Clytemnestra: The spellbinding retelling of Greek mythology’s greatest heroine

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In Clytemnestra’s world, and in ours, women need to stand up and roar. Make noise. Take up space. Be seen. Be heard. Be impossible to ignore. How else can we leave our mark? If by no other means than by fulfilling the “bad wife” or “wild woman” archetype, we must be remembered. It would be devastating if soon there comes to be a new Dark Age of reduced women’s liberties, and yet that is often the direction the wind appears to be blowing. We cannot allow thousands of years of obedience and docility to pass again, cannot allow 51% of our species to fade into obscurity for the sake of niceties or polite company just because “nice girls don’t talk like that”, for it makes some people (men) uncomfortable. Agamemnon on Clytemnestra in The Odyssey: 'There’s nothing more deadly, bestial than a woman set on works like these – what a monstrous thing she plotted, slaughtered her own lawful husband.' After the murder of her first husband and their baby son, Clytemnestra transforms her heartbreak into steel. When she is forced to become Agamemnon’s wife, she decides she will be a leader in her own right. Casati’s writing was wonderful and beautiful. In a way, it is similar to Madeline Miller’s, but it is definitely not the same. Casati is a master at evoking the emotions of the characters and making the reader feel for them. There are so many soul crushing moments throughout the book, and each one was like a dagger to the chest.

In "Clytemnestra", Costanza Casati has taken a woman who's frequently villainized in Greek mythology and given a fresh and complex take on her life and story. Clytemnestra is often called a “bad wife”. She’s a trope all wrapped up in one character (or, more often, a caricature). What is often overlooked is her righteous fury, her vengeful wrath at the loss of her daughter. And the important question, why should a daughter’s/girl’s/woman’s life be worth less than Agamemnon’s/a king’s/a man’s? It shouldn’t. But it did then, in the times her tale was first told, and it probably would today, too. Clytemnestra is frequently remembered for her role in murdering her husband Agamemnon, brother of Menelaus, after his victorious return after the Trojan War, but many forget that she's the sister of Helen of Troy. In this retelling, Casati starts at the beginning of her childhood, crafting a fiercely strong and protective woman who readily defends her siblings in wrestling matches - a common occurrence for both women and men and Sparta. She falls in love with and marries Tantalus, King of Pisa, and gives birth to their son, but her life is upended when her father, Tyndareus, enters into a scheme with Agamemnon and Menelaus of Mycenae. Tantalus and their son are brutally murdered by Agamemnon, and Clytemnestra is forced to marry her husband's and son's murderer; Helen is similarly coerced into a marriage with Menelaus.

Costanza Casati renders a singularly vibrant Ancient Greece, absolutely alive with emotion and suspense. Casati reveals a Clytemnestra we've never met before: fiercely intelligent, passionate, and loving - and willing to do anything to avenge the ones she loves Naomi Krupitsky, New York Times bestselling author of THE FAMILY Please do not change the beautiful cover, because I plan on purchasing the hardcover for my special collection. This will make a beautiful gift to friends and family. It far exceeded my expectations! I already knew "Clytemnestra's" story from reading "Helen had a Sister," by Penelope Haines, some time ago, which was my introduction to learning about Clytemnestra's life. Although, I enjoyed it immensely, it wasn't as comprehensive and as epic in scope as this one was. This lushly written account is far more detailed, and I don't want to sound unoriginal by saying that this chronicles Clytemnestra's life from the young Princess of Sparta, where she grew up. She was Helen of Troy's sister and this novel illuminates how much they loved each other and, how extremely close they were. Clytemnestraredefines the retelling genre with a heroine who, instead of enduring suffering, avenges it. Complex characters, stylish writing and a glimpse into the heart of one of history’s most reviled women – Casati’s Clytemnestra is a self-determined warrior queen." — Annie Garthwaite, acclaimed author of Cecily I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley/Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review.

In one memorable scene, when a group of merchants question her authority, Clytemnestra punches their ringleader so hard that he loses consciousness.

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The novel’s strength lies in its ability to weave many complex stories into one linear narrative by centering all of these episodes on Clytemnestra herself. Clytemnestra is often portrayed as a side character or villain in Greek mythology, but in this novel she takes the center stage. Classic Greek heroes such as Theseus, Odysseus, Jason, and Achilles thereby become supporting characters in Clytemnestra’s compelling storyline rather than dominating the narrative. While literature and art has typically depicted male Greek heroes as courageous or exemplary, “Clytemnestra” instead highlights their horrible deeds and sexist beliefs. As Clytemnestra quips about Theseus, “Heroes like him are made of greed and cruelty: they take and take until the world around them is stripped of its beauty.” The novel shows how the heroes of some stories are the villains of others — and vice versa.

I truly cannot recommend this book enough. Though I had a wonderful time coming at this from the perspective of someone with an education in these stories, themes, and characters already, I think this is a very easy introduction for those who only know Helen as "the face that launched a thousand ships" or don't know Clytemnestra's name or the generic Greek mythology lover. Even as someone who already knew the basic plots, I learned so much by reading this book! I knew nothing about Clytemnestra's upbringing in Sparta and the drama around her siblings and their own mythologies. This novel also does a great job of connecting all of these intertwining but often told separately myths — Odysseus, Jason and the Argonauts, Helen of Troy, the House of Atreus, etc.Greek mythology is usually fascinating, and this novel lives up to that expectation. I did not remember much of the Greek mythology I’d read, and certainly did not know who Clytemnestra was until reading Costanza Casati’s work. Clytemnestra is fascinating to learn and read about. She is complicated, at times scheming, but intensely revengeful. Yet, she is also a mother who loves her children deeply and a protective sister. As Queen and in her husband's absence, she ruled ruthlessly but fairly, at least by "Ancient Greek" standards. Living in a time when females were almost powerless, she fought for respect and used hers wisely; she was courageous but also unforgiving when wronged. Thank you so much to the publisher for an ARC and netgalley for an ecopy in exchange for an honest review* Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prerelease book at no cost. This was my absolute favorite title obtained through you so far. A heroine of fierce spirit. With the fire and spark of Madeline Miller and the depths of Mary Renault' MANDA SCOTT