Reviews
" Dazzling. . . A look at the love match between beauty and power, displaying the archetypal ' trophy mistress" to the modern world." - "O, The Oprah Magazine" " A divine biography. . . . Sizzling. . . . [Hughes], a young British historian, explores not only the Bronze Age babe but also what she has meant throughout history and the cultural significance of being both desired and despised." - "USA Today" " [Hughes' ] multi-faceted, multi-hued, and multi-period portrait of la Belle Helene will capture the imagination of professional scholars and general readers alike. I cannot recommend it too strongly." - Professor Paul Cartledge, Cambridge University " Hughes brings a passion for ancient history and archaeology crossed with a strain of feminism to the figure of Helen." - "The Washington Post Book World" " The book triumphantly reclaims Helen from some of her traducers. Hughes' s portrait is as close to a real, living Helen as we are likely to get." - "Financial Times" " When Helen launched her " thousand ships, " was she a " shameless hussy?" Or, like her mother, was she a rape victim? . . . The answers have always depended on who you speak to and when. Hughes has them all." - "The Times" " Hughes skillfully brings this period back to life. A fascinating window onto the power politics of an age . . . a genuinely exciting historical narrative." - "Sunday Telegraph.", "Dazzling. . . A look at the love match between beauty and power, displaying the archetypal 'trophy mistress" to the modern world." -"O, The Oprah Magazine" "A divine biography. . . . Sizzling. . . . ÝHughes¨, a young British historian, explores not only the Bronze Age babe but also what she has meant throughout history and the cultural significance of being both desired and despised." -"USA Today" "ÝHughes'¨ multi-faceted, multi-hued, and multi-period portrait of la Belle Helene will capture the imagination of professional scholars and general readers alike. I cannot recommend it too strongly." -Professor Paul Cartledge, Cambridge University "Hughes brings a passion for ancient history and archaeology crossed with a strain of feminism to the figure of Helen." -"The Washington Post Book World" "The book triumphantly reclaims Helen from some of her traducers. Hughes's portrait is as close to a real, living Helen as we are likely to get." -"Financial Times" "When Helen launched her "thousand ships," was she a "shameless hussy?" Or, like her mother, was she a rape victim? . . . The answers have always depended on who you speak to and when. Hughes has them all." -"The Times" "Hughes skillfully brings this period back to life. A fascinating window onto the power politics of an age . . . a genuinely exciting historical narrative." -"Sunday Telegraph.", "The book triumphantly reclaims Helen from some of her traducers. Hughes's portrait is as close to a real, living Helen as we are likely to get." -"Financial Times" "When Helen launched her "thousand ships," was she a "shameless hussy?" Or, like her mother, was she a rape victim? . . . The answers have always depended on who you speak to and when. Hughes has them all." -"The Times" "Hughes skillfully brings this period back to life. A fascinating window onto the power politics of an age . . . a genuinely exciting historical narrative." -"Sunday Telegraph.", "Dazzling. . . A look at the love match between beauty and power, displaying the archetypal 'trophy mistress" to the modern world." O, The Oprah Magazine "A divine biography. . . . Sizzling. . . . [Hughes] , a young British historian, explores not only the Bronze Age babe but also what she has meant throughout history and the cultural significance of being both desired and despised." USA Today "[Hughes'] multi-faceted, multi-hued, and multi-period portrait of la Belle Helene will capture the imagination of professional scholars and general readers alike. I cannot recommend it too strongly." Professor Paul Cartledge, Cambridge University "Hughes brings a passion for ancient history and archaeology crossed with a strain of feminism to the figure of Helen." The Washington Post Book World "The book triumphantly reclaims Helen from some of her traducers. Hughes's portrait is as close to a real, living Helen as we are likely to get." Financial Times "When Helen launched her "thousand ships," was she a "shameless hussy?" Or, like her mother, was she a rape victim? . . . The answers have always depended on who you speak to and when. Hughes has them all." The Times "Hughes skillfully brings this period back to life. A fascinating window onto the power politics of an age . . . a genuinely exciting historical narrative." Sunday Telegraph. From the Trade Paperback edition., "Dazzling. . . A look at the love match between beauty and power, displaying the archetypal 'trophy mistress" to the modern world." O, The Oprah Magazine "A divine biography. . . . Sizzling. . . . [Hughes] , a young British historian, explores not only the Bronze Age babe but also what she has meant throughout history and the cultural significance of being both desired and despised." USA Today "[Hughes'] multi-faceted, multi-hued, and multi-period portrait of la Belle Helene will capture the imagination of professional scholars and general readers alike. I cannot recommend it too strongly." Professor Paul Cartledge, Cambridge University "Hughes brings a passion for ancient history and archaeology crossed with a strain of feminism to the figure of Helen." The Washington Post Book World "The book triumphantly reclaims Helen from some of her traducers. Hughes's portrait is as close to a real, living Helen as we are likely to get." Financial Times "When Helen launched her "thousand ships," was she a "shameless hussy?" Or, like her mother, was she a rape victim? . . . The answers have always depended on who you speak to and when. Hughes has them all." The Times "Hughes skillfully brings this period back to life. A fascinating window onto the power politics of an age . . . a genuinely exciting historical narrative." Sunday Telegraph., "The book triumphantly reclaims Helen from some of her traducers. Hughes's portrait is as close to a real, living Helen as we are likely to get." Financial Times "When Helen launched her "thousand ships," was she a "shameless hussy?" Or, like her mother, was she a rape victim? . . . The answers have always depended on who you speak to and when. Hughes has them all." The Times "Hughes skillfully brings this period back to life. A fascinating window onto the power politics of an age . . . a genuinely exciting historical narrative." Sunday Telegraph.