The King Must Die - first US edition

by Mary Renault

This is the story of Theseus, slayer of monsters, abductor of princesses, King of Athens, following the myth closely, yet imparting a very human, clearly defined personality, convincing in every detail, of the man behind the myth. 

The core of the story is the Cretan adventure, the descent into the labyrinth beneath the Palace of Knossos, young men somersaulting over the backs of charging bulls, young girls ready to catch them. A lush description of bull leapers, fashions of Cretan beauties, the sinister rites of the earth religion. 

Book is tan cloth with red boards and red reverse field lettering on spine. Jacket is in very good condition, a bit rubbed, but its hard to say if that was intended on the original dustjacket artwork by Eric Carle.