The Trojan prince that started it all gets his, and Helen, of the face that launched a thousand ships, is reunited with her husband. If you can't at first handle the style of the original literature, read a retelling to get the gist of the story. Once you know what's going on, the original becomes quite enjoyable, if you are willing to give it a chance. By the Saxons he conquered was hated and cursed, And they planned and they plotted far into the night, Which William could tell by the candles alight. Farjeon Many of the most important events or persons in history have been the subjects of poems, and these poems give delightful and fresh insights into the reality of the times.
Histories retold in narratives, in story form, are a wonderful source.
Authors like them give history back its background, its color, its reality, its immediacy, and its life. Good historical fiction also tells the stories of history, in the course of weaving a story of its own about made-up persons. Just because the main characters in the story are from, many times, the author's imagination rather than the history books, don't overlook this important resource. The events shaping the character's lives are the events of history, and the authors of historical fiction allow us to see those events through the character's eyes. This is a powerful way to give ourselves the reality of the times.