Mary Renault Reading Order
4 series · 17 books · Born 4 September 1905
Mary Renault was a celebrated English author renowned for her historical fiction centered around ancient Greece. With 17 works spread across four series, including those on Theseus and Alexander the Great, as well as standalone novels and non-fiction, she made a significant impact in her genre. Her career spanned from 1939 to 1981, during which she garnered acclaim for her compelling storytelling and rich historical detail.
Alexander the Great Series
Complete3 books (1969–1981)
Start with Fire from Heaven and read in order.
Non-Fiction Series
Complete1 book (1975–1975)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Nature of Alexander 1975Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete11 books (1939–1978)
Start with Purposes of Love, the first of 11 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Purposes of Love 1939Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Friendly Young Ladies 1943Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Kind Are Her Answers 1947Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Return to Night 1947Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 | North Face 1948Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Charioteer 1953Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Last of the Wine 1956Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Lion in the Gateway 1964Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Mask of Apollo 1966Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Promise of Love 1978Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Praise Singer 1978Buy 🇺🇸 |
Theseus Series
Complete2 books (1958–1962)
Start with The King Must Die and read in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Mary Renault written?
- Mary Renault has written 17 books across 4 series. Their published works span from 1939 to 1981.
- What is the first book in each Mary Renault series?
- Here are the first books in Mary Renault's series: Alexander the Great: Fire from Heaven; Theseus: The King Must Die.
- What order should I read Mary Renault's books?
- We recommend reading Mary Renault's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Mary Renault's series complete?
- Mary Renault has 4 completed series.