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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Brilliant! In writing, storytelling and imagination.

This would be great essential reading for all females! The writing is excellent and I read it three times because I wanted it to never end. Brilliantly read. I forgot I had been feeling hurt by a man and became powerful and myself again:)

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Outstanding

I loved the theme - pulling women from the pages of ancient writing and breathing life into them. I felt with each one of them - especially Cassandra - how many women have tried to tell their truth and not been believed? Brilliantly read and possibly could only be read by the author.

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Brilliant modern spin

Having read Greek myths before I had asked the question - Where were the women and what were they doing! This book manages to retell these classic stories with a fuller angle of the participants. Nice level of timeline detail that keeps the pace moving, I got slightly lost with the number of characters but that's just part of classics, isn't it?

I would recommend!

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