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New edition of book written by St Hugh’s alumna, Mary Renault, to be published

We are delighted to announce that a stunning new hardback edition of The Persian Boy written by novelist and alumna Mary Renault (English Language and Literature, 1925), will be published on Thursday 18 July 2024 by Virago Press. The Persian Boy is narrated by Bagoas, a young Persian who becomes the lover and most faithful servant of Alexander the Great.

After graduating from St Hugh’s in 1928, Mary worked as a nurse and began writing her first novels which were contemporary romances. In 1948, she moved to South Africa with her partner Julie Mullard, where she spent the rest of her life. She devoted herself to writing historical fiction in the 1950s which were her most successful books. She is best known for her historical novels set in ancient Greece with their vivid fictional portrayals of Theseus, Socrates, Plato and Alexander the Great.

To pre-order your copy click here.