Bookseller Reviews
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'Silence becomes a woman'
Briseis is queen. Well, that should be was queen. until her city fell and she was gifted to Achilles as a prize of war selected by himself. Her world chang... READ MORE
Brutal and beautiful
This is a book I just didn't want to leave! So wonderfully written, and so real. The characters really brought the brutality of life for the captured women... READ MORE
Synopsis
Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2019
Shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards 2018
From the Booker Prize-winning author of Regeneration and one of our greatest contemporary writers on war comes a reimagining of the most famous conflict in literature - the legendary Trojan War.
When her city falls to the Greeks, Briseis's old life is shattered. She is transformed from queen to captive, from free woman to slave, awarded to the god-like warrior Achilles as a prize of war. And she's not alone: on the same day, and on many others in the course of a long and bitter war, innumerable women have been wrested from their homes and flung to the fighters.
Wrestling the epic drama of the Trojan War away from its usual male-centric gaze, The Silence of the Girls seeks out the other story, the women’s story, charting the journey of a sometime-queen across the chaos of history, seeking freedom and the right to be author of her own story.
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9780241983201
- Number of pages: 336
- Weight: 240g
- Dimensions: 196 x 128 x 26 mm
Customer Reviews
View allWill live long in the memory...
Having read a little of Greek mythology and history including some of Troy, Helen and so on I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read this fascin... READ MORE
Fascinating retelling of The Iliad
Having read and enjoyed mythology as a youngster, I found my interest revived with this book. The retelling of a well-known story from the point of view of... READ MORE
A modern narrative on an ancient legend
This story is mainly told from the perspective of Briseis, a captured Queen, after Archilles invades her state. She becomes his slave, along with the other... READ MORE
Fascinating and compelling
The story of Achilles – or more to the point, the story of Briseis, his trophy woman. The narrative switches between the point of view of the two; from the... READ MORE
Extraordinary, Passionate, Barbaric
Shortlisted for the Women's Prize For Fiction 2019, Silence of The Girls has a barbaric and graphic start as Achilles enters the city walls and conquers Ly... READ MORE
Gorgeous tale from the other side of a great war
I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. I grew up a huge fan of Greek mythology and don't usually care for re-tellings or adaptations. But this book... READ MORE
Amazing book
Truly amazing book. I read it all practically in one go. A tragic, realistic and important account of what war means for women.
Disappointing
I was excited to read a new novel by Pat Barker but quickly became disappointed by the weak story line and weak writing which did not seem authentic and I ... READ MORE
Utterly compelling
I think this is a subtle but powerful and subversive retelling of a famous myth. I discovered Pat Barker relatively late but have always enjoyed her books ... READ MORE
Silence becomes a woman...
I’m a great lover of greek mythology retellings and this book fitted right in with the likes of madeline miller and natalie haynes. It gave a voice to the ... READ MORE
A unique take on Greek mythology from a woman's perspective!
I’ve only recently started reading novels based on Greek Mythology. This is the second one I have read so far, but funnily enough both books were based on ... READ MORE
Miss
w
food for thought
The war of Troy seen with the eyes of the defeated, the survivals, the slaves. The novel is not just a remake of an old story but it also inspires thoughts... READ MORE
Page-turning subversion?
It's page turning because the story (ancient story) is so compelling. It subverts the familiar narrative because of the pov of one of the - otherwise - voi... READ MORE
Really good read
Would thoroughly recommend. A story with a different slant.
Captivating and Shocking
When the Greek Queen Helen is kidnapped by Trojans, the Greeks sail in pursuit, besieging the city of Troy. The Silence of the Girls is the story of the ba... READ MORE
Incredible book about the life of women during ancient war
"I just don't know how you could do that.
Well, no, of course you don't. You've never been a slave."
*Trigger Warning*
*Rape, sexual slavery*
The story ... READ MORE
“... a very different tale to tell”.
The Silence of the Girls “retells” (I use the word lightly) the story of the Trojan War from the view of Briseis, a captured queen who becomes Achilles’ pr... READ MORE
Brutal and tragic
Headlines:
Brutal but gripping
Mythology brought to life
Oppression
I've been meaning to read this book for a few years and the opportunity to listen to t... READ MORE
Disappointing
As a young boy growing up in Cyprus, I was brought up with these stories and hold on to a love for them and the characters within them that I am sure Pat B... READ MORE
Excellent read
Loved this book, I enjoyed Circe by Madeline Miller so thought I would give this book a go both told from the female perspective and makes the greek myths ... READ MORE
Engaging and gripping
I loved this book, it was so gripping and entertaining to read. I loved the writing style overall! As a lover of Greek mythology and the Iliad, this is a w... READ MORE
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