Clytemnestra

Speaking as someone who is not particularly well-versed in Greek mythology, I kind of loved this. It’s always fascinating trying to envision the humanness of these well-known ancient figures, and Casati did a great job breathing so much life into all of them. I definitely felt Clytemnestra’s emotions alongside her, and her relationships with characters like Helen, Castor, her children, and even Agamemnon were especially impactful.

I thought the book gave Clytemnestra a lot of meaningful complexity, unlike some reviewers who seem to think she was too empowered and de-vilified in the name of modern-day feminism. To me, she still came off as a total hard-ass, we were just able to get more context and rationale for her actions.

That said, there was maybe just a bit too much modernity infused into some of the women’s thought processes that kind of took me out of the time period. But for the most part, Clytemnestra seems to be a pretty realistic blend of good and evil and a believable product of her time. And who’s to say how these women actually thought anyway?

Of course, this is a retelling and not an original plot, but man, these Greek mythology stories are a wild ride. The culture (especially in Sparta), the relationships, the power dynamics, the betrayal, the generally horrific behavior… there is a reason the stories have lived on for so long and retold so many times. And I found this version to be engaging and satisfying.

Book author: Costanza Casati