Slightly more than 600 pages, helen of troy is a sweeping novel a panorama of historical greece and troy with breathtaking scenery. Wolfgang petersons film troy, the memoirs of helen of troy another novel about helen, the book by bettany hughes, and the pbs documentary helen of troy attest to the current appeal of these myths. Margaret george s helen of troy is indeed a doorstopper of a book, coming in at over 600 pages, and it could very easily have become bogged down in endless unpronounceable names and illogical storylines. The new york times bestseller from margaret george, author of mary, called magdalene and elizabeth i with her amazing ability to summon the voices of historical characters, margaret george tells the story of the woman whose face launched a thousand ships in helen of troy. In helen of troy, margaret george has captured a timeless legend in a mesmerizing tale of a woman whose life was destined to create strifeand destroy civilizations. Helen, who speaks for herself, is a widow preparing to bury menelaus and then return to troy in the hope of somehow seeing her beloved paris once again. Apr 10, 20 george starts with helen as a small girl and takes her all the way through the trojan war, back to sparta and beyond. Helen of troy by margaret george 2006, hardcover for sale. Some of these questions are immediately answered in the prologue to margaret george s retelling of the myth. Click to read more about helen of troy by margaret george. Aug 03, 2006 the new york times bestseller from margaret george, author of mary, called magdalene and elizabeth i with her amazing ability to summon the voices of historical characters, margaret george tells the story of the woman whose face launched a thousand ships in helen of troy. It has often been said that true romantic love cannot last.
George mary, called magdalene depicts with bravado, grace and eloquence the grand spectacle surrounding helen of troy. Before the opening of hostilities, the greeks dispatched a. Margaret george writes historical fiction set in a number of periods from cleopatra to elizabeth i. She is the author of the bestselling novels the autobiography of henry viii 1986, mary queen of scotland and the isles 1992, the memoirs of cleopatra 1997, mary called magdalene 2002, helen of troy 2006, elizabeth i. Helen of troy does countertop dancing by margaret atwood. Helen of troy by margaret george 2006, hardcover for. Compare margaret georges portrayal with others you are familiar with, such as euripides helen, the recent film troy, and the portrait by dante gabriel rossetti. And it is a good story, told from helens point of view and very readable and engaging. Now margaret george, the highly acclaimed bestselling historical novelist, has turned her intelligent, perceptive eye to the myth that is helen of troy.
Helen of troy by margaret george is a fantastic example of how myth can be recounted successfully through literature. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read helen of troy. Helen of troy acclaimed author margaret george tells the story of the legendary greek woman whose face launched a thousand ships in this new york times bestseller. Jan 05, 2007 bestselling novelist, margaret george, here imagines the story of helen of sparta and troy, one of the most amazing female mythical characters, ancient or modern. Helen actually came from sparta, not troy, but she became forever helen of troy when she eloped with the trojan prince paris, launching a thousand ships, and today, a. Compare margaret george s portrayal with others you are familiar with, such as euripides helen, the recent film troy, and the portrait by dante gabriel rossetti. Helen of troy is based upon a myth, or at the very least a story, and it seems that this compromises ms george. Margaret george is an american historical novelist specializing in epic fictional biographies. Margaret george books list of books by author margaret. Margaret george is a rolling stone who has lived in many places, beginning her traveling at the age of four when her father joined the u. Not knowing the story was actually an advantage for me, because i did come to the novel with a certain freshness and openness.
The authors research into mycenaean culture, coupled with trojan war. Aug 03, 2006 acclaimed author margaret george tells the story of the legendary greek woman whose face launched a thousand ships in this new york times bestseller. Helen on the ramparts of troy was a popular theme in the late 19thcentury art seen here a depiction by frederick leighton. Daughter of a god, wife of a king, prize of antiquitys bloodiest war, helen of troy has inspired artists for millennia. Apr 12, 20 helen of troy by margaret george is a fantastic example of how myth can be recounted successfully through literature. In a similar fashion to leighton, gustave moreau depicts an expressionless helen. Helen starts out quite ordinary despite her half immortal parentage, except in the area of her startling appearance. Now, margaret george, the highly acclaimed bestselling historical novelist, has turned her intelligent, perceptive eye to the myth that is helen of troy. Margaret george is an established historical novelist, penning such successful books as the autobiography of henry viii, mary queen of scotland and the isles, the memoirs of cleopatra and mary, called magdalene. It took me to the ancient cities of sparta and troy with all of margaret george s story telling. The classical world in general, and greek myth in particular, seems to be experiencing a renaissance in twentyfirstcentury popular culture. Bestselling novelist, margaret george, here imagines the story of helen of sparta and troy, one of the most amazing female mythical characters, ancient or modern.
May 29, 2007 acclaimed author margaret george tells the story of the legendary greek woman whose face launched a thousand ships in this new york times bestseller. Canadian novelist and poet margaret atwood reenvisioned the myth of helen in modern, feminist guise in her poem helen of troy does countertop dancing. Helens story is told from her own perspective beginning with her childhood and taking the reader through the entirety of her life. Margaret george breathes new life into the great homeric tale by having helen narrate her own story. A lush, seductive novel of the legendary beauty whose face launched a thousand shipsdaughter of a god, wife of a king, prize of antiquitys bloodiest war, helen of troy has inspired artists for millennia. I am an avid reader and dearly love all of margaret george s books. Margaret george is a wellestablished author of lengthy, wellresearched historical novels, all save the first about women.
Synopsis bestselling novelist, margaret george, here imagines the story of helen of sparta and troy, one of the most amazing female mythical characters, ancient or modern. Acclaimed author margaret george tells the story of the legendary greek woman whose face launched a thousand ships in this new york. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading helen of troy. In book four of the odyssey, back in sparta with her husband menelaus, helen relates an interesting tale about her colluding with odysseus during the trojan. A spirited appendix to one of literatures greatest stories, in which the face that launched. I found this to be run of the mill and not very deep, probably due to the fact that the detail of the story was not recorded by history, unlike her other books the memoirs of cleopatra and the autobiography of henry the eight. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The family traveled on a freighter named after ulysses son telemachus that took thirty days to reach taiwan, where they spent two years. Margaret george author of the autobiography of henry viii. Margaret s new novelon sale now the splendor before the dark ascending to the throne was only the beginning. Helen of troy does countertop dancing the world is full of women the world is full of women the academy of american poets is the largest membershipbased nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting american poets. With her amazing ability to summon the voices of historical characters, margaret george tells the story of the woman whose face launched a thousand ships in helen of troy. Helen of troy by margaret george penguin random house audio.
Bestselling novelist, margaret george, here imagines the story of helen of sparta and troy, one of the most amazing female mythical characters, ancient or. Helen of troy quotes showing 15 of 5 when he comes into a room, you give a little gasp, deep inside, far inside, someone once said when trying to describe what it meant to love. Margaret first got the idea to write historical fiction when, after reading numerous books that viewed henry viii through the eyes of his enemies and victims, she found herself wondering if there might be another side to the story. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A war, which lasted for 10 years, was fought over her and nearly all the stories of the heroic age were bound into her. Helen of troy by margaret george forever lost in literature. Helen s story is told from her own perspective beginning with her childhood and taking the reader through the entirety of her life. The authors research into mycenaean culture, coupled with trojan war mythologys largerthanlife heroes, enliven a bold. Helen of troy margaret george david allsop classics. The trojan war, fought nearly twelve hundred years before the birth of christ, and recounted in homers iliad, continues to haunt us because of its origins. She is known for her meticulous research and the large scale of her books. Margaret s new novel on sale now the splendor before the dark ascending to the throne was only the beginning.
Aug 03, 2006 helen of troy ebook written by margaret george. Back to margaret george and her notquitehistorical subject, helen of troy. The author did a beautiful job of telling the story of helen of sparta, later helen of troy from a perspective which seamlessly submerges you into the trojan war. Helen of troy, by margaret george compulsive overreader.
Laden with doom, yet surprising in its moments of innocence and beauty, this is a beautifully told. Jul 26, 2006 well, helen of troy has earned that right, without a doubt. Review of helen of troy by margaret george judith starkston. Margaret george tells the story of the woman whose face launched a thousand ships. Remembering that i had this novel on my shelf, i decided it was time to take the plunge at 747 pages long, its quite a commitment. Helen has been the subject of numerous works of literature and art. Helen actually came from sparta, not troy, but she became forever helen of troy when she eloped with the trojan prince paris, launching a thousand ships, and today, a thousand haircare products named after her. Margaret georges helen of troy is indeed a doorstopper of a book, coming in at over 600 pages, and it could very easily have become bogged down in endless unpronounceable names and illogical storylines.
Helen livedif she lived at allaround 1200 bc, in an era we call the mycenaean age of greece. The most compelling things about helen of troy, besides the abundance of detail of daily life and war in ancient times, are georges character portrayals. Acclaimed author margaret george tells the story of the legendary greek woman whose face launched a thousand ships in this new york times bestseller. Margaret george is the author of the autobiography of henry viii, the memoirs of cleopatra, and elizabeth i, among other novels. The authors research into mycenaean culture, coupled with trojan war mythologys largerthanlife heroes, enliven a bold story pulsing with romance and sacrifice, omens and battles. She is the author of the bestselling novels the autobiography of henry viii, mary queen of scotland and the isles, the memoirs of cleopatra, mary called magdalene, helen of troy, elizabeth i, the confessions of young nero, and the splendor. Laden with doom, yet surprising in its moments of innocence and beauty. Margaret george she is known for her meticulous research and the large scale of her books. The new york times bestseller from margaret george, author of mary, called magdalene and elizabeth i.