Greek Fiction: Callirhoe, Daphnis and Chloe, Letters of Chion

'While I was hunting in Lesbos, I saw in the grove of the Nymphs the most beautiful sight I have ever seen: a painting of an image, a love story'

In this collection of Greek fiction written between the first and fourth centuries AD, 'Daphnis and Chloe' is a charming, yet knowing, tale of a boy and girl's education in nature, culture, and what it means to fall in love. 'Callirhoe', perhaps the first 'novel' ever written, tells of star-crossed lovers and international intrigue, while 'Letters of Chion' is an early thriller about tyranny and the gripping preparation for a political assassination.

Helen Morales' introduction explores the striking range of Greek fiction, from the erotic to the philosophical – a fascinating view of the literary culture from which our own developed. This edition also includes a chronology, glossary, map, suggested further reading and notes.

Translated by ROSANNA OMITOWOJU, PHIROZE VASUNIA, AND JOHN PENWILL
Edited with introduction and notes by HELEN MORALES