Warrior in Bronze - Agamemnon Book I

Jason has come to the court in Mycenae requesting funding for a trip to Colchis in search of gold.  He gets the financial support he needs in return for half the gold acquired.  Hercules is to be included amongst the crew, much to the chagrin of Jason.

Meantime Agamemnon is shocked to learn that he and his brother, Menelaus have a different father than the one they have grown up believing is their father.  Artreus is actually their grandfather, and he has plans to usurp the throne and make Agamemnon his heir.

Before that is to happen, Agamemnon must join Diores in putting Diores' new estate to rights.  Therefore his military training is out on hold while he learns other things.  After an encounter with Dionysus, Agamemnon returns for further training with Atreus.  Agamemnon earns his greaves when he follows Atreus in a night invasion of Midea.

When Jason returns with gold aplenty, Mycenae sees the value of building a fleet of ships.  Later, after a battle lost and Agamemnon and Menelaus return to Mycenae to find their uncle, Thyestes, bedding their mother.  Atreus is summoned, and with a large army takes Mycenae and the throne, but not before Thyestes can escape.  Peace ensues.  Trade prospers, and Agamemnon travels to Troy to set up a route through the Hellespont.  There he meets Hector, who impresses him.

A siege of Thebes failed, so Atreus decided to send Agamemnon to Sparta to try and forge an alliance.  There Agamemnon met Helen and Clytemnestra.  The alliance with Sparta would lead to a city state alliance.

When Atreus and his wife are murdered, Agamemnon tries to take the throne, but some of the councillors revolt, therefore Agamemnon and Menelaus must flee Mycenae for Thyestes now has control of Mycenae.  Thyestes immediately came into conflict with Troy, which was the start of the Trojan War.  Sparta is the safest place for Agamemnon and Menelaus.

Agamemnon marries Clytemnestra and Menelaus seeks the hand of Helen.  Menelaus also seeks the kingship of Sparta by marriage to Helen.  What does the future hold for these four?  Author George Shipway brings to life the people of a bygone age in an excellent story.  It reminded me of the stories I had read and studied as a lad in school. A good read for fans of historical fiction.  There is more to come in the sequel, "Kings in Splendour".