The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

The myth of Penelope and Odysseus retold  - "Now that all the others have run out of air, it's my turn to do a little story-making."

Portrayed through the ages as the quintessential faithful wife, Penelope was left alone for 20 years while Odysseus went off to fight in the Trojan Wars. Despite scandalous rumours, she managed to maintain the kingdom of Ithaca, bring up her wayward son, and keep over a hundred suitors at bay. When Odysseus finally returned home, he killed her suitors and - curiously - twelve of her maids.

In a splendid contemporary twist to the ancient story, Margaret Atwood has chosen to give the telling of it to Penelope and to her twelve hanged maids, asking: 'What led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to?' With wit and verve, drawing on the storytelling and poetic talent for which she herself is renowned, she gives Penelope new life and reality - and sets out to provide an answer to an ancient mystery.

“In this exquisitely poised book, Atwood blends intimate humour with a finely tempered outrage at the terrible injustice of the maids, phrasing both in language as potent as a curse”

The Sunday Times

Short – but punchy and witty.

10 copies