The Corn King and the Spring Queen. I think the author's name is Naomi Mitchison (not sure on the spelling of the last name).
I love this book. It is a historical novel set in a small primitive state during the time of Sparta. A historical novel is one where the author uses historically accurate information but then fills in the rest with their imagination. As they didn't know a lot about this world when the book was written, she really allows her imagination to go.
This book was written around the same time as the Lord of the Rings and it deals with WWII, but it is also deals with religion and art, and female characters who are real and tragic, and sexuality and love.
I can't do this book justice, but it is great on so many levels. If I were to pursue a masters degree in english, I could write a 200 page paper on this book easily. It is an overlooked gem.
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