Albrecht Schaeffer's Helianth is his ambitious, early 20th-century retelling of the Odyssey, and this second volume picks up right where the adventure gets painfully personal.

The Story

Helianth (Odysseus) has finally made it back to his island kingdom after twenty years of war and wandering. But homecoming is a battle of its own. His palace is overrun with suitors vying for his wife Penelope's hand, believing him dead. More gripping than the physical conflict, though, is the emotional one. Penelope has spent decades holding everything together, and the weary, changed man before her is a stranger. The story becomes a delicate, aching dance of recognition, doubt, and the slow, fragile work of rebuilding trust after a lifetime apart.

Why You Should Read It

Schaeffer's genius is in the psychology. He strips the myth of its grandiosity and focuses on the quiet devastation of return. What happens after the epic journey? How do you live a normal life after seeing the underworld? Helianth is haunted, and Penelope is fiercely intelligent, not just a patient symbol. Their scenes together are charged with a silence that speaks volumes. It’s less about action and more about the echoes action leaves behind.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love classic myths but want to feel the human heart beating inside them. If you enjoyed Madeline Miller's Circe for its character focus, or if you're fascinated by stories about the cost of war and the long road home, this hidden gem is for you. It's a thoughtful, poetic, and deeply moving look at the oldest story of all: finding your way back to someone, and to yourself.