The Fall of Troy

A brilliant historical novel, set during the 19th century at the time that the Bronze Age site of Troy was being excavated, with Peter Ackroyd returning to one of his favourite themes- fakes, forgeries and plagiarism. Sophia Chrysanthis is initially dazzled when the celebrated German archaeologist, Herr Obermann, comes in search of a Greek bride who can read the works of Homer and assist in his excavations of the city he believes is Ancient Troy. But Obermann's past turns out to be full of skeletons and when a young American arrives to question the archeologist's methods and dies of a mysterious fever, Sophia wonders just how far he will go to protect his vision of Troy. Soon a second, British archeologist arrives, only to fall in love with Sophia, and as their relationship begins to parallel their Ancient Greek counterparts events move towards a gripping and terrible conclusion.

About the Author :
Peter Ackroyd is an award-winning historian, biographer, novelist, poet and broadcaster. He is the author of the acclaimed non-fiction bestsellers London- The Biography, Thames- Sacred River and London Under; biographies of figures including Charles Dickens, William Blake, Charlie Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock; and a multi-volume history of England. He has won the Whitbread Biography Award, the Royal Society of Literature's William Heinemann Award, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the Guardian Fiction Prize, the Somerset Maugham Award and the South Bank Prize for Literature. He holds a CBE for services to literature.

Review :
Provoking, unsettling, ingenious - and a delight to read Erudite and witty... The Fall of Troy skilfully interweaves classical and 19th century stories, employing motifs from both Homer and Charlotte Bronte. This is Ackroyd's most exuberant novel for years Ackroyd imports a Mrs Rochester theme to Turkey, and the denouement has the atmosphere of a thriller, with innocents running for their lives Lurid and generally entertaining drama The Fall of Troy is above all a love story, and like the best love stories it deals in obsession, deception, madness and death A vivid reimagining of the discovery of what may have been the ancient city of Troy. A thought-provoking novel Beautifully constructed, by turns playful and sinister...this book will haunt the reader's mind Ingenious..... briskly told and vividly realised tale... a gripping novel Ackroyd's atmospheric novel begins with a flourish... [and] gradually turns into an almost Faustian tale Gloomy, surprising and intelligent, Ackroyd's pose is sparse and considered and his characterisation is adroit. This is a compelling novel which never gives away more than it has to