“Fire of Helicon” is set in Classical Athens during the Peloponnesian War; thirty years of brutal conflict which devastated all Greece.   Every spring three chosen poets presented their plays to Athens; timeless tragedies which tackle the great themes of human existence, plays which still resonate to this day.

Euripides was the most notorious. A radical who loathed injustice and cruelty, he questioned the power of men over women, citizen over slave; his plays laid bare the horror of war, he challenged the Gods themselves.

“Fire of Helicon” is seen through the eyes of a slave. Cephisophon is a citizen of Samos, a fellow Greek captured in battle. His family are gone, his old life is utterly lost; to his horror and shame he passes to Euripides.

Athens is at the peak of her prosperity, a golden age of ideas and achievement. Yet these are also years of ambition and aggression, of noble motives corrupted by expediency. The rivalry between Athens and Sparta will plunge all Greece into conflict. Atrocity breeds atrocity, blood calls for blood. No one escapes in this struggle.

Euripides has already been wounded serving his city and one by one his sons will join the muster.   Events unfold around this small household and the mood darkens as the war brings severe privation.

Euripides' poetry is renowned for its beauty, his vivid plays win renown all across the Greek world. Success seems so close, yet success always  eludes him. His views are too dangerous. Again and again, Euripides is chosen to compete, yet year after year Euripides loses. His critics grow louder, and his critics are men of influence.

Why does Euripides run such risks? Why does his Master refuse to compromise? No one can wear a mask forever, Cephisophon slowly begins to understand his shy Master, he finally realises who inspires Euripides to continue. Privacy is impossible in ancient Athens, especially in such a tiny household. Cephisophon is a keen observer, he sees the deep emotion between Euripides and his young wife Melito.

Many of my characters were real people. I wish to present them accurately and fairly. I am a classical scholar and read Ancient Greek, I studied the source material with great attention, researching even fragments of original plays to broaden my knowledge and understanding. “Fire of Helicon” gives a lively picture of everyday Ancient Athens, my characters converse as real human beings with a real Greek ribald sense of humour. “Fire of Helicon” is a story of love and friendship, loyalty and loss.

The first chapter forms a prologue, from then each chapter runs in chronological order. Each chapter covers a year.

About the author

From family stories I know something certain. Books rank just below bread and water for us, I come from a long line of avid readers.

History has always been my passion. I discovered Greek mythology at the age of six. Names I had no hope of pronouncing but stories that gripped my imagination and never let go.

After graduating from Sheffield University with Honours in Ancient History & Archaeology, I began editorial work for a London construction journal. Describing bricks can be strangely poetical, at least compared to plastic plumbing attachments.

I am now employed within a community mental health team. This is rarely easy but always stimulating, especially when I have such fine colleagues.

I am also a keen fencer with épée and sabre. This led to my double life as a debonair Pirate, at least for a five year old friend. My first Pirate stories were two sides of A4 paper, they evolved into 40 page illustrated epics. It was a rare privilege to have such a special audience.

Fire of Helicon is my first full length novel. I spent months researching the background, stumbling through Ancient Greek and finally visiting Greece itself. I loved every minute.