Read your way through this list of 162 young adult books that are all retellings or reimaginings of popular classic literature, myths, fairy tales and shakespearean plays. Really was a poignant book, and brought me to tears many times. A major new book about the life and legend of the worlds most beautiful woman by the new star of tv history. Oct 05, 2018 in most of the traditional myths, helen of troy, the woman whose face launched a thousand ships, is seen but not heard. This book explores the famous story of helen, her involvement in the trojan war, and the hand she played in starting one of the most epic battles of grecian legend. Mar 10, 2015 its helen of troy as a feisty independent heroine before troy, without the reincarnation plot and modern paranormal romance element of starcrossed. Menelaus then called on helens former suitors to keep their promise and help get helen back. 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. Seriously, though, i believe margaret george is the queen of historical fiction and her writing in the first person is just incredible and pulls you into the story as if you are experiencing it firsthand. A twin sister of clytemnestra, she also had the twin brothers castor and pollux, also known as the dioscuri.
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. What this books does so wonderfully, is by taking a historical being, whether real or fiction and used the magic of that beings name and all in means to explore the lives of people that certainly did live. 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. She also has coauthored a childrens book, lucille lost. Theres a book about helen of troy by margaret georgr that is. The classical world in general, and greek myth in particular, seems to be experiencing a renaissance in twentyfirstcentury popular culture. More erudite and factual and more of a joy to read.
Once youve read the iliad, the odyssey and the trojan women, you will have a good grasp of her mythology and her story. In most of the traditional myths, helen of troy, the woman whose face launched a thousand ships, is seen but not heard. Ten books for readers of greek and roman mythology come. I am looking to find books based on greek mythology. Gods and goddesses are going strong in the ya sphere. The first three books in the series are helensoftroy released, nightmare on jacey street prerelease and boughs of holly prerelease and follow the paranormal adventures of helena, helen and ellie larose. Completed ya book series to read cover to cover right now. Jan 15, 2008 the story of heinrich schliemann, the adventurer who believed he could find the site of the city of troy and did, is as fascinating as the history of troy itself. Helen of troy is a quirky and lively retelling of the classic greek legend in smalltown america. Her suitors came from all parts of greece, and from among them she chose menelaus, agamemnons younger brother. If you have read her before, you wont be disappointed. The face that launched a thousand ships has inspired just as manyif not morestories and interpretations of what exactly happened between helen and paris, and how it drove troy to war. May 15, 2019 helen of troy is a character in homers classic epic poem, the iliad, written in the 8th century about the trojan war, imagined by the greeks to have occurred about 500 years earlier. Check out our list below of some great mythologyinspired reads.
It is told in first person and a lot of the details are hazy in my memory, but i remember that in this book there was a cat named bastos whose fur she used to whisper into about what was going on in her life, and that this cat was shot by greek soldiers during the sack of troy. The cause of the war was the seduction, by prince paris of troy, of the beautiful helen, queen of sparta, as well as the loss of the treasure that they ran off with. The greeks landed at troy and demanded the return of helen and the treasure to her husband, spartas king menelaus. List of books and articles about helen of troy online. Apr 08, 2019 this collection of 50 mustread completed ya book series is sponsored by the jackaby series by will ritter from algonquin young readers.
During the threeday event, participants heard from thought leaders on topics such as shadow of the leader, embracing the suck, design thinking principles, and moving from a fixed mindset. When menelaus returned home to discover his wife gone, he immediately went to troy to ask for helen back. Perhaps the most famous woman in the mythology of ancient greece was helen of troy. Jul 26, 2006 well, helen of troy has earned that right, without a doubt. She is probably best known as the indirect cause of the trojan war. Jul 22, 2019 if youre still fascinated with greek mythology books, or looking for percy jackson or circe readalikes, youll find the best of them here for adults, teens, and kids alike. This tv miniseries also shares the name with a 1956 movie starring stanley baker. After leaving sparta, helen and paris were married and went to the city of troy. Helen, in greek mythology, the most beautiful of women. As soon as men began to write, they made helen of troy their subject. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features.
Christopher marlowe, called her, the face that launched a thousand ships. I love how helen would rather learn how to fight than sew my kind of heroine. Considering that the private life of helen of troy was written by john erskine, one of the pioneers of the great books movement in the 1930s, i really thought that i would enjoy this novel more. Aug 29, 2017 18 fall 2017 ya books we cant wait to read.
Helen of troy corporation designs, markets, and distributes quality hair care appliances and related products worldwide. I am looking for a fiction book about cassandra of troy that i read in high school. Helen or helen of troy was the daughter of zeus and leda in greek mythology, although her putative father was tyndareus. Jun 01, 2011 a major new book about the life and legend of the worlds most beautiful woman by the new star of tv history.
Helen of troy is a 2003 britishamerican television miniseries based upon homers story of the trojan war, as recounted in the epic poem, iliad. Before the opening of hostilities, the greeks dispatched a. It is based on events in the iliad, incorporating original stories set in the heart of the city towards the end of the trojan war. Some authors are taking agesold mythology and making it attainable for the modern times. Her story is one of the most dramatic love stories of all time and is said to be one of the main reasons for a 10year war between the greeks and trojans, known. The city of troy was immortalized through homer s epic poem the iliad. Oct 31, 2019 gods and goddesses are going strong in the ya sphere. While still a young girl helen was abducted to attica by theseus and polydeuces, but castor and pollux rescued her. Helen of troy, in greek legend, the most beautiful woman of greece. In greek mythology, helen was the most beautiful woman from the age of the heroes. Helen of troy is famously known in ancient mythology as the face that launched a thousand ships, but this heroine was more than a pretty face and a catalyst for war. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, diana and alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely.
Even those who have never read this work are familiar with references to the trojan horse, achilles, and helen of troy. The first three books in the series are helen s oftroy released, nightmare on jacey street prerelease and boughs of holly prerelease and follow the paranormal adventures of helena, helen and ellie larose. Oct 15, 2005 helen of troy by bettany hughes jonathan cape. Friesner, the memoirs of helen of troy by amanda elyot. The worlds most beautiful woman is resigned to a passionless marriage until she meets handsome trojan prince paris. After the lovers flee to troy, war and tragedy become inevitable.
Amanda elyot finally gives her a voice in the memoirs of helen of troy, a. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading helen of troy. A novel of the women who lived the trojan war ya retelling of the trojan war story from the points of view of helen and cassandra. From highprofile sequels to stunning original debuts, 2017s ya offerings are littered with books that will have readers running to booksellers. Newly arrived in new fiddleham, new england, 1892, and in need of a job, abigail rook begins working for r. 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.
When their bachelor neighbor becomes helen s confidant, rumors spread and sides square off until the entire town joins the ruckus. Oct 09, 2015 once youve read the iliad, the odyssey and the trojan women, you will have a good grasp of her mythology and her story. If helen of troy is your first read, im sure youll buy her other books. Not only for the pain and sadness helen encountered, but at times the humor she mustered in very trying times. Regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world, she has been portrayed in stories as both an innocent victim of the gods and a deceitful wife. Margaret george is the new york times bestselling author of eight novels of biographical historical fiction, including the splendor before the dark, the confessions of young nero. Helen of troy by andrew lang and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Helen of troy by margaret george, nobodys princess by esther m. Helen ramsey and her goodoldboy husband, rudy, fight like caged roosters. The book tells the story of the amazonian princess diana who discovers her true power and the world beyond her home called themyscira. Im only looking for fiction not historical books or poems i know they are technically fiction. This collection of 50 mustread completed ya book series is sponsored by the jackaby series by will ritter from algonquin young readers.
Presenting ya retellings an epic infographic brought to you by epic reads. In the book, theres also a character by the name of alia who learns she is a warbringera direct descendant of the infamous helen of troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery. Helen of troy is based upon a myth, or at the very least a story, and it seems that this compromises ms george. Helen later fled to troy with paris, son of the trojan king priam, an act that ultimately led to the trojan war. Helen of troy by bettany hughes penguin books australia. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary including the ability to see supernatural beings.
George mary, called magdalene depicts with bravado, grace and eloquence the grand spectacle surrounding helen of troy. After seeing the movie troy and other helen of troy movies, i feel this book could be adapted into a fantastic movie, if they stay true to the book story. She was married to king menelaus of sparta but was abducted by prince paris of troy after the goddess aphrodite promised her to him in the judgement of paris. The song of achilles by madeline miller, the iliad by homer, the odyssey by homer, helen of troy by margaret george, and the. Ya princess books with the royal wedding date now upon us, here are 1o awesome books about royals. She was considered to be the most beautiful woman in the known world. Others are creating their own mythologies for their ya adventures. Dec 28, 2011 the helens0ftroy series is aimed at yaadult audiences that enjoy a little humor, a little horror and a lot of family drama. 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. Setting ancient greece with mythological heroes and monsters. The story of heinrich schliemann, the adventurer who believed he could find the site of the city of troy and did, is as fascinating as the history of troy itself.
It stars sienna guillory as helen, matthew marsden as paris, rufus sewell as agamemnon, james callis as menelaus, john rhysdavies as priam, maryam dabo as hecuba, as. Helen livedif she lived at allaround 1200 bc, in an era we call the mycenaean age of greece. Daughter of a god, wife of a king, prize of antiquitys bloodiest war, helen of troy has inspired artists for millennia. This resulted in the trojan war when the achaeans set out to. The novel was shortlisted for the carnegie medal, the whitbread award and the guardian award. Helen on the ramparts of troy was a popular theme in the late 19thcentury art seen here a depiction by frederick leighton. The helens0ftroy series is aimed at yaadult audiences that enjoy a little humor, a little horror and a lot of family drama. Thank you amanda elyot, for such a wonderful story. Troy is a young adult novel by adele geras, published in 2000.
In a similar fashion to leighton, gustave moreau depicts an expressionless helen. An epic chart of 162 young adult retellings epic reads. Biography of helen of troy, cause of the trojan war. Helen of troy thats pretty much all we have to go on and she doesnt e. Helen of troy is a character in homers classic epic poem, the iliad, written in the 8th century about the trojan war, imagined by the greeks to have occurred about 500 years earlier. Now margaret george, the highly acclaimed bestselling historical novelist, has turned her intelligent, perceptive eye to the myth that is helen of troy. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. There are so many ya mythology books that i wanted to make sure they were represented on my list, but there enough to choose from that theres no reason to force yourself. The company commands a strong and growing position with its products for the consumer market, which it sells under the license vidal sassoon and revlon brand names. After helen ran away with paris, prince of troy, the greek armies fought a ten year long war against troy to win her back, as told by homer. Troy was a magnificent city and impregnable fortress. Get the best deals on helen of troy hair dryers for your home salon or home spa.
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