Summer has just arrived, and what better way to herald in the summer holidays than with the Hellenic Museum’s curated summer reading guide!
We’ve picked our favourite Greek and ancient world-inspired books to devour after the Christmas holiday rush! Here are our top picks:
Circe by Madeleine Miller
Circe chronicles the life of a lesser god – Circe is not powerful like her father, the mighty God Helios, nor viciously alluring like her mother. She is born without any particular talents or powers and lives in the shadow of her family. When she turns to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power – the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Author Madeleine Miller has been teaching Latin, Greek and Shakespeare to high school students and has accurately transfigured the Classics into a digestible story that’s equal parts charming, enchanting, epic and heartbreaking!
If you enjoy Greek mythology, complex heroines, and a generous serve of adventure, bloodshed, betrayal, magic, and monsters – both literal and figurative, then Circe’s story is for you!
Mythos by Stephen Fry
Mythos is a modern collection of Greek myths, stylishly retold by legendary writer, actor, and comedian Stephen Fry. Fry has always been captivated by Greek mythology and ancient stories, and lovingly takes you from Zeus to Athena, Artemis and King Midas with his typical British humour and wit. His vivid retelling of these myths brings to life the Gods, monsters and mortals of Ancient Greece, as he reimagines their astonishing stories for the modern world.
Mythos is perfect for Greek mythology buffs and of course devoted fans of Stephen Fry.
Lucky’s by Andrew Pippos
Andrew Pippos’s debut novel may be the most perfect summer read. Lucky's is an ode to the old Greek cafe style restaurants from a bygone era with the author drawing inspiration from his own childhood. An exuberant, magical Australian saga about migration, mystery, tragedy and love spanning over 80 years and set against the perfect Sydney backdrop, Lucky’s will make you laugh and smile in the summer breeze. We were fortunate enough to have interviewed Andrew Pippos last year after the release of Lucky's. See the interview here.
The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
Pat Barker's critically acclaimed The Women of Troy is a daring and timely feminist retelling of ‘The Iliad’ told from the perspective of the women who bear intelligent witness to the ineptitude and brutality of men. Troy has fallen to the Greek invaders yet the heroes of war remain stuck upon this foreign land, kept company only by the women they stole from it. The Women of Troy is an examination into the grim realities of Bronze Age slavery.
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Jennifer Saint's Sunday Times Bestselling Ariadne is a mesmerising debut novel and perfect accompaniment to Madeline Miller's Circe. Hypnotic, propulsive, and utterly transporting, Jennifer Saint's Ariadne retells one of the most famous Greek myths and forges a new epic, one that gives a voice to the forgotten women of Greek mythology and speaks to their strength in the face of angry, petulant Gods.
If you have a Greek mythology shelf, then our summer reading guide is just for you! Our guide ensures there’s a story for every Greek mythology and history buff, lovers of ancient Greece, art aficionados and proponents of strong female characters.