Whom the Gods Would Destroy

by Richard Pitts Powell

Scribner & Son's Hardcover, copyright 1970 with 378 pages. About the In the fall of 1924 Richard Powell began studying Virgil's Aeneid in Latin class at the Episcopal Academy, On Philidelphia's Main Line, and became fascinated by the great characters and tremendous story of the Trojan War. He did not expect that 44 years later he would be climbing around the actual site of ancient Troy, as part of his research for his book. Powell lived in Fort Myers, Fl. About the Thirty-two hundred years ago, the people of a shining civilizton apparently set out to prove the truth of the saying that whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad. The civilization was the long-forgotten one that is now called Mycenaean. The madness that destroyed it was the Trojan War. Powell has gone back to this fabled period to write a big and colorful and lovingly-researched novel of its people and events. His central character is Helios, a kitchen boy in the palace at Troy, who may or may not be the bastard son of Priam, the High King. The story begans two years before the Trojan War. One of the author's aims in writing this book was to introduce modern readers to the golden people of the Illiad and Odyssey and Aeneid. Nearly all of them are here-Achilles and Odysseus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, Hector, Paris, Helen, Great Ajax, and Little Ajax, Cassandra, Aeneas-and they are depicted from a fresh viewpoint.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Mythology, Greek Mythology, Novels, War

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Stephen Marte · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was 17 I can remember being home sick from school with the chickpox. My mom went to the local drug store to pick up a prescription for me so I asked her to find me a book to read. She came back and handed me Whom the Gods. "It has Greeks on the cover, so I figured you'd like it." She was right. Whom the Gods became my favorite book of all time in high school, and I still think it's great read. After finishing it I was so taken by the author Richard Powell's style that I began collecting all of his works. Most were out of print, but I haunted the local used bookstores until I found them. Probably his most famous work was The Philadelphian. It was turned into a movie called The Young Philadelphians starring Paul Newman. Like most movie versions, the book was 10x better. Always wished someone would pick up the rights to Whom the Gods and turn it into the movie. Would have been a much better story than the recent Brad Pitt movie Troy. Powell was a journalist and I believe a creative writing teacher. Whom the Gods was his last work, and undoubtedly his best. Anyone who enjoys ancient history, particularly the Trojan War epic cycle should check it out. Powell brings characters like Achilles, Helen, Odysseus and Hector to life in such a way as a 17 year old I remember being quite sad when I finally finished the book. I wanted it to go on forever.

[Rucha Heda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story. One of the themes in the book seemed to be that seemingly normal people turn into legends because observers see a fraction of the real story and fill in the details with what they want to see. My favorite thing about this book is that the author weaved mythological characters into a real story. It seems that he did his research to find out if these people were even real and how they became the legends that they are known today.

I loved the characters and the way that they were depicted in the story. There was something about it that was just so irresistible. I couldn't put the book down. I love the character development of Helios and I love the way with which he flows through his own story.

It's difficult to describe... but would definitely recommend a read. :-)

[Adele R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

L'avrei probabilmente abbandonato prima, se l'inizio non fosse stato da cinque stelle.

Se gli dei ti fanno impazzire ripercorre le vicende dell'Iliade dal punto di vista di Helios, un giovane troiano che - secondo alcuni - potrebbe essere figlio di Priamo.

La lunga narrazione è episodica: Helios incontra, combatte e conosce i personaggi più conosciuti (e quelli più oscuri) del poema omerico. Il problema è che, superata la metà, questi episodi iniziano ad assomigliarsi sempre di più, rendendo la lettura ripetitiva e togliendole la freschezza delle prime pagine.

Molto ha inciso anche il fatto che chi narra offre un punto di vista maschilista, tipico e correttamente inserito nel contesto storico, ma che personalmente ho faticato a digerire per tutte le 500 pagine.

Non il libro adatto a me, ma capisco facilmente perché ad altrə potrebbe piacere.

[Christopher Dunne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A coming of age story, meant to actually teach us something about humanity and its mistakes. Apart from that, the setting is as vivid today as it was when we read this in 9th grade. No book has made more real to me what it was like to live in antiquity. The everyday dangers, the religious background, the social parameters. Every time I reread this book I like it more.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child and teenager, I loved reading the myths and legends of other cultures, in particular the Greeks and Romans (though I also read a great deal about the Scandinavian deities). Powell's Whom The Gods Would Destroy was a resounding favorite of mine, and I must have read it a half dozen times during my teenage years. The Trojan War comes to life under Powell's pen, and the characters (about whom I had read much elsewhere, including in Homer's Iliad and Oddyssey) are masterfully brought to life. The entire story is seen through the eyes of a fictional young boy, Helios, as he grows to become a man and takes a significant role in the assault and overthrow of Troy. Odysseus, Hector, Achilles, Paris, Priam, Helen, and others of the tragic and heroic figures of the Trojan War come alive in this novel.

It is historical fiction, and I would encourage the reader to also dip into the original story written by Homer. Nontheless, I highly recommend Powell's book.

[Rachele Ballerini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posso dire che pensavo peggio? Partiamo dal fatto che è un libro apprezzabile solo da classicisti, o appassionati del genere e autodidatti: nessun altro ce la farebbe a leggere un malloppone tale sulla guerra di Troia. Perché di questo si tratta: il titolo è un sarcastico riferimento al fatto che raramente gli Dei si occupano davvero dei fatti degli uomini. Ma solo chi ha studiato a fondo l’Iliade ( e anche Odissea e Eneide non gusterebbero) può capire tutti i riferimenti sottili ai miti, alle leggende e ai Millemila personaggi presentati, e pensare “ah ah! Che figo!”. È molto descrittivo, esattamente come un poema epico, e all’inizio questo mi ha fatto storcere il naso: ma Helios, il protagonista, alla fine mi ha conquistato. Mi è dispiaciuto arrivare in fondo: non solo per L’epilogo ovvio della storia (spoiler: Troia cade, c’entra un cavallo), ma anche perché mi sarebbe mancato lui, il “Dio del Sole” 😉

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was published in 1970, and I remember getting it out of the library at around that time. I remembered it as a different, irreverent take on the heroes of the Trojan War -- a scene that always stuck in my mind was one where Odysseus tells the heavily-armoured Achilles to "take that goddam bucket off your head!". Of course it is long out of print and sufficiently obscure not to appear in second-hand bookshops. But thanks to the Internet I was able to buy it from a bookseller in the US, and really enjoyed reading it again -- it's as entertaining and adventure-packed as I remember it being. So, if you fondly remember the books of your youth, head off to Abebooks and start searching!

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second or third re-reading of this great re-telling of the Iliad. Extremely readable and true to the tale. Told from the perspective of Helios, one of the illegitimate sons of Priam, the characters of all the major players are well-drawn with humor, suspense, and heart. Read it!

[Peter Fiske · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the Illiad, this is simply one of the best books on the Trojan War. I've read this about 15 times since it came out. If you can find it, read it.
Also worth reading is David Gemmell's Troy trilogy.

[Alessandra Gennaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

39.2023 R.Powell- Se gli dèi ti fanno impazzire.
Non so voi, ma io da piccola ho sempre saccheggiato la libreria di mia madre. Col senno di poi, credo che i testi off limits fossero stati resi inaccessibili (Paura di volare lo avevo scoperto in cima a uno scaffale in dispensa, ma avevo 16 anni ... Diciamo che fino a lì, la strategia aveva funzionato). Comunque, grazie a queste scorribande, avevo scoperto libri di ogni genere, fra cui alcuni che sono poi finiti nella categoria degli introvabili. Perché mai più ristampati dalle case editrici. Fra questi, c'era Vacanze Matte, di "tal" R.Powell (ai tempi, credevo fosse lo stesso attore che aveva fatto Gesù per Zeffirelli 😁) che per me era sinonimo di crasse risate. Lo avrò letto decine di volte, lo ricordo tutto squadernato finché, un bel giorno si è perso.
E ritrovarne una copia è stato impossibile, perché l'editore aveva deciso di non stamparlo più.
C'è voluto l'internet, 30 anni dopo e una petizione fra orfani dispersi nella rete per riportare alla luce questo piccolo capolavoro della letteratura umoristica, benedetto da una prefazione di F Piccolo tutta da incorniciare. E ora, finalmente, Marcos y Marcos ha comprato i diritti dell'opera omnia e sta facendo un lavoro egregio, pubblicando in modo sistematico tutti i romanzi di questo autore poliedrico, arguto e brillante. Ha iniziato dal suo capolavoro, L'uomo di Filadelfia (se cercate qui in mezzo, ne ho parlato un po' di tempo fa) e ora prosegue con questo, che non conoscevo e che vedo recensito un po' ovunque, con mia grande gioia.
Una piccola precisazione: NON è un retelling, ma è una storia di fantasia che ha per protagonista un ragazzino e i suoi amici, come ce n'erano tante ai miei tempi, ambientata durante la guerra di Troia., (Se proprio dobbiamo trovare un paragone, è Asterix quello che mi viene in mente). È un romanzo trasversale, in cui i più giovani potranno apprezzare la trama, i più vecchi il contesto (la parodia dei personaggi che muove da una conoscenza dettagliata dell'epica classica), ridendo, sorridendo e finendo per affezionarsi a tutti i personaggi, colti in una nuova e divertente umanità.
Consigliatissimo
.

[Priya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had bought this book years ago, when my obsession for retellings of the Iliad was at an all time high. Just got around to reading it now. The writer's treatment of the myth is fascinating, seeing as how our main character (who is invented and not an actual character from any of the stories about the Trojan War) finds himself at the centre of all the crucial events of the myth. I would have liked the book a lot more if (1) the book had treated its female characters with even just a little more respect (2) Helios, the main character, hadn't been so one-dimensional. The book lacked depth of character, and the interesting plot turns and even the humour just didn't redeem it.

[Kevin P. Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Troy Story

As someone who loves Greek mythology and Mediterranean history I loved this story. The Iliad is among my favorite works of literature, and this book does it a great honor. Using relatable and sympathetic characters Powell provides insight into the Bronze Age world and faithfully tells the story of the Trojan war. My one complaint is the depiction of Diomedes, which is a fairly minor grievance. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology, history, or good coming of age stories

[Bri Un · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I so thoroughly enjoyed Don Quixote, U.S.A., so I wanted to give the author another read. This isnt my usual genre but I found that I enjoyed it. I love the characters and their witty interactions. There were many humorous moments laced throughout the book that kept it light, but it also struck a nice balance without holding back the gruesome acts of war. This was an excellent read.

[John Hoole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun tale of the Trojan war, told in the first person, with a hero named Helios the author invented who, Forrest-Gump-like, gets maneuvered into all the key scenes and plot points of the Iliad. The world of the Trojan-war-era civilization around the Aegean sea is convincingly constructed and there are plenty of satisfying twists and triumphs for the underdog main character on the way to the inevitable sack of Troy. Achilles and Hector are second-tier characters in this telling, with the emphasis instead on female characters (Cassandra, Helen, and Deira, a descendant of Theseus and Ariadne the author invents), which are each given their own interesting spin. The book makes a Odysseus into a bit of a schlub to elevate by comparison the cleverness of Helios, which was a misstep in my opinion.

[Jason Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a teen and again as an adult. I enjoyed it even more as an adult. I feel I was more appreciative of the themes I may not have grasped early on and respected the way Powell placed this fictional character into a setting that already existed in literature. I highly recommend for all ages.

[Michelle Mosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! Well-paced, relatable characters, seems well-researched in mythology and history. Was sad when it ended. I feel really lucky to have even found out about this out-of-print book by reading another review that recommended it. Would heartily recommend for those looking for an Iliad retelling.

[Julian Maddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book many times. I first came across in a library when I was a teenager and borrowed it from the library several times. It one of my all-time favourite books. Every time I read it, I live through it all again and love it more.

[Steve Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book at least six times...

My Latin teacher let me read this book when I was in high school. This is one of my favorite reads. They need to make a movie based on the book. Never tire reading it.

[Benni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly vivid story of a fictional bastard son of Priam from childhood (right before the war) to after the fall of Troy. Loved it.

[Sandra Abdelmalek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal story

This was an amazing captivating story which focuses around the Trojan war. Interesting twist to Greek mythology. I would read this again any day.

[Libridine · Rating 5 out of 5]

☀️💛

[Bri Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ꮖꮮ ꮮꮼꮲꮎ ꮑꮎꮑ ꮯꭺꮇᏼꮖꭼꭱà ꮇꭺꮖ, ꮲꭼꭱꮯꮖò è ꮮ’ꭺᏽꮑꭼꮮꮮꮎ ꮯꮋꭼ ꭰꭼꮩꭼ ꮯꭺꮇᏼꮖꭺꭱꭼ ꮪꭼ ꮩꮼꮎꮮꭼ ꮪꮎꮲꭱꭺꮩꮩꮖꮩꭼꭱꭼ."

[Ilaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75 in realtà, ma 4 se avesse avuto qualche pagina di meno…

[Mariapple_93 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un meraviglioso retelling con un pizzico di fantasia 😍 scritto veramente bene, con una trama che non annoia mai 🤩

[Sara Prian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Era da tempo che non mi emoziona intanto per un libro. L'opera di Powell mi ha travolta completamente con i suoi personaggi irresistibili che rimangono con te anche dopo aver finito il libro.

La prosa è intensa e scorrevole, dove azione e riflessione si alternano donando al libro un ritmo incalzante che lo trasformano in un vero Page Turner.

Non vedo l'ora, tra qualche tempo, di rileggerlo per scoprire nuove sfumature del carattere di Helios, di Ulisse, di Deira, Cassandra, ecc...

[Red · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ultimately, it was an enjoyable book on the events of the Iliad, seen from the viewpoint of a young boy who grows to be a man. Well written, interesting characters and themes. I enjoyed the characterization of Odysseus in particular, as well as Helios. I wasn't thrilled with Achilles, though I saw how it suited the story the author was telling. My main quibble with the book is that Helen is not portrayed with much depth or nuance at all. Connecting her to the goddess Gaia made sense and worked for the story, but it was an excuse not to give her a more solid characterization.

Towards the end, Paris has a few key scenes that really illuminated him past the regular portrayal, which I also appreciated.

[katherine drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was younger, coming upon it by accident one summer in a rental house. A flourish of the ancient and mysterious, with politics both sexual and class-based, and the wars men fight. It brought to life the characters of Greek mythology and the players in the Trojan War through the eyes of a young boy, destined for playing a part in large events. Too bad it is so hard to find now, and so expensive once you find it.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really happy memories of reading this Trojan war yarn when I was a teen (see my blog post on the ten books that influenced me) and I enjoyed re-reading it very much. It's one of those books that even though I know the ending, I still kept hoping it could be averted! Some of the writing is a little clunky and over-wrought, but all in all it stands up very well forty years on.

[Melanie Hierholzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on the Trojan War. Humanized mythic figures such as Odysseus and Achilles. Loved Powell's description of the Trojan Horse - makes so much more sense than what we learned in school. If you liked this book, read The Amber Princess by Henry Treece, which is the sad story of Agamemnon' s homecoming told by his daughter Electra.

[Francisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

La eterna leyenda de Troya, nada que me seduzca mas. Hoy narrada por Helios, un esclavo en la cocina real troyana que alega ser bastardo de Priamo y comienza su recorrido como protegido de Héctor, compañero del monstruoso Neoptolemo, casi hijo de Odiseo y amigo de Eneas. ¿Habrá algo más envidiable? En un estilo fluido, sin pretensiones y algo cínico este libro se volvió uno de mis favoritos.