Herc

A queer revisionist retelling of the story of Hercules, for fans of The Song of Achilles, A Thousand Ships and Ariadne.

This should be the story of Hercules: his twelve labours, his endless adventures… everyone’s favorite hero, right?

Well, it’s not.

This is the story of everyone else:

• Alcmene: Herc’s mother (She has knives everywhere)
• Hylas: Herc’s first friend (They were more than friends)
• Megara: Herc’s wife (She’ll tell you about their marriage)
• Eurystheus: Oversaw Herc’s labours (He never asked for the job)
• His friends, his enemies, his wives, his children, his lovers, his rivals, his gods, his victims

It’s time to hear their stories.

Told with humour and heart, Herc gives voice to the silenced characters, in this feminist, queer (and sometimes shocking) retelling of classic Hercules myth.  

Winner of the Somerset Maugham Award

A Waterstones Best Book of the Year 2023

'A remarkable feat of storytelling… Told through a cast of vibrant characters, Herc is a refreshingly unique and brilliantly funny exploration of Ancient Greece’s legendary "hero".' —Rosie Hewlett, author of Medea

‘Hercules had his story, now it's time for everyone else to get their say. Wickedly fun and devilishly dark – the tell-all for our times.’ —Cari Thomas, author of Threadneedle

‘A captivating retelling with a very definite, personal voice, and a sharp, fresh perspective on the lives surrounding the hero.’ —Genevieve Cogman, author of Scarlet

‘A rollicking ride through Greek mythology.’ —Luna McNamara, author of Psyche and Eros

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