Heroes: Saviours, Traitors and Supermen

Lucy Hughes-Hallett examines eight historical figures who were seen as heroes in their time, from Achilles to Garibaldi. The book investigates how societies create and worship heroes, and what drives certain individuals to pursue heroic status. Each chapter focuses on a different figure, examining their actions, personalities, and the cultural contexts that elevated them to hero status. The chapters function as standalone essays while building a larger argument about the nature of heroism through history. Through accounts of both military leaders and cultural icons, Hughes-Hallett traces how the concept of heroism has evolved from ancient Greece to the modern era. The narrative moves between biographical detail and broader analysis of how these figures were perceived by their contemporaries. The book raises questions about the relationship between heroism and morality, suggesting that the qualities that make heroes appealing - their exceptional nature and dramatic gestures - can also make them dangerous to the societies that worship them.

Readers found this to be an engaging examination of how heroic figures are created and mythologized throughout history. Many appreciated Hughes-Hallett's focus on deconstructing hero worship rather than simply retelling biographical details. Positive reviews highlighted: - Clear, accessible writing style - Depth of historical research - Fresh perspective on familiar historical figures - Balanced treatment of controversial subjects Common criticisms: - Some chapters felt longer than necessary - Occasional academic tone that could be dense - Limited coverage of non-European/American figures Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (239 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) Amazon US: 4.0/5 (22 ratings) One reader noted: "She skillfully shows how societies create the heroes they need." Another criticized: "The author sometimes gets lost in minutiae that doesn't serve the larger argument."

Fallen Heroes: History's Most Hated by Thomas Cohen A historical analysis of how society transforms celebrated heroes into villains through shifting cultural perspectives and revelations about their true actions.

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers This examination of heroic archetypes across cultures reveals the universal patterns in how societies create and worship their heroes.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell A comparative study traces the common threads in hero myths and legends across global civilizations from ancient times to present day.

Sacred Kings and Dying Gods by James George Frazer This anthropological study explores how ancient societies deified their leaders and created hero-worship traditions that persist in modern culture.

Fools, Martyrs, Traitors: The Story of Martyrdom in the Western World by Lacey Baldwin Smith A historical investigation shows how societies transform individuals into larger-than-life figures through the process of martyrdom and hero creation.

🔹 Lucy Hughes-Hallett won the prestigious Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction in 2013 for her later work "The Pike," making her one of the few authors to successfully transition between writing about ancient and modern historical figures. 🔹 The book examines how hero worship has transformed through history, featuring figures as diverse as Achilles, Francis Drake, and Garibaldi, showing how the same person can be viewed as both hero and villain depending on perspective. 🔹 The author deliberately structured the book to avoid chronological order, instead grouping heroes by their characteristics and impact, allowing readers to see surprising parallels between figures separated by centuries. 🔹 In researching the book, Hughes-Hallett discovered that many of her subjects actively cultivated their heroic images, with Gabriele D'Annunzio even hiring photographers to document his "spontaneous" moments of bravery. 🔹 The book's publication in 2004 coincided with a renewed academic interest in hero studies, contributing to a broader cultural discussion about the nature of heroism in the post-9/11 world.