A Piece of 'History'-A Review of "Helen of Troy"

Book Title: Helen of Troy
Author: Margaret George
Version: Paperback
ISBN: 9780143038993
Voice: First Person
Publisher: Penguin
Published: May 29th, 2007
First Published: August 3rd, 2006
Number of Pages: 638
Genre: Historical Fiction


SYNOPSIS: Hers was the face that launched a thousand ships starting a war that lasted 10 years. She was called the world's greatest beauty, the envy of goddesses, daughter of a god, and the love of a man. All her life Helen believed that she was the daughter of the King and Queen of Sparta. Growing up she was hidden from the world, kept inside the walls of the palace and when she had to go into the streets she was made to wear a veil. Despite the percautions to hide her beauty the rumors of who her father really was flew through the countryside. The tale was that Helen's mother was sitting on the banks of a river when a great white swan approached her and there they made love. For the great swan was actually the father of gods, Zeus, whose true form would be too great for mortal eyes and so must disguise himself for his human conquests.

As Helen grows her beauty becomes even more pronounced and she finally learns the truth of her father. When it comes time to find her a husband her father puts the word out and the amount of suitors that show up shock Helen. The festivities go on for days, each suitor has to present his case and offer his bride gift. When Agememnon presents the case for his brother Menelaus she is intrigued, remembering the man that had come as a companion for his brother years ago when his brother came to court Helen's sister. Helen tasks Menelaus to run to her from his little rocky kingdom and he accepts the challenge. When Menelaus finally shows up exhausted and barely able to stand Helen realizes how much he must want her as his wife and chooses him to wed.

Because of Helen's beauty and the tendency for warrior suitors to get jealous Helen's father made all the suitors swear that no matter who Helen chooses all the suitors would back her choice and go against any who disrupt that decision. Although there is some grumbling when Menelaus is chosen the suitors stick to the agreement and go on their way. On her wedding night Helen finds herself unattracted to Menelaus, thinking that it was just first time jitters Helen goes into her next love making with Menelaus hopeful. Again the marriage bed wasn't what Helen was expecting, it was passionless and unsatisfying, and it was the same again and again. Finally Helen resigns herself to a passionless life, but a happy one for Menelaus was kind to her and gave her a daughter. And then Helen meets the young Paris from Troy and suddenly a whole new world is opened up. 

At first she holds Paris off and denies that she is attracted to him wanting to stay faithful to Menelaus and stay a good role model for her daughter. But when Helen discovers that Menelaus is sleeping with another woman and that she has become pregnant. Helen is furious and feeling betrayed and so gives in to the love she feels for Paris and they run away together. Thus beginning a war that continues on for ten years, the gods, loving games of their own, help and hinder in equal measure.

REVIEW: I loved this book, I really did. I have been a fan of Margaret George for awhile now and Greek Mythology has always been a favorite area of study for me. Put the two together and it is a book that I am sure to love. To top it off it was a well put together story, very well written, and well researched. It was a fast, great read that I literally couldn't put down. Having Helen be the first person narrator was a brilliant move on Margaret George's part because it's such an iconic story, one that was told brilliantly by Homer, but this put a new twist on the whole thing.

With Helen as the narrator we finally get to see what it was like for her, how trapped she felt in her marriage, how she couldn't help falling in love with the beautiful Paris. As the reader we get to see what it was like to sit in wait while all those she loved were out somewhere fighting. It's a nice way to see Helen as a human woman with human emotions. I loved seeing what Helen was like and how Margaret George saw her.

Even though what Margaret George writes is historical fiction (and so her characters' personalities are often imagined) she has a beautiful way of getting into a character's head, into their mindset. With Helen you felt as if Margaret George not only truly researched her but also really understood what she was all about. I just loved the whole thing so much. This is a great book for anyone who wants a great historical fiction, or a great version of Helen of Troy or just an introduction to Margaret George's writing. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone because it's just an all around great read! Go forth, buy it, read and enjoy!