Helena (Penguin Modern Classics) - Softcover

Waugh, Evelyn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140182438 ISBN 13: 9780140182439

Publisher: Penguin Classics, 1990

Synopsis

The Empress Helena made the historic pilgrimage to Palestine, found pieces of wood from the true Cross, and built churches at Bethlehem and Olivet. Her life coincided with one of the great turning-points of history: the recognition of Christianity as the religion of the Roman Empire. The enormous conflicting forces of the age, and the corruption, treachery, and madness of Imperial Rome combine to give Evelyn Waugh the theme for one of his most arresting and memorable novels.

About this title

Review:

Mr Waugh is a master of narrative: every sentence compels you to reads its successor (Raymond Mortimer Sunday Times)

It goes without saying that Helena is amusing, shapely, and well-written, and it also contains some extremely witty incidents (New Statesman)

Helena was Waugh's most intentional statement about the truth of Christianity and about vocation as the heart of Christian discipleship (George Weigel)

From the Back Cover:

"In Helena, the play of words and the fireworks, the exquisite descriptions of landscapes, and even the finished portraits of the heroine, her husband, and her son,are always subordinate to the author's broad vision of the mixed anguish and hope with whick the world of Constatntine's time was filled." - New York Herald Tribune

"(Helena) may be read on two levels of appreciation: As bright entertainment, or as deceptively profound commentary. On both levels it's a superlatively well done book." - Chicago Tribune

Evelyn Waugh, author of the internationally acclained bestseller Brideshead Revisited and one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, considered Helena to be perhaps his finest novel. Based on the life of St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine and finder of the true cross, theis spiritual adventure brings to life the political intrigues of ancient Rome and the early years of Christianity.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0140182438
• ISBN 13: 9780140182439
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240