Eileen Mary Challans, known by her pen name Mary Renault (/ˈrɛnoʊlt/), was a renowned British writer best known for her historical novels set in Ancient Greece.

Born in Forest Gate in 1905, she attended St Hugh's College, Oxford, from 1924 until 1928. After graduating with a Third Class degree in English, she worked as a nurse and began writing her first novels, which were contemporary romances.

In 1948, Renault moved to Durban, South Africa with her partner Julie Mullard, and later to Cape Town, where she spent the remainder of her life. Living in South Africa allowed her to write about openly gay characters without fearing the censorship and homophobia prevalent in England at that time.

The 1950s marked her full transition to writing historical fiction, which turned out to be her most successful literary period. Her works often explored themes of love, sexuality, and relationships, attracting a large gay following for their positive depiction of homosexuality.

Mary Renault's literary contributions were met with acclaim, earning her numerous awards and honors, both during her lifetime and posthumously. She is best remembered for her vivid portrayals of characters such as Theseus, Socrates, Plato, and Alexander the Great.