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Home / Authors / Mary Renault Mary Renault British author best known for her historical novels set in Ancient Greece, including *The King Must Die* and *The Persian Boy*. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, her work is celebrated for its scholarly depth and enduring influence. This page provides the Mary Renault books in order, including both chronological order and series reading order.
All books · chronological
1939 Purposes of Love POoSN · 1 Buy ↗ 1943 The Friendly Young Ladies POoSN · 2 Buy ↗ 1947 Kind Are Her Answers POoSN · 3 Buy ↗ 1947 Return to Night POoSN · 4 Buy ↗ 1948 North Face POoSN · 5 Buy ↗ 1953 The Charioteer POoSN · 6 Buy ↗ 1956 The Last of the Wine POoSN · 7 Buy ↗ 1958 The King Must Die POoTB · 1 Buy ↗ 1962 The Bull from the Sea POoTB · 2 Buy ↗ 1964 The Lion in the Gateway POoSN · 8 Buy ↗ 1966 The Mask of Apollo POoSN · 9 Buy ↗ 1969 Fire from Heaven POoAtGB · 1 Buy ↗ 1972 The Persian Boy POoAtGB · 2 Buy ↗ 1975 The Nature of Alexander POoNB · 1 Buy ↗ 1978 The Praise Singer POoSN · 10 Buy ↗ 1978 Promise of Love POoSN · 11 Buy ↗ 1981 Funeral Games POoAtGB · 3 Buy ↗ Book series · browse all →
Publication Order of Alexander the Great Books 3 books · 1969–1981
01 Fire from Heaven 1969 Buy ↗ 02 The Persian Boy 1972 Buy ↗ Publication Order of Standalone Novels 11 books · 1939–1978
01 Purposes of Love 1939 Buy ↗ 02 The Friendly Young Ladies 1943 Buy ↗ 03 Kind Are Her Answers 1947 Buy ↗ 04 Return to Night 1947 Buy ↗ 06 The Charioteer 1953 Buy ↗ 07 The Last of the Wine 1956 Buy ↗ 08 The Lion in the Gateway 1964 Buy ↗ 09 The Mask of Apollo 1966 Buy ↗ 10 The Praise Singer 1978 Buy ↗ 11 Promise of Love 1978 Buy ↗ Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books 1 book · 1975
01 The Nature of Alexander 1975 Buy ↗ Publication Order of Theseus Books 2 books · 1958–1962
01 The King Must Die 1958 Buy ↗ 02 The Bull from the Sea 1962 Buy ↗