Customer Reviews

The Eye of Cybele

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As a Classicist, I read a lot of fiction that takes place in Ancient Greece. Some of it's quite good, most is pretty poor - and a few precious gems are truly excellent.

The Eye of Kybele is perhaps the best 'retelling' of Classical Athens I have come across - it is a thoroughly real, busy place peopled with authentic men and women of all stripes and shades.

The writing (even in translation) is at times sublime, and always interesting; the story is a grand sweep of images and events, and Chavarria, rare in novelists, knows his historical stuff and thus the details are both fascinating and accurate.

Those expecting conventional parameters may miss the fact that there is not really a central protagonist. But why keep to the 'rules' if you can produce something this good?

When you read it, take your time, savour both the penmanship and the story, for you'll not often come across its like.