A fictionalized account of Theseus, King of Athens before he became the King, it is not a historical essay and it does not try to be one. That is not to say the research is shoddy but the explanation seems to give importance to one detail while ignoring others that do not fit. Moving on from what to how, this is not an easy read. The scenery descriptions do not allow you to be part of Theseus's journey even though it is in first person. You have to wait for a long time for the dialogues and they are not ear catching. The drama we might expect it to be is lacking. Sorry Mary Renault and her fans but you dont write about kings and be subtle about it.