I have waited for this book for years

I preface this review by admitting I have a degree in Classics. Whilst I am a Roman person at heart, not a Greek, I absolutely loved this book! It spoke to me in a way that no other book has for years. When it finished I immediately wanted to start it again. The story and the narration were perfect.

If you ever wondered what happened to the women affected by the Trojan War then this is the book for you. I always liked Penelope, now I love her - her voice and increasing annoyance are so modern but also so true, and don’t get me started on the Muse! All of the characters had their own distinct voices and you could understand their view point - even Helen. This is not a sentimental book, but a wonderful honest imagining of how each of the women may have been affected by the war. Thank you Natalie Haynes for writing this book for me!

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11 people found this helpful

Three thousand years later the women speak

We enjoy the Natalie Haynes "Stand up for the Classics" programmes and so were keen to try this book. First thing to say, it is not a comedy although there are some very sharply observed ironic comments. Of course it is a re-examination of ancient Greek history and culture from a female standpoint. That said, it is not written with an overtly feminist agenda and is more dispassionate than many of the other recent books on similar themes from Greek history (legend?) written from the female point of view.
Our enjoyment was increased by the fact that we were familiar with Homer and many of the Greek tragedies. This book from Natalie Haynes with her female narratives may well increase your own enjoyment of the Greek classics, as it has ours.

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4 people found this helpful

stopped me in my tracks

The passion Natalie Haynes has for her subject comes through in her reading of this book. angry, despairing, frustrated. disempowered but never powerless, the women of the ancient world sing loud from this wonderful book

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1 person found this helpful

The definitive retelling of the Trojan war

At long last, Trojan and Greek women have been given back their voices. What a stunning, moving yet unsentimental retelling of the Trojan War. Five stars.

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4 people found this helpful

So good!

This was a joy! Always enjoy the book being read by the author and this was no exception. Awful, horrific tragedy and a lightness of touch and humour gave contrast and depth. The letters from Penelope were a delight!

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2 people found this helpful

Loved

It's a bit of a slow starter, but don't let that put you off! it's incredibly refreshing to hear these familiar stories from a female perspective, I very much enjoyed this book!

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Refreshing to see the Trojan war from another point of view

Having learned of the Trojan war as a child and from a Greek point of view, I’m now appalled at all the parts of the stories that were left out for my tender years. I didn’t know that Agamemnon sacrificed his own daughter in return for a following wind, nor that Clytemnestra’s murder of Agamemnon was her revenge and not a power grab with her lover. I was taught the Odyssey and thought it was 10 years of marvellous adventure, only to find now it was 2 years of adventure and 8 of dallying in the arms of beautiful nymphs. I am appalled at these ‘heros’ and their propensity for female sacrifice and am more inclined to support the Trojans who protected their wives while the Greeks abandoned theirs. I wish the Trojans had sent Helen packing, but what can you do when she’s where she is because a goddess put her there. This is a truly wonderful story and I’m glad the author went right back to the original sources in order to tell it.

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An interesting retelling of a story we know so well

I had been waiting for this to be released and it was worth the wait!
The chapter format of being from a different perspective for each one took a little to get into but once you do there is no looking back. I wish we could have had a few more the characters tell the story in first person!
I am really enjoying the current trend of retelling Greek myths and this was an interesting take on a story (the fall of Troy) which we know.
Would recommend anyone who was a fan of Circe and The Silence of Girls to give it a read/listen.

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14 people found this helpful

Great story written with knowledge.

I heard this book discussed on Woman's Hour. really glad I gave it a try,

can be listened to story by story or as a long listen.

brings the time and the people to life, even if ancient greece is not your thing.

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8 people found this helpful

Absolutely loved it!

It is so refreshing to hear the stories from a women's perspective, both the more well known and the more invented flowed together brilliantly.

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6 people found this helpful