Clytemnestra: The spellbinding retelling of Greek mythology’s greatest heroine

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I'm a classics major and I have read (and loved) a lot of the classical literature centered around this Trojan War era. I already adored Clytemnestra's story and the tragic fall of the House of Atreus, and Casati's novel just expands the story in such a beautiful way. The writing style is gorgeous — rich in the animalistic metaphors and epithets present in original Greek writings, perceptive evaluations and foreshadowing of big mythical characters, and a digestible amount of history and myth retellings. Just absolutely amazing. Casati begins the tale of Clytemnestra in her early teen years as a princess of Sparta. She trains in combat and is renowned for her abilities in the wrestling ring. She dreams of marrying a king one day, but worries about leaving her siblings behind with their cruel father and alcoholic mother. When a handsome king named Tantalus visits Sparta, he and Clytemnestra soon fall in love and are married. Soon after their wedding, Tantalus has to return to his kingdom for a few months and Clytemnestra decides to stay with her family until his return rather than going with her. Honestly, if anyone gives me feminist Greek mythology I just about combust from excitement and Clytemnestra was absolutely no different, I'm COMPLETELY obsessed and fully intend to make it my entire personality for the next three to six months.

A blazing novel set in the world of Ancient Greece and told through the eyes of its greatest heroine, this is a thrilling tale of power and prophecies, of hatred and love, perfect for fans of ARIADNE and THE SONG OF ACHILLES. Clytemnestra is often called a “bad wife”. She’s a trope all wrapped up in one character (or, more often, a caricature). What is often overlooked is her righteous fury, her vengeful wrath at the loss of her daughter. And the important question, why should a daughter’s/girl’s/woman’s life be worth less than Agamemnon’s/a king’s/a man’s? It shouldn’t. But it did then, in the times her tale was first told, and it probably would today, too. Acceptance or vengeance - infamy follows both. So you bide your time and wait, until you might force the gods' hands and take revenge. Until you rise. For you understood something that the others don't. If power isn't given to you, you have to take it for yourself.In one memorable scene, when a group of merchants question her authority, Clytemnestra punches their ringleader so hard that he loses consciousness. A blazing novel set in the world of Ancient Greece and told through the eyes of its greatest female protagonist, this is a thrilling tale of power and prophecies, of hatred, love, and of an unforgettable Queen who fiercely dealt out death to those who wronged her.

Some of my favourite books are The Secret History, The Song of Achilles, Alias Grace, The Book of Longings, and Half of a Yellow Sun. Her royal family is also depicted in detail, especially Helen, who I’d incorrectly associated with Troy instead of Sparta. There is more than one version of Helen’s story, but now I will forever think of her as married off to a brute, used by her father for a power alliance. This story did not depict Helen as a demigod, though she was rumored to be the daughter of Zeus. She is real, hurt, strong, suffering. She is loving, compassionate, and unforgiving. She does not forget. She knows how to hold a grudge. And she should.

Ms. Casati has a true talent and has made an ancient historical and mythological figure current, relevant, real, and human.

A passionate picture of a fiercely patriarchal society and her heroine's refusal to be bound by its A heroine of fierce spirit caught in a world ruled by men, finding a way through with a sharp, unquenchable courage. With the fire and spark of Madeline Miller and the depths of Mary Renault, Clytemnestra will keep you reading well into the small hours, and your dreams will be of worlds where women reach for the gods MANDA SCOTT Told through the eyes of Clytemnestra, ancient Greek’s huntress, warrior, mother, murderess, and queen.Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati is a great historical fiction that shines the spotlight on an enigmatic, complex, and fascinating woman of ancient Greece. In a world where men take women for their nightly pleasure, where they take women from their homes and families, where they take women away and never let them see the light of dawn rising over their homeland once again… in this world, we should not forget. We should hold grudges. We should live our pain. The girl has learned much in her training, wrestling the Spartiates throughout her youth. This is part of her training as a Spartan, as part of the royal house, as a girl. The Spariates are the daughters of the best and noblest houses of the warriors of Sparta. They are to train with the commoners until they start a family. King Tyndareus oversees the training and fights and when Helen is challenged for her first fight, Clytemnestra has to do something that is against the rules, something never done. While royalty may burn, rape, steal, and kill as they like the only thing forbidden to them is to hurt a noble person. Will Clytemnestra always break the rules? But, will she only do that for those she loves? Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prerelease book at no cost. This was my absolute favorite title obtained through you so far.