Synopsis: Acclaimed author Margaret George tells the story of the legendary Greek woman whose face "launched a thousand ships" in this New York Times bestseller.
The Trojan War, fought nearly twelve hundred years before the birth of Christ, and recounted in Homer's Iliad, continues to haunt us because of its origins: one woman's beauty, a visiting prince's passion, and a love that ended in tragedy.
Laden with doom, yet surprising in its moments of innocence and beauty, Helen of Troy is an exquisite page-turner with a cast of irresistible, legendary characters—Odysseus, Hector, Achilles, Menelaus, Priam, Clytemnestra, Agamemnon, as well as Helen and Paris themselves. With a wealth of material that reproduces the Age of Bronze in all its glory, it brings to life a war that we have all learned about but never before experienced.
My Review: Helen of Troy is one of the most famous figures in Greek mythology. She has inspired plays, songs, and poems. Helen of Troy still remains one of the most enigmatic characters in literature. She is often portrayed as the greatest femme fatale that has ever been known to man. In this novel, Helen is finally allowed to tell the tale from her own perspective. Therefore, the reader is given a glimpse to understand Helen of Troy as both a queen and a woman.
Helen of Troy is my least favorite character in Greek mythology. I have always been fascinated more with other women in the Trojan War, like Andromache. However, Mrs. George paints a realistic portrait of Helen. I sympathized with her because she is a pawn of the goddess, Aphrodite. I also like how Helen is portrayed as an unhappy figure who searches for happiness for the rest of her life. She is often filled with regret. Therefore, I found Helen to be a more compelling character, and I was intrigued to know her fate.
Overall, Helen of Troy is about war, regrets, and finding one’s self. I found all of the characters to be very realistic, except for Paris. Paris was really superficial. He only loved Helen for her beauty and not for whom she was as a person. The writing was very lush, and I felt like I was in Ancient Greece walking alongside Helen. Even though the book was long in page length, I never felt overwhelmed by it. Instead, I was so mesmerized by the novel that I did not want it to end! Therefore, Helen of Troy is definitely a novel that I will reread countless times! Helen of Troy is a must-feast because it is a sumptuous feast for fans of both Greek mythology and historical fiction! It will appeal to fans of Madeline Miller, Pat Barker, and Natalie Haynes! Bravo!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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