Review: Helen of Troy, 1993 by Maria Zoccola
This is a review of Helen of Troy, 1993 by Maria Zoccola.
(Can there be spoilers in a book of poetry? I say yes.) Heads up, there are spoilers below.
Quick Disclaimer
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First Thoughts on Helen of Troy, 1993
I got to read this book early — a huge thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC! — and I’m so glad. But I’m even more excited now that the entire world can join Helen in her journey.
Based in Sparta, TN, in 1993, Helen is alive. And life is, like it is for everyone, messy and confusing and concerning and beautiful and heartbreaking. Maria Zoccola weaves history and modernity seamlessly, asking questions that have been trapped inside all of the Helens' minds for millennia — and screaming the answers.
Zoccola’s Helen of Troy, 1993 is a masterclass in symbolism. Helen’s life in the early nineties is filled with chaos, bravery, love, pain, anger, and freedom (just to name a few).
Favorite Pieces
Each part of the collection tells such a vital story, but here are a few that stuck out to me the most.
helen of troy runs the station wagon into a ditch
This piece was first published in HAD — you can read it here. The final publication in the collection might differ from the original piece.
and another thing about the affair
helen of troy catches reruns
helen of troy reigns over chuck e. cheese
This piece was first published in New Letters — you can read it here. The final publication in the collection might differ from the original piece.
helen of troy explains to the gods
Final Thoughts
This collection sits at a really unique intersection for me: Appalachia and poetry. I love both, and have a complicated relationship with both, too. And this collection is a gorgeous flower shop sitting at this weird intersection of my life.
By the time I got to the end of the collection, I was having a full-on, reading out loud, poetry reading with myself. I know it’s early to name my favorite book published in 2025 — but damn. If something passes this one on my 2025 favorites list, I’ll be really surprised.
