Real and fictional in the novels by Mary Renault (characteristics of fictional reconstruction of antiquity)

In the article an attempt is undertaken to reveal the specific character of recreation of the past in the novels by Mary Renault. The author of the article proves that success of the historical novels written by M.Renault lies in her fictional holistic method to combine true historical facts and fiction. The analysis of historicism of the novels is based on the works by T.Blavatskaya, A.Bonnar, F.Shachermaer and other historians. The author draws parallels between the novels by M. Renault and the historical novels by Sir W. Scott, W.M.Thackeray, J.Lindsay, R.Graves and M.Stewart. The materials of M.Renault's biography by C.Zielburg are also used in the article.