More for Helen of Troy

“This is a book I will take with me as my companion everywhere – up high mountains, on the bus, to bed. Beautiful.” – Bettany Hughes
More for Helen of Troy is suffused with the atmosphere of the landscapes that inspire the poet:  Italy, the lush countryside of Powys, and a number of islands all over the world – Grenada, Jamaica, Shetland. It is also deeply involved with many questions of desire: for the ideal of a beautiful woman; for the hope of a good state; for the vision of a pristine country and seaside. The tension between these ideals, between lofty aims and inevitable disappointments, come together in the main title sequence, where an entire society must scheme and suffer for the allure of Helen. Sometimes keenly satirical, often poignantly lyrical, these poems are both pointed and enjoyable.