The Wandering Queen: An enchanting feminist retelling of the story of fierce Queen Dido and her tragic love affair with Prince Aeneas from the bestselling author of The Daughters of Sparta

Author:   Claire Heywood
Publisher:   Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN:  

9781399730259


Pages:   336
Publication Date:   12 February 2026
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Not yet available   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

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The Wandering Queen: An enchanting feminist retelling of the story of fierce Queen Dido and her tragic love affair with Prince Aeneas from the bestselling author of The Daughters of Sparta


Overview

'A beautifully woven tale with brilliant, confident writing, [Heywood] has illuminated the stories of ladies too often relegated to the role of villain or damsel' CLAIRE M ANDREWS The King of Tyre is dead, his final words anointing his clever and strong-willed daughter, Elissa, as the new queen until his young son, Pygmalion, comes of age. But betrayal and danger soon haunt Elissa, and she is forced to flee the kingdom - exiled with a band of loyal followers and a broken heart. After an arduous search for a new home, Elissa and her people settle in North Africa, and she is crowned Queen Dido: the ferocious and devoted ruler of her newly established city of Carthage. Soon a powerful trading hub, Carthage thrives under Dido's governance. But when a band of Trojan survivors, led by the valiant Aeneas, washes up on a nearby shore, Queen Dido is reminded of a promise she made long ago, never to trust or to love another again. Can Dido overcome her past and open herself - and her city - up to Aeneas, or is their love doomed to burn everything to the ground?

Full Product Details

Author:   Claire Heywood
Publisher:   Hodder & Stoughton
Imprint:   Hodder & Stoughton
Dimensions:   Width: 15.60cm , Height: 3.20cm , Length: 24.00cm
Weight:   0.540kg
ISBN:  

9781399730259


ISBN 10:   1399730258
Pages:   336
Publication Date:   12 February 2026
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

Reviews

PRAISE FOR THE WANDERING QUEEN An intelligent, sympathetic retelling of the story of Dido, immortalised by Virgil as the irrational lover of Aeneas. Heywood incorporates the myths and legends that surround this mysterious queen and presents a narrative that is both powerful and compelling -- Laura Shepperson A triumphant reclamation of the legend of Dido . . . Heywood brings Dido's story to vivid life, moving from the wealth of Tyre to the dusty plains of Carthage. In so doing, Heywood weaves an engaging yarn that restores the ancient queen to her rightful place of dignity -- Luna McNamara Heywood has once again crafted an excellent mythology reimagining. With an adept and expert hand, Dido is painted as a complex, strong heroine in a story she has long deserved. Through themes of love, loss and power, Heywood has brought the ancient world back to life in a tale that is equally as heartbreaking as it is wonderful -- Claire M. Andrews PRAISE FOR CLAIRE HEYWOOD A beautifully woven tale . . . with brilliant, confident writing, The Shadow of Perseus has illuminated the stories of ladies too often relegated to the role of villain or damsel -- Claire M. Andrews Re-energizes the Perseus myth . . . By re-interpreting the familiar characters in human terms, Claire Heywood gives new life and a startling new perspective to an old tale. Original and engrossing -- Margaret George Heywood tells her story vividly, setting it convincingly in the period * Sunday Times * Brilliantly compelling . . . the perfect balance between historical authenticity and characters who I really connected with -- Sarah Bonner Fluent and persuasive. I admire the ambition with which Heywood tackles the subject, to which she brings freshness and verve. I enjoyed it very much -- Elizabeth Buchan An immersive, intimate take on a well-known tale. By focussing on the diverging fates of two sisters, Heywood reveals the private lives of these women to be just as compelling as the epic events unfolding around them. -- Amanda Block Vividly written and compelling * CultureFly *


PRAISE FOR THE WANDERING QUEEN An intelligent, sympathetic retelling of the story of Dido, immortalised by Virgil as the irrational lover of Aeneas. Heywood incorporates the myths and legends that surround this mysterious queen and presents a narrative that is both powerful and compelling -- Laura Shepperson A triumphant reclamation of the legend of Dido . . . Heywood brings Dido's story to vivid life, moving from the wealth of Tyre to the dusty plains of Carthage. In so doing, Heywood weaves an engaging yarn that restores the ancient queen to her rightful place of dignity -- Luna McNamara PRAISE FOR CLAIRE HEYWOOD A beautifully woven tale . . . with brilliant, confident writing, The Shadow of Perseus has illuminated the stories of ladies too often relegated to the role of villain or damsel -- Claire M. Andrews Re-energizes the Perseus myth . . . By re-interpreting the familiar characters in human terms, Claire Heywood gives new life and a startling new perspective to an old tale. Original and engrossing -- Margaret George Heywood tells her story vividly, setting it convincingly in the period * Sunday Times * Brilliantly compelling . . . the perfect balance between historical authenticity and characters who I really connected with -- Sarah Bonner Fluent and persuasive. I admire the ambition with which Heywood tackles the subject, to which she brings freshness and verve. I enjoyed it very much -- Elizabeth Buchan An immersive, intimate take on a well-known tale. By focussing on the diverging fates of two sisters, Heywood reveals the private lives of these women to be just as compelling as the epic events unfolding around them. -- Amanda Block Vividly written and compelling * CultureFly * Heywood has once again crafted an excellent Greek mythology reimagining. With an adept and expert hand, Dido is painted as a complex, strong heroine in a story she has long deserved. Through themes of love, loss and power, Heywood has brought Ancient Greece back to life in a tale that is equally as heartbreaking as it is wonderful -- Claire M. Andrews


PRAISE FOR CLAIRE HEYWOOD A beautifully woven tale . . . with brilliant, confident writing, The Shadow of Perseus has illuminated the stories of ladies too often relegated to the role of villain or damsel -- Claire M. Andrews Re-energizes the Perseus myth . . . By re-interpreting the familiar characters in human terms, Claire Heywood gives new life and a startling new perspective to an old tale. Original and engrossing -- Margaret George Heywood tells her story vividly, setting it convincingly in the period * Sunday Times * Brilliantly compelling . . . the perfect balance between historical authenticity and characters who I really connected with -- Sarah Bonner Fluent and persuasive. I admire the ambition with which Heywood tackles the subject, to which she brings freshness and verve. I enjoyed it very much -- Elizabeth Buchan An immersive, intimate take on a well-known tale. By focussing on the diverging fates of two sisters, Heywood reveals the private lives of these women to be just as compelling as the epic events unfolding around them. -- Amanda Block Vividly written and compelling * CultureFly *


Author Information

Claire Heywood is a scholar of the ancient world, having gained a 1st Class BA in Classical Civilisation and an MA with Distinction in Ancient Visual and Material Culture, along with two academic prizes, from the University of Warwick. Her writing is inspired by her love of mythology, her knowledge of ancient cultures, and her fascination with women's forgotten voices. Originally from Coventry, she now lives and writes in Bristol, UK.

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