Elena. La madre dell'imperatore

It is a short novel (historical novel) that speaks of the life of St. Helen, the mother of the Roman Emperor, Constantine, the Great. She is also popularly known for her pilgrimage to the Holy Land and finding the True Cross on which was crucified Jesus Christ. Few Remarks: It is an historical novel. Leggi tutto

A story about Helena mother of Constantine one of the Roman Emperors. The story mixes fact with fiction and is entertaining as well as satirical in places. The clergy is trying to hoodwink Helena who sees through their lies and exaggerations. The first part goes through her life in Britain and court Leggi tutto

This is a very different sort of historical fiction. Waugh does evoke the time and place of the fourth Century Roman Empire but he never leaves you to really imaginatively enter into that world. He's always at your side, nudging the careful reader in the ribs to share a laugh at the expense of self- Leggi tutto

Una buena novela historica de Waugh aunque siendo mas preciso habría que decir que es una recreación novelada de la leyenda de Helena la emperatriz romana repudiada por su esposo Constancio y que pasó a la historia por ser la madre del emperador Constantino el que hizo al cristianismo religión ofici Leggi tutto

Interesting little novel incorporating fiction with historical events. I'll say that if you don't have a Christian background you might find this a bit of a bore. It's not particularly engaging plot-wise but there are some nice satirical moments.

Helena is probably Evelyn Waugh's least regarded novel but it is a personal favourite. In part, that's because of Waugh's portrayal of Helena herself, the mother of the future Emperor Constantine, which is one of his most vivid and affecting character studies. But most of all it is for the single fi Leggi tutto