Ancient Stories, New Books

Interested in Ancient Greece? So are a lot of writers. I mean a lot of writers. Authors have been telling and retelling stories about this fascinating civilization for millennia and it doesn’t look like they’re going to stop anytime soon. The past few years have seen several new retellings and fresh perspectives on Ancient Greek stories. Here are a few of them:

Circe by Madeline Miller

Circe, by Madeline Miller, is a feminist retelling/reimagining of the Odyssey’s famous witch. Circe is far more than an island sorceress fond of turning sailors into pigs. She does turn sailors into pigs, or course, but it’s a fairly small part of her identity. Miller is more interested in exploring other aspects of the story: Circe’s discovery of witchcraft, her relationship to the gods and titans that make up her family, and her eventual fate after the events of the Odyssey. Miller brings to life the hidden world of the gods in all of its strangeness, but still maintains a sense of emotional realism that keeps the story grounded.

Elektra by Jennifer Saint

Speaking of feminist retellings, there is Jennifer Saint’s Elektra. When Clytemnestra’s husband commits a horrific betrayal on the eve of the Trojan War, it sets off a cycle of murder and revenge that consumes their family. Told from the alternating perspectives of Clytemnestra, her daughter Elektra, and the Trojan princess Cassandra, the novel is part epic myth, part court intrigue, and part domestic drama.

Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane

Broadly based off of the story of the Trojan War, Maya Deane’s Wrath Goddess Sing offers a radical reimagining of an ancient story. In this version, Achilles is a trans woman who joins the war after Athena grants her a body to match her identity and Helen is the bloodthirsty architect of the conflict. This is more than just a gender-swapped retelling of the Iliad though. Deane offers a unique take on the story that feels both more ancient than the original myth and yet very modern.

The Gates of Athens by Conn Iggulden

Not a fan of mythology? The Gates of Athens by Conn Iggulden is a thoroughly researched work of historical fiction following events in Athens during the Persian Wars. Iggulden dramatizes the events of this period, speculating on the inner thoughts and motivations of the major political figures of the era. The author pays great attention to detail, offering a picture of ancient Athenian life and culture that is grounded in historical fact. Iggulden is a prolific writer who has already produced two sequels, Protector, which concludes the events started in The Gates of Athens, and Lion, which picks up the story of Athens’ next generation.

Want even more stories of Ancient Greece? Here are a few other titles offering new perspectives on mythological figures: Bright Air Black by David Vann (Medea), House of Names by Colm Toibin (Clytemnestra and her children again), Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker (Briseis), and A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes (feminist retelling of the Trojan War from multiple perspectives).

-Chris

History and Mythology of Great Cities

There is something special and magical about a good history of a great city which captures moments in time and allows the reader to witness and feel the hopes, dreams, fears, and aspirations of  an entire city. A good city history, while always remaining true to the facts, should bring the people of that city to life and allow modern readers the chance to imagine ‘what was it like…’ scenarios. When done well, histories of great cities can equal and rival any work of fiction.

Another important aspect of a great history of a city is the ability to connect an ancient or distant place to our modern identity, creating that ‘ah ha’ moment, when we say ‘so that’s where that idea comes from…’ A good example of this would be James Carroll’s Jerusalem, Jerusalem: how the ancient city ignited our modern world.  Another excellent example of this theme is Simon Sebag Montefiore’s Jerusalem: the biography.  

History and myth, reality and the ideal, these elements are always entangled and can be found and leisurely unwound in Robin Waterfield’s, Athens: a history – from ancient ideal to modern city. For a more speculative take on what Athens could have been like in the time of Socrates, as well as what happened to Socrates himself, there is Bettany Hughes’ The Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens and the search for the good life.
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Entering the more modern period and moving west, there is Alistair Horne’s Seven Ages of Paris  and Colin Jones’ Paris: biography of a city.  And once in London, there are few others that capture it as Peter Ackroyd does in London: the biography and Thames: a sacred river.

Of course, no history of the world’s great cities is complete without a mention to New York (that wonderful town…).

Start with Kenneth T. Jackson and David S. Dunbar’s Empire City: New York through the centuries.  And if your taste is for the classic and nostalgic, try E.B. White’s Here is New York.

Whatever city or mythical place you want to escape to, there is also a historical place where a writer’s imagination and research can take you. Bon voyage…

Phil