Circe: New & Ancient Greek Tales

With new stories and an extended introduction, this collection focuses on the enchanting Circe of Greek mythology, featuring new perspectives on long-standing stereotypes.

Enchantress, goddess, witch, predatory seductress… Inevitably, Circe has been best-known in these terms, through the male gaze of Homer, Hesiod et al., as interpreted by readers and storytellers until today. Rarely does the classic literature give us a rounded view of a woman subject to the same flaws and emotions as anyone: jealousy, desire, unrequited love; her witchcraft is perhaps not so much dreadful as awe-inspiring and led by nature. What we know of her story is piecemeal, from many sources. This enriching collection brings together new stories and ancient origins, offering a wider perspective on the whole life of the enigmatic, enchanting Circe.

Introductory essay by Imogen Dalton, and foreword by Dr Ellie Mackin Roberts. The modern authors whose stories feature in this book are: L.D. Burke, Z.D. Campbell, C.B. Channell, Mason Graham, Kay Hanifen, M.J. Harris, Elena Kotsile, Claire L. Marsh, Erin Murphy, Lourdes Ureña Pérez, Elizabeth Roberts, Zach Shephard, Jamie Simpher, Theresa Tyree, and Mathieu W.R. Wallis.

About the series: Discover the mythology of humankind through its heroes, characters, gods and immortal figures. Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a legendary, mythological or folkloric figure, with new stories alongside a comprehensive introduction which tells the original tales and emphasizes ancient and modern connections, tracing history and stories across continents, cultures and peoples. New and emerging writers from open submissions reveal hidden themes, casting fresh perspectives on well known stories, complementing the specially commissioned story of the origins and the cultural background from the era. The first titles are Medusa, Odin, Anansi and Circe.