Historical novel set in Ancient Greece

17th January 2023

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati, historical novel set in Ancient Greece and Sparta.

Clytemnestra cleverly brings to life many characters whose names are familiar from Greek mythology – kings and queens, and gods and goddesses. This fascinating book is set in the ancient city state of Sparta, and it is an accomplished retelling of the story of Clytemnestra, who was the older sister of Helen of Troy. The author, Costanza Casati, is the perfect guide to this ancient world. She wears her doubtless detailed research lightly as she helpfully lays out all the background detail you could need in order to enjoy the book, even if your recollection of Greek myths is – like mine! – a little bit sketchy. This is a soap-opera-style drama with its exploration of universal themes such as desire, envy, the lust for power, the love of a mother for her child, loyalty and betrayal. But this is on a grand scale, where squabbles between noble families and kingdoms (often the same thing) result in tragic deaths and wars. Put aside your expectation that goodness, virtue, truth will prevail. There is a reason that the ancient Greeks were renowned for their heroes and their tragedies.

Clytemnestra was reputed to be a woman of revenge and a seeker of justice. She had good reason to be: she endured the murders of her children and various other injustices brought down on herself and her loved ones. She learned to master her emotions, recognising that love breeds weakness. Having been brought up as a Spartan she trained to be strong in a fight and to defend herself. This was a society in which men were used to getting what they wanted. Marriages were political and dynastic; stealing wives or betrothed girls was commonplace and lead to wars between the states in the region that lasted for years on end.

Clytemnestra, in this retelling, is in many ways a modern woman, surviving against repression and tragedy by using her wits and strength – both mental and physical. This is a sympathetic retelling of the story, and she is a three-dimensional character, not just a murderous power-hungry woman. We see her fears and ambitions, and how she must use her cunning and her insight into the way people work. She possesses modern sensibilities and it’s not hard for us to identify sympathetically with her pain and her struggles.

The book gives a wonderful sense of the various city states in ancient Greece. The descriptions of the changing seasons mirror the varying degrees of threat to Clytemnestra’s safety, so the atmosphere swings wildly between hot, still and oppressive or cold and foreboding. Descriptions of living conditions vary too; contrasting the rich interiors enjoyed by Clytemnestra and the ruling class with the stinking, temporary tented villages endured by the warriors. The oppressed workers and servants lived in poverty with the constant threat of being killed on the whim of their betters – or by the gods. It’s unlikely that even a well-travelled reader will recognise the locations mentioned, of course, since over the millennia some of them have almost disappeared or perhaps they can’t be located at all. It was a very different world.

The style of the book is unusual; it is written in the present tense, with a third-person narrative, which brings the ancient tale to life and creates suspense. It is very effective for action scenes, such as fights, in particular. The author also incorporates rich detail about everyday life; the histories of the characters; well-drawn descriptions of locations, and the traditions and culture of ancient peoples in the various city-states of ancient Greece.

The book explores a variety of themes, such as the relationship between women and power – and whether the gods decide our fates. The usefulness and drawbacks of beauty is key to Helen’s story in particular. It’s interesting to note that Clytemnestra, while attractive, possesses other qualities that her more attractive sister lacks.

A little warning: while the blurb and the family trees included in the book are useful, they also contain spoilers, so if you have forgotten (or never knew) the full story, and you prefer to be surprised by what comes next, leave these to read at the end. You might find it helpful to have a map open to find out where the locations are in relation to each other, too.

Sue for the TripFiction Team

Catch the author on Twitter @costanzacasati

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