Hercules

The First Superhero
(An Unauthorized Biography)

Hercules ­ the superman, the monster­slaying machine, the myth – who was the man beneath the lion­skin head­dress, and does he really live up to his legend? This unique biography tells the story of the first superhero from his traumatic birth to his dramatic death.

Hercules was more than just his twelve famous labours. He was a father, a lover, a leader of armies and a fine strategist. He was also a cattle­thief, a murderer and a rapist. Using ancient sources from early Greece to the Late Roman Empire, this detailed biography fleshes out the character of one of the most complex and flawed heroes of Greek mythology.