The Siege of Troy: A Novel

Two wars mirror one another in Theodor Kallifates’ The Siege of Troy.

As the second World War rages across Greece and partisans are killed indiscriminately by the occupying Germans, a brave teacher recounts to her scared class about another war, when Helen’s face launched the ships and a humbled king kissed the hands of the man who killed his son. She tells them of the privations and sufferings of the Greeks, even as they suffer under the Germans. As the terrors mount and both wars draw to a close, myth and legend and reality overlap to reveal new psychological depths to both wars. 

This powerful take on the Trojan war is short and profound. It retells the classic story in a way that is relatable and relevant. The duel narratives play off of one another beautifully. The author’s use of language is lovely and the insights into human nature show how little we have changed and how circumstances make us similar, even though hundreds of years and generations. This is the type of retelling that gives you a new appreciation for the original material and keeps you up late to see how it ends. This book gets all the stars and then some.