Renault embarked on a difficult task when she wrote The Mask of Apollo and her other novels set in ancient Greece.

The historical novel is a genre that sometimes generates hostility from critics.

Detractors question whether the unfamiliar setting is just an attempt to make a superficial plot seem more exotic and substantial. Also subject to harsh scrutiny are the authenticity of the historical details; the feasibility, in the given setting, of the fictional characters' thoughts and speeches; and the accuracy of the fictional speeches and actions of historical characters. Some critics, such as Philip Toynbee, feel that by their very nature such novels are "monstrous hybrids." Although Toynbee is in the minority, he is right in pointing to the difficulty of combining story and history. Renault's success puts her in select company.

The historical setting effectively illuminates the complex themes of The Mask of Apollo...