Helen of Sparta

Great Women of Greek Mythology #5

by Mike French

We are very pleased to announce the release of the next issue of the English book series for young and old which introduce readers to the world and culture of ancient Greece through the iconic heroines of mythology, on the subject of the mythical figure of the most beautiful woman of Antiquity, Helen, who became the source of many sufferings and legends for the Greek world. Whether adaptations of classic tragedies by Euripides, Aeschylus, and Sophocles or original works based on well-known sources, these books aim to take readers on a journey full of adventure, drama, death, and love, while focusing on the women who they played such an important part in our history - and are often still remembered as mere spectators. The series started with the books Medea, Circe, Electra, continued with her Antigone while now the Helen. The series will end with its release Ariadne. Each book can be read separately and you can start reading in any order, but there is a basic thread that ultimately connects all these characters and provides a broader view of what it was like to be a woman in the ancient Greek world.

 

THE Vittorio Mattioli and Mike French they are writers, translators and editors of texts and books. "Citizens of the world", they created the company Read Panda Editing, based in Estonia. THE Vittorio is Greek-Italian and lives in Athens and Mike (despite his last name) British and lives in Brussels. They provide their services mainly in English, but you can also communicate with them in Italian, French, Greek, Icelandic and Spanish. The line Great Women of Greek Mythology it is their first publishing job in Greece.

The special covers of the series have been designed by the talented illustrator Little Ms Grumpy. Born in Athens, she dreamed of becoming an actress, but eventually became one of the most promising illustrators of her generation. He draws, sketches and paints for books and newspapers and creates objects with… personality.

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2024

Reviews

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having previously read Medea from the "Great Women of Greek Mythology" series, I found Helen of Sparta to be a much more complex and thought-provoking experience. While my feelings toward Medea were clear and visceral, disliking her with every fiber of my being due to the horrific nature of infanticide, my reaction to Helen remains far more ambiguous. This series clearly adopts a modern, feminist lens, attempting to provide agency to these iconic figures, yet I found it somewhat jarring how the narrative framed Helen's beauty as a burden or a source of victimization, when in reality, it was her most potent weapon. There is a lingering sense of injustice in the fact that thousands perished in her name while she lived out a contented life, making it difficult to fully sympathize with her character. Nevertheless, the writing style is exceptional; it feels fresh and contemporary while remaining deeply rooted in the essence of ancient Greek reality. It doesn’t claim to be a strictly faithful retelling but rather an original work inspired by primary sources, and I found it much more engaging to process than the darkness of Medea's story.

[Helen Pugsley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted to vividly picture 12yro girls dancing naked? Ever wanted to picture men more than twice their age leering at them? Ever wanted to read about what felt like an attempted rape of a 12yro?
I can't tell if this is AI drivel or someone actually writes this badly. I'm saving this to recycle.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different approach on the famous Helen.

[JoAnna GC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for children, as it describes on the back. I was glad I read it before allowing my daughter to read.

[Beatriz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bffff me lo compré en un viaje a Creta, y vaya puta maravilla. Mi pequeña