The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus (Myths) - Softcover

Atwood, Margaret

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1841957046 ISBN 13: 9781841957043

Publisher: Canongate Books, 2008

Synopsis

For Penelope, wife of Odysseus, maintaining a kingdom while her husband was off fighting the Trojan war was not a simple business. Already aggrieved that he had been lured away due to the shocking behaviour of her beautiful cousin Helen, Penelope must bring up her wayward son, face down scandalous rumours and keep over a hundred lustful, greedy and bloodthirsty suitors at bay...

And then, when Odysseus finally returns and slaughters the murderous suitors, he brutally hangs Penelope's twelve beloved maids. What were his motives? And what was Penelope really up to?

Critically acclaimed when it was first published as part of Canongate's Myth series, and following a very successful adaptation by the RSC, this new edition of The Penelopiad sees Margaret Atwood give Penelope a modern and witty voice to tell her side of the story, and set the record straight for good.

About this title

Review:

"

Half-Dorothy Parker, half-Desperate Housewives.

" (Independent)

"

As potent as a curse.

" (Lucy Hughes Hallett Sunday Times)

"Atwood takes Penelope's part with tremendous verve...she explores the very nature of mythic story-telling." (Mary Beard Guardian)

"Atwood's typical wit and vim on fine display: with the late maids providing a Greek chorus, Penelope swoops across the centuries to pithily slate her cousin Helen of Troy, judge Odysseus and even provide a feminist viewpoint of which Homer could nary have dreamt." (Observer 2008-03-09)

"Pragmatic, clever, domestic, mournful, Penelope is a perfect Atwood heroine." (Sam Leith Spectator)

From the Publisher:

3 Hours Unabridged

About this edition

• Publisher: Canongate Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1841957046
• ISBN 13: 9781841957043
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224