Persephone of Eleusis. Clare Winger Harris

Persephone of Eleusis is a historical romance by Clare Winger Harris. She was an early science fiction writer whose short stories were published during the 1920s and is credited as the first woman to publish stories under her own name in science fiction magazines. Her stories often dealt with characters on the «borders of humanity» such as cyborgs. Excerpt: "The reddening glow of an evening sun was shed upon the little town of Anthela in Locris as Zopyrus, a young Persian officer in the army of Xerxes passed quickly from the shadows of the temple to Demeter into the narrow street. In his general bearing and physique he was truly a Persian; large of frame, broad of shoulders, with a proportionally small but well poised head. But the tight clusters of blond curls, clear blue eyes and sensitiveness of mouth were not distinguishing traits of Persian parentage. There was a seriousness in his expression far in advance of his years which may have numbered four and twenty."