The main plot of the story revolves around the burial of Priam itself – a question of honour and its complications in the loss of war, and it is this novel addition that makes Barker’s story so intoxicating and interesting, adding herself to the pre-existingly rich tradition of Greek mythology itself. Barker is a writer of intricacies, writing her novel through as rich a tapestry as those Penelope herself weaves – her writing is raw and immediate, adding to the real, unvarnished nature of the story itself. Instead, the women and men of the story are displayed flaws and all. She does not couch the tale in romance or heroism. The story is largely narrated by Briseis, the narrator who was sidelined for the most part in the epic Iliad. What is more, Barker explores the after-effects of war, not afraid to avoid the dark underbelly of epic tradition – from rape to mutilation and violence. They have witnessed the mutilation of their king Priam and are forced to navigate this new landscape, largely alone, not knowing who to trust or what their future will entail.įrom Briseis, who is pregnant with Achilles child, to Helen of Troy herself, each woman’s future is as uncertain as the next. In this liminal stretch of the war’s aftermath, Troy. Objectively speaking, not much happens during this time. The women have been seized, like spoils, by the Greek soldiers. In this most recent entry, Troy has fallen. After the fall of Troy, the women of Troy have been left to fend for themselves, facing the loss of husbands and children through horrific means. Pat Barker picks up from THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS with her latest novel, THE WOMEN OF TROY. In her anticipated follow-up The Women of Troy, Barker continues this exploration. Her novel The Silence of the Girls provided a new lens through which to view ancient history – a spotlight on the female voices who have been largely forgotten in the study of the subject. In this landscape, Pat Barker has been an integral guiding force. In recent years, there has been a burgeoning interest in Greek mythology, viewed through various lenses. Here, we uncover the significance of her novel. One of the most eagerly anticipated fall releases of 2021 is the novel by Pat Barker – The Women of Troy – the follow up to her acclaimed novel to The Silence of the Girls.

The women of troy a novel reviews