The Praise Singer

The Praise Singer is one of the last historical novels by Mary Renault, set like the others in Ancient Greece. It was published by Pantheon in 1978. 
The Praise Singer focuses on the life of Simonides of Keos, an actual historical poet (ca. 556-469 B.C.) In a manner similar to The Last of the Wine, the novel is framed as an autobiography, told by the protagonist as he reminisces about his life, which spanned the transition from an oral to a written culture in Ancient Greece. Through Simonides' eyes we learn about the arts in Ancient Greece, the social mores of their culture, and the politics of oligarchies and tyrannies. 
Simonides begins his story with his childhood. Ugly and withdrawn, he finds solace in the muses until the discovery of his talent by another poet, Kleobis, who takes him as his apprentice. Simonides' early career takes him to Ephesos, Samos and Euboia, and Athens, where he finds a powerful patron in its tyrant (ruler) Pisistratos. At the Court of Pisistratos—and later, his sons Hippias and Hipparchos—Simonides becomes a much celebrated poet. Through the course of the book, we see such festivals as the Olympics; witness the developing romance of Harmodios and Aristogeiton, the famous Athenian tyrannicides; and meet numerous historical personages, including Pythagoras and Aischylos. The Praise Singer ends with the death of Hipparchos, upon which the middle-aged Simonides flees to Thessaly.It has been suggested that Renault had initially planned to write a sequel to this book before she died, but may have been daunted by the scope of the necessary historical research. 
==Book Discussion==
No chapter-by-chapter discussion has taken place about this book but two discussions about specific aspects of The Praise Singer have been carried out in the maryrenaultfics community. 
*Were the Getai really 'Milk-Eaters'?Post by erised_dream in the maryrenaultfics community, 13 June 2005. Accessed 1 August 2010.
*Why is the Ending so Abrupt?Post by baranduin in the maryrenaultfics community, 26 June 2005. Accessed 1 August 2010. 
==In Their Own Words==
In 2008 maryrenaultfics began a project which involved "interviews" of characters from Renault's novels. Harmodios and Aristogeiton were interviewed,Harmodios and Aristogeiton (Part One) comment in maryrenaultfics by fatwatson, 15 June 2008. Accessed 1 August 2010.Harmodios and Aristogeiton (Part Two) comment in maryrenaultfics by fawatson, 15 June 2008. Accessed 1 August 2010. as was Hippias;Hippias interview in a comment thread started by Anonymous (fawatson) on maryrenaultfics, 15 June 2008. Accessed 1 August 2010. and two extensive interviews were conducted with Simonides. In the first, appalled by how little of his poetry has survived, he is even more shaken to learn the fate of Homer in modern hands.Simonides and Poetry (Part One) comment by fawatson in maryrenaultfics, 1 June 2008. Accessed 1 August 2010.Simonides and Poetry (Part Two) comment by fawatson in maryrenaultfics, 1 June 2008. Accessed 1 August 2010. In the second, he is interviewed after a performance for the community and other attendees. Subjects range over religious festivals,Simonides' Second Interview (Part One) comment by fawatson in maryrenaultfics, 14 June 2008. Accessed 1 August 2010. beauty,Simonides' Second Interview (Part Two) comment by fawatson in maryrenaultfics, 14 June 2008. Accessed 1 August 2010. and epics—not to mention the internet. In particular, having been told that epic is no longer written, Simonides is delighted to be able to introduce the Interviewer to modern examples of the mode.Simonides' Second Interview (Part Two) and (Part Three) comment by fawatson in maryrenaultfics, 14 June 2008. Accessed 1 August 2010. There then followed a discussion of Mary Renault herself by several of her characters, including Simonides.On Writing comment by fawatson in maryrenaultfics, 22 June 2008..
Simonides appeared again during the Six-Word Novels Challenge, reluctantly penning his own contribution;To Cut, or Not to Cut commentfic by fawatson on maryrenaultfics, 14 February 2009. Accessed 1 August 2010. and he was one of the characters who received an invitation to the maryrenaultfics community's five-year anniversary celebrations.Five Year On: Simonides invitation written by queen_ypolita on maryrenaultfics, 6 May 2009. Accessed 1 August 2010. He is the focus of one of the posts in the Christmas series;Christmas at the Clubhouse: On the Third Day of Christmas... by fawatson on maryrenaultfics, 27 December 2009. Accessed 1 August 2010. and, during the 2010 World Poetry Day celebrations, he bestows inspiration on those community members who are contributing poems to the haiku challenge.Poetic Leanings by fawatson, 7 March 2010. Accessed 1 August 2010.
For more details please see the article about the ITOWverse.
==Fan Fiction==
There has been very little fan fiction written based on The Praise Singer. 
 
===Archives===
* The Praise Singer fic on the MaryRenaultFics LJ community
* The Praise Singer fic on AO3
===Notable Stories===
*"Return to Night" by arysteia - Harmodios and Aristogeiton in love (NB: 'R' rated)
*"Submitting it to Memory" by queen_ypolita – a poem in Simonides' honour written for maryrenaultfics five-year anniversary celebrations.
*"Memorial" by fawatson - Simonides finds divine inspiration, written for the maryrenaultfics Spooky Challenge 2010, plus two drabbles written as sequels: "Beasts of the Earth" and "Fish of the Sea", written for the Spooky Challenge 2011 (viewable only by community members).
*"What Deserves Remembrance""What Deserves Remembrance" by Katherine, as archived on AO3. Accessed 6 January 2012. by Katherine as a Yuletide 2011 gift for fawatson - In old age, Simonides reflects on his life.
*"Tartarus""Tartarus" by fawatson, on maryrenaultfics. Accessed 30 December 2013. by fawatson in response to the Halloween Spooky Challenge - One 50 word semi-drabble and one 100 word drabble detailing divine retribution and punishment to Hipparchos, Aristogeiton and Harmodios.
==References==
Category:Books & LiteratureCategory:Mary Renault