A Review of Helen of Troy
Margaret George's Historical Fiction Masterpiece
Helen of Troy takes readers to the bedroom, the battlefield and beyond as Margaret George gives voice to the face that launched a thousand ships.
Through both literature and the silver screen modern day mortals have lived the Trojan War through its mighty men – Achilles, Menelaus, Agamemnon and Paris himself, but through the pen of Margaret George readers can now hear the tale from a different vantage point. Begin the 600-page literary journey to Troy and listen carefully as the face that launched a thousand ships tells her story.
Historical Accuracy
Margaret George faced a daunting task in researching for Helen of Troy. Although she meticulously studied Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, they only tell a portion of the complicated, enthralling tale that is Troy. What occurred between the lines penned by Homer?
To further complicate matters, no concrete proof exists that Paris and Helen, Menelaus and Agamemnon, Achilles and even Troy itself ever lived. How can a culture that may have existed only in lore live in the pages of a novel? Using creative license and a wealth of archaeological and historical information regarding Sparta, George invites readers to get to know people who may be nothing more than legends.
Immersed in the complexities, traditions and oddities of a life centered around the fickle, unpredictable gods, readers will believe wholeheartedly in the existence of the characters they come to love and hate and with whom they identify. Why?
In her own words Margaret George explains – For people who may not ever have existed, the characters in the Trojan War have exceptionally colorful and unforgettable personalities. That is why they “feel” so real, and why we want so badly for them to be real. They speak directly to us and we believe in them…Perhaps one day we will find them. I hope, as they seem so alive. (Afterword)
A Strong Cast of Women
In George’s telling of the tale Helen finds herself surrounded by many strong women. Brimming with courage, wisdom, grace, passion and more than a little cunning Queen Hecuba, Clytemnestra, Hermione, Andromache and Leda join Helen in making the Trojan War era a time of great female fortitude. Although readers will not love all of these women equally, they will identify with them and be inspired by them.
The Gods and the Prophecies
Margaret George considered omitting the gods and their inspired prophecies from her telling of Troy. However, she felt the story could not be complete without their presence and influence. Wisely, she presented them in such a way that the reader is left to decide how powerful the gods and prophecies were in shaping the events of the story. The theme of divine destination presents many opportunities for group discussion or personal reflection regarding the role of religious belief in modern society.
Fact or Fable
As George indicated, readers who meet and live alongside Helen, her family and her beloved Trojans long for them to be real. Is the love story of Helen and Paris fact or fiction? In the end it really doesn’t matter. Much greater questions lie within the walls of Troy, and much more critical answers must be sought. Paris and Helen may not have lived, but the truths of Troy are eternal. The cost of true love, the dangers of unbridled passion, not just in the bedroom, but also on the battlefield, and the haunting aspects of destiny – all live and breathe in the story of Troy. In essence Helen and Paris are as real as anyone.
Suggested Discussion Questions
The following questions should be considered, perhaps in a reading group or alone in one’s bed before laying the book aside and turning out the light:
- Who or what actually caused the Trojan War?
- Could the war have been prevented? How so?
- Did Paris and Helen do the right thing? Explain your answer.
- Paris loved Helen; Agamemnon loved war; the Trojans loved horses. How did each of these favorite things lead to destruction? How do our loves often do the same?
- Who determines a person’s destiny?
Helen of Troy
Copyright 2006 by Margaret George
Published by Viking Penguin, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
ISBN: 0-670-03778-8
