Troy

By: Adele Geras

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Paperback | 16 February 2001

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Inside the ancient city of Troy, the cries belong to the women of Troy who have seen their menfolk die and suffer before their eyes. This is the story of two sisters. Marpessa, the younger, is gifted with God-sight and can see the Immortals. She is handmaiden to Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. Xanthe, kind and loving, tends the warriors in the Blood Room, where the wounded are carried in from the battle. Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, bored with the endless dreary war, decided to play with the two girls.

Industry Reviews

Set during the seige of Troy as the war draws to a close, this is a refreshing novel written from the perspective of the ordinary people caught up in this epic struggle. The lives of two orphan sisters, Xanthe and Marpessa, are dominated by their loyalty to their mistresses. Xanthe is nursemaid to Astyanax, son of Hector and Andromache, but she also helps those wounded brought to the Blood Room. Marpessa, the younger sister, who sees the Immortals, is handmaid to the beautiful Helen. Both girls are enamoured with the same young man, Alastor. First Eros pierces Xanthe's heart and later a bored Aphrodite smites Marpessa to provide a diversion from war. The love triangle soon becomes torture for the girls as neither wants to hurt the other. Gods and Goddesses appear and disappear throughout the novel, meddling and amusing themselves at the expense of the mortals of all ranks. The portrayal of a city under siege is made very real through the conversations of servants and their observations of the heroic struggles occurring daily below the walls of Troy. The efforts of the servants to feed and tend to their masters are equally heroic but are seldom mentioned in the songs of victory. The awful futility of war and its aftermath are skilfully presented as we learn of the fates of those ordinary mortals whose stories draw the reader through this exciting and entertaining saga. The tales of the heroes at the siege of Troy have always fascinated readers and they will not be disappointed because here there is cruelty and bloodshed as well as heroism in abundance in this excellent novel. Well-written characters and superb descriptions make this book about love, war and treachery an enthralling read. (Kirkus UK)

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