
audiobook
A ROMANCE
PREFACE.
ASPASIA. - CHAPTER I. - THE TREASURE OF DELOS.
CHAPTER II. - TELESIPPE.
CHAPTER III. - THE RIBBON-DEALER FROM HALIMUS.
CHAPTER IV. - THE GROTTO OF PAN.
CHAPTER V. - PYRILAMPES’ PEACOCKS.
CHAPTER VI. - ON THE BANK OF THE CEPHISSUS.
CHAPTER VII. - THE CAST OF THE DISCUS.
CHAPTER VIII. - THE SACRIFICE TO THE GRACES.
In an Athenian summer, a striking young woman moves through the bustling Agora, drawing every passerby's stare. Her beauty, rare among free‑born aristocratic women, becomes a catalyst for intrigue among poets, philosophers, and soldiers alike. As she navigates the glittering world of art, politics, and elite salons, the novel paints a vivid portrait of ancient Hellas—its marble temples, fragrant gardens, and the fierce competition for artistic acclaim. Yet beneath the glitter, a deeper struggle brews between the aesthetic ideals she embodies and the moral convictions of her peers.
The story follows her as she becomes entangled with a passionate sculptor and a statesman who each represent opposite visions of art's purpose. Their interactions force her to confront the tension between personal desire and the larger destiny of Athens, echoing the timeless clash of individual and national aspirations. Readers will find a richly textured glimpse of ancient life, where love, ambition, and the pursuit of beauty intertwine.
Language
en
Duration
~19 hours (1116K characters)
Release date
May 10, 2025
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1830–1889
Best known for sweeping narrative poems and richly imagined verse, this Austrian writer turned classical themes into vivid, dramatic reading. His work earned wide attention in the German-speaking world during the late nineteenth century.
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