3 out of 4 stars
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"Sparta was the creation of conscient will. Perhaps that is why half Hellas tried to emulate her, and the other half to destroy her. But only Sparta could destroy herself." These enigmatic words come from a man who was a Spartiate and who should have been king. Near the end of his life, Leotychides finds himself in the court of King Philippos of Macedon. At the ruler's urging, Leotychides puts ink to paper telling Sparta's side in the preceding wars. From flock life to becoming a seasoned warrior, Leotychides shares his memories of a country he loved and the slow erosion of its society.
The Fox by M. N. J. Butler is a historical fiction told in the first person with Leotychides flipping from the past to his current situation. Displayed in this saga is the mistrust and hatred between Sparta and its enemies. When describing battles, Butler gives you enough information on what took place without it becoming tedious. The author masterfully weaves into the story multiple historical figures and facts, making it complex and rich with political intrigue that will keep you interested till the end.
Besides learning about the era, my favorite part was Leotychides' character. His Spartiate demeanor of being humble and disciplined made him likable. With hindsight wisdom and simplicity, Leotychides tells his account with an eloquence that can only be characterized as poetic. Along the way, I observed him in love and betrayed. I turned into his travel companion during the military campaigns and experienced his losses. Disappointment hit me when I arrived at the end of the book and had to say goodbye.
There are aspects of the narrative that will deter some. One is the length. In my Kindle version it is over 700 pages, making it not a quick read. Another is the implied homosexual relationships existing between characters. Because Leotychides is reminiscing and recording his thoughts, abrupt shifts occur in the storyline, and he sometimes interjects side comments. This style of writing may not appeal to some readers. Also, countless names and personalities are introduced in the story. Butler provides a glossary, although you will need to flip back and forth to it.
As much as I enjoyed Butler's tale, there were a few negatives. There were misuses of quotation marks and commas scattered throughout. Some paragraphs had huge gaps between them, creating half empty pages. I give The Fox 3 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical and character-driven fiction.
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The Fox
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