Over the last five years or so, novels retelling classic myths from a new perspective has become trendy. Whenever I walk into my local independent bookstore, it seems there is a Stone Blind, Last Song of Penelope, or The Silence of the Girls to accompany Madeline Miller’s Circe. The New York Times published a great article with more suggestions for these sorts of novels, for those of you who are looking for recommendations. 

But as with most things, this trend is not actually all that new! With his Heroides, Ovid also retells famous myths from the female perspective.

For your reading pleasure, or if you are looking for a great resource to use in the classroom, please check out one of the three selections of commentaries on the Heroides that CANE can offer.  We have commentaries for the following letters: Penelope to Ulysses, Ariadne to Theseus, and Dido to Aeneas (excerpted below for you).  Become a member of CANE to download all three full commentaries free of charge!