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A review by allallata
Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
3.0
I’ll start by saying that I’m italian and I’ve studied for 5 years greek and latin literature in high school, so I bought this book because I wanted to re-experience all the studies that I did and also because I’m a huge greek literature nerd.
This wasn’t definitely a terrible book, or so I wouldn’t have rated it with three stars. The problem itself stays in how the characters are potrayed, and how they show no resemblance with the characters that will become in the future: Klytemnestra is nothing like the fierce, unstable, insane Klytemnestra that Aeschylus shows us in his play; and don’t get me started on Helen, that returns back to Sparta with Menelaos, something that I quite don’t approve; obviously there are infinite versions of Helen’s story, but I prefer the ones where she is left completely alone with her own pain to live with, you know? Somehow it makes the story feel much more emotional on a deeper lever, even more plausible.
One other thing that I haven’t liked much is the emotional development of the characters, because I think some part of the two separate stories are missing: just as we miss the arrive and the “welcoming” of Helen at the Trojan court, we miss the whole grief parts of Klytemnestra. Your daughter has just been KILLED by your husband in front of you. How come you show no pain? No anger? No grief? And yes, while reading this you must say “has she read the book? Klytemnestra tries to kill Agamemnon after he has sacrified their daughter”. Nah. That was not enough. The real Klytemnestra, the one that was always spoken of in ancient greek works, was absolutely insane and her anger, her rage consumed her ‘til her death. She wouldn’t be so hesitant like she was in the whole book.
Another thing that I haven’t liked (and understood???) was the complete absence of the divine figures. Why it is never spoken of Pandora’s box? Or all the magic and the monsters and all that I would’ve expected from an epic poem retelling.
I’m really upset to say this, but I expected something better.
This wasn’t definitely a terrible book, or so I wouldn’t have rated it with three stars. The problem itself stays in how the characters are potrayed, and how they show no resemblance with the characters that will become in the future: Klytemnestra is nothing like the fierce, unstable, insane Klytemnestra that Aeschylus shows us in his play; and don’t get me started on Helen, that returns back to Sparta with Menelaos, something that I quite don’t approve; obviously there are infinite versions of Helen’s story, but I prefer the ones where she is left completely alone with her own pain to live with, you know? Somehow it makes the story feel much more emotional on a deeper lever, even more plausible.
One other thing that I haven’t liked much is the emotional development of the characters, because I think some part of the two separate stories are missing: just as we miss the arrive and the “welcoming” of Helen at the Trojan court, we miss the whole grief parts of Klytemnestra. Your daughter has just been KILLED by your husband in front of you. How come you show no pain? No anger? No grief? And yes, while reading this you must say “has she read the book? Klytemnestra tries to kill Agamemnon after he has sacrified their daughter”. Nah. That was not enough. The real Klytemnestra, the one that was always spoken of in ancient greek works, was absolutely insane and her anger, her rage consumed her ‘til her death. She wouldn’t be so hesitant like she was in the whole book.
Another thing that I haven’t liked (and understood???) was the complete absence of the divine figures. Why it is never spoken of Pandora’s box? Or all the magic and the monsters and all that I would’ve expected from an epic poem retelling.
I’m really upset to say this, but I expected something better.