A Thing of Beauty

The Greek myths have held a place in the popular imagination for centuries. Yet while the stories may be timeless, their original setting is not.

Peter Fiennes travels to the sites of some of the most famous Greek myths, on the trail of hope, beauty and a new way of seeing what we have done to our world. He starts outside Corinth, where Prometheus first fashioned humanity out of clay, and picks up the trail of Heracles, Persephone, Theseus, Pandora and Perseus. Do the Ancient Greeks, through their myths and history, have anything to say to us today?

Fiennes hikes through stunning scenery in the footsteps of Lord Byron, finds the ‘most beautiful beach in Greece’, samples ‘the best salad in the world’ (it’s a Greek one…), consults the Oracle, and immerses himself in the cities and remote villages of this stunning country, all the while looking for beauty and hope in a world that is increasingly fragile.

A Thing of Beauty is a captivating exploration of ancient myths and their relevance in our modern world, woven with insights and experiences that bring the history and culture of Greece to life.