A review by bluestjuice
Helen of Troy: Goddess, Princess, Whore by Bettany Hughes

4.0

This was a great, scholarly review of the character of Helen of Troy, covering such disparate aspects as actual Bronze Age civilizations, the Hellenic concept of Helen as written by Homer and reiterated in numerous other works, and more recent interpretations of her through the renaissance. Having only ever been much acquainted with the Homeric version, I found the various other angles fascinating, and I appreciated the author's personal involvement in the quest (she visited numerous sites herself, and hundreds of museums), as well as the reticent way this information was conveyed - no cloying personal anecdotes here, besides impressions of the scenery or ambiance of various locales.