The Last Of The Wine

Some historical novels attempt to recreate the ancient world. Mary Renault seemed to wander into ancient Greece, make friends with philosophers, attend a few political meetings, witness a military campaign and then return to the twentieth century with notes. The Last of the Wine is one of her finest achievements, a richly atmospheric novel that transports readers to Classical Athens with such confidence that modern life begins to feel like the temporary interruption.

First published in 1956 and presented here in this 1962 Four Square Books edition, the novel follows the life of Alexias during the turbulent final years of the Peloponnesian War. Against a backdrop of political intrigue, military conflict, friendship, loyalty and personal growth, Renault paints a vivid portrait of a civilisation often remembered for its philosophers but which was, inconveniently, also full of ordinary human beings making complicated decisions.

One of the great ironies of history is that ancient Athens is frequently held up as the cradle of democracy, philosophy and civilisation, while simultaneously spending much of its time arguing, fighting, plotting and making questionable political choices. In other words, it turns out that the ancient Greeks may have been rather more modern than they are often given credit for.

Renault’s genius lies in making the distant past feel alive. Her Athens is not a museum display populated by marble statues. It is noisy, uncertain, ambitious and intensely human. Philosophical debates sit alongside military disasters. Great historical figures appear not as untouchable legends but as participants in a society trying to understand itself. Readers expecting dry historical reconstruction are likely to find themselves unexpectedly swept into a remarkably engaging story.

There is also something wonderfully reassuring about the fact that people living two and a half thousand years ago worried about politics, friendship, reputation, war and the future. Civilisations rise and fall, empires come and go, yet humanity remains remarkably committed to repeating many of the same mistakes.

As a work of historical fiction, The Last of the Wine has earned its reputation as a classic. Renault combined meticulous research with a genuine gift for storytelling, creating novels that satisfy both history enthusiasts and readers who simply enjoy a compelling narrative. Few authors have managed to make ancient Greece feel simultaneously exotic and familiar.

This particular copy has clearly enjoyed a life of its own. It is in fair condition, with a slanted spine that suggests decades of enthusiastic reading, travelling, shelving, unshelving and perhaps the occasional late-night chapter that turned into three more. The cover hinge has also received a few careful repairs to reinforce it. Rather fittingly for a novel that has survived for generations, the book itself has benefited from a little practical preservation.

At Crappy Old Books, we have a certain affection for volumes like this. Perfect copies can sit untouched on shelves looking immaculate. Copies such as this one have stories of their own. They have been read, carried, opened repeatedly and valued enough for someone to keep them going when time began to take its toll.

This edition remains entirely readable and continues to offer everything that has made Mary Renault beloved by generations of readers: intelligence, atmosphere, humanity and an extraordinary ability to bring the ancient world to life.

A classic historical novel from a master of the genre. The wine may be the last, but the appeal of Mary Renault’s storytelling appears to have aged rather better than most civilisations.

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