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

Hardback Published on: 12/02/2026
Price: £22.00
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Synopsis

Readers LOVE Claire Heywood's retellings
'I absolutely adored this book, I devoured it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The book is a real page turner.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A masterful voice in the popular new wave of feminist reworkings of Greek mythology . . . A must-read for fans of Madeline Miller and Natalie Haynes' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'As someone who loves Greek Mythology retelling, I absolutely loved reading this book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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 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?

'An intelligent, sympathetic retelling of the story of Dido. 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

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
  • ISBN: 9781399730259
  • Number of pages: 336
  • Dimensions: 240 x 156 x 32 mm
  • Weight: 540g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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The Wandering Queen
An excellent retelling of Dido's story
Dido, Queen of Carthage, also known as Elissa, is a character who has always interested me. The most famous depiction of Dido is obviously in Virgil’s epic... READ MORE
Helen Skinner
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Wandering Queen
An interesting retelling!
“ 'I don't know how to be now, Dido croaked. 'How will I find myself again?' 'We'll help you,' said Piddaya. 'You don't need to be anything today,' said ... READ MORE
Sofia Pa
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Wandering Queen
Wonderfully imagined
Elissa is born a princess of Tyre and is trained by her father to rule but on his death she is overlooked in favour of her younger brother. Forced to marr... READ MORE
Jo-anne Atkinson
The Wandering Queen
A Fascinating Retelling Although Sadly I Wasn't A Fan Of The Ending
Actual Rating: 3.5 '"Queen Dido, they call you. The one who journeys. The wandering queen."' A couple of years ago I picked up 'The Shadow Of Perseus... READ MORE
Charlotte Watkins
The Wandering Queen
Excellent retelling, highly recommend.
“A man could lead by sheer force of character, or birthright, or by besting his enemies. A woman might do all of this, and yet one mistake could undo her i... READ MORE
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