychidis learned what it meant to be a Spartan, and made lifelong friends.

Set in the 4th century B.C of Greek history, The Fox by M. N. J. Butler is a historical fiction on the life of Leotychidis. Now as an old man, he was charged by King Philippos of Macedonia, at the beginning of the novel, to put in writing his life experiences and the fall of Sparta at the hand of Thebes. The Fox is wealthy and educative on the history of the Ancient Greece city-state, Sparta. The readers immerse themselves in the environs, culture, military, political, and educational system of Sparta as recounted by Leotychides. One of the traits most appealing in the character of Leotychidis was his hunger for knowledge and his strife to excel even in the courts of Sparta and in his agoge. Despite being aware of his position to the Eurypontid throne, he still responded to the call to join the flock. The story also made mention of some Ancient Greece war heroes like Leonidas and Achilles. The book was divided into three parts, giving the readers more insight into the life of Leotychidis. Book one talks about his life in the courts of Sparta and with his flock. Book two, about the vie for the throne and book three, about his life as a mercenary.

There were a few negative aspects to the book. Firstly, The Fox was an extremely hard and long read; a book of about 618 pages. The story started tedious and slow-paced. Secondly, the names were too many, complicated, and very much alike, which made reading and understanding a real struggle (at the beginning, I thought Agis was short for Agisilaos). The writing style was very complicated and the author, I would say, was too generous with words. Lastly, the conversations were muddled up; it was hard at times to know who was saying what.

I would rate this book four out of five stars because of the negative aspects of the book stated above, but not any lesser because of the intricate and captivating storyline. Whether as fact or fiction, I have always fancied the history of Ancient Greece Sparta. Furthermore, the glossary at the beginning of the book was very much helpful in diluting the complexity of the novel. The book seems well edited, as I noticed no errors throughout reading it.

I would recommend this novel to all who fancy historical fiction, and fans of Ancient Greece history.

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The Fox
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