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A review by evakristin
The Corn King and the Spring Queen (The Hera Series) by Naomi Mitchison
5.0
It's been a long time since I read a book I found as absorbing as this! If you find Mitchison's narrating style a bit difficult in the beginning, like I did, I recommend you keep going. I got used to it, and the story she told was absolutely worth it.
I've read several books set in ancient Rome, quite a few set in ancient Egypt, some set in ancient Greece but, maybe not surprisingly, none set in ancient Scythia. As Mitchison writes in her introduction we don't know much about them, in my opinion this makes what she has made up even more impressive. That she manages to keep herself from explaining too much makes everything more believable. I enjoyed her description of the life in Marob immensely.
As someone interested in history an archaeology I am of course familiar with the Spartans (or Spatiates, as she calls them). Who hasn't heard about brave king Leonidas and the battle at Thermopylae? But brave king Kleomenes and his communist project was new to me, and deeply fascinating.
And, of course, the decadent Egyptian court is familiar territory.
I'm impressed by Mitchison's open mindedness and modern attitude when it comes to sexuality and gender equality. She must have been quite a marvellous person, writing this in the 1930's!
I've read several books set in ancient Rome, quite a few set in ancient Egypt, some set in ancient Greece but, maybe not surprisingly, none set in ancient Scythia. As Mitchison writes in her introduction we don't know much about them, in my opinion this makes what she has made up even more impressive. That she manages to keep herself from explaining too much makes everything more believable. I enjoyed her description of the life in Marob immensely.
As someone interested in history an archaeology I am of course familiar with the Spartans (or Spatiates, as she calls them). Who hasn't heard about brave king Leonidas and the battle at Thermopylae? But brave king Kleomenes and his communist project was new to me, and deeply fascinating.
And, of course, the decadent Egyptian court is familiar territory.
I'm impressed by Mitchison's open mindedness and modern attitude when it comes to sexuality and gender equality. She must have been quite a marvellous person, writing this in the 1930's!