For The Most Beautiful is a retelling of the Trojan War from a feminist perspective, focusing on the stories of Briseis and Chryseis, two important yet often overlooked female characters in Homer's Iliad. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of these women, providing new insights into their experiences as slaves and mistresses in the midst of the war. The author, Emily Hauser, weaves together familiar elements of Greek mythology with her own twists and interpretations, offering a fresh take on the age-old tale. The book delves into themes of fate, agency, and response to loss, while also exploring the capricious nature of the gods and goddesses who meddle in the lives of mortals.

Characters:

Characters are deeply portrayed with a focus on the female experience, while male characters often embody traditional heroic traits with the gods acting as frivolous entities.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is vivid and fast-paced, making for an engaging read, though some elements, particularly the portrayal of the gods, feel modernized.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot offers a new narrative on the Trojan War, highlighting the experiences of women like Briseis and Krisayis amidst the struggles instigated by male characters and gods.

Setting:

Set in ancient Troy during the Trojan War, the setting is richly described, bringing to life the cultural and everyday experiences of its inhabitants.

Pacing:

The story is predominantly quick-paced, though there are moments where character development may feel sacrificed to maintain that pace.

Down a flight of stairs. Past a garden surrounded by a high wall, the ripe fig trees bursting with fruit, a grape vine climbing the wall. Pluck a grape, feel the juice on your chin, run on. Round a co...

Notes:

The novel is about the Trojan War told from a female perspective.

It focuses on characters Briseis and Krisayis, who remain largely overlooked in classical texts.

Emily Hauser is a classicist with a background in ancient history.

The story features a blend of historical fiction and feminist themes.

The writing has been noted for its engaging style and vivid descriptions of ancient life.

Readers appreciated the balance between entertainment and educational value regarding the Iliad.

The novel is the first in a trilogy that explores the lives of women connected to the Trojan War.

Hauser's portrayal of the gods contrasts with traditional narratives, representing them as self-absorbed and capricious.

Some critics found the modernization of dialogue for the gods disrupted the ancient setting.

While the novel includes familiar mythological elements, it also offers a fresh take on well-known characters.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in the story, highlighted by the relationships and emotional ties between characters.

From The Publisher:

Three thousand years ago a war took place where legends were born: Achilles, the greatest of the Greeks, and Hector, prince of Troy. Both men were made and destroyed by the war that shook the foundations of the ancient world.But what if there was more to the tale of these heroes than we know? How would the Trojan War have looked as seen through the eyes of its women? Krisayis, the ambitious, determined daughter of the High Priest of Troy, and Briseis, loyal and passionate princess of Pedasus, interweave their tales alongside Homer's classic story of the rage of Achilles and the gods of Olympus. What follows is a breathtaking tale of love and revenge, destiny and the determination, as these two brave women, the heroes of the Trojan War, and the gods themselves come face to face in an epic battle that will decide the fate of Troy.A glorious debut full of passion and revenge, loyalty and betrayal, Emily Hauser breathes exhilarating new life into one of history's greatest legends.

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About the Author:

Emily Hauser studied Classics at Cambridge, where she was taught by Mary Beard. She then went to Harvard as a Fulbright Scholar and now teaches at Yale, where she is completing her PhD in Classics. She has won several prizes for her academic work, including the University of Cambridge Chancellor's Medal and the Alice Derby Lang Essay Prize at Yale. For the Most Beautiful the first book in the Golden Apple trilogy is her debut novel. She lives in New Haven, Connecticut.

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For The Most Beautiful

Emily Hauser

Book 1 in the series:Golden Apple