Title: The Silence of the Girls
Author: Pat Barker
First published August 30, 2018
325 pages, Hardcover
Rating: 3.91
Overview
The Bartimaeus Trilogy Boxed Set by Jonathan Stroud takes readers on a thrilling adventure through an alternate present-day London. The set includes three books – The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem’s Eye, and Ptolemy’s Gate – each packed with action, magic, and unforgettable characters.
The story revolves around Bart, a powerful djinni, and his complex relationships with Nathaniel, his young master, and Kitty, a fierce member of the Resistance fighting against the magicians. This trilogy is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure, and will keep readers hooked until the very end.
About the Author
Pat Barker, a renowned author and recipient of the CBE and FRSL, was born in Thornaby-on-Tees in 1943. After her education at the London School of Economics, she pursued a career as a history and politics teacher.
Barker has authored several books, including the Regeneration trilogy, which received critical acclaim. The trilogy includes Regeneration, The Eye in the Door (winner of the Guardian Fiction Prize), and The Ghost Road (winner of the Booker Prize).
In addition to the trilogy, she has also written seven other novels. Barker is happily married and resides in Durham, England.
Editoral Review
Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls is a deeply moving and powerful retelling of the myth of the Trojan War. Known for her exploration of the human cost of war, Barker takes us on a journey through the eyes of the female characters, who is usually silenced and marginalized in traditional accounts of this famous story.
Barker is an established writer who has received numerous awards and accolades for her work with World War I-themed literature. She brings a masterful touch to the world of Greek mythology, weaving together themes of power, oppression, and sacrifice with precision and depth.
The Silence of the Girls offers a new perspective on the world of the Trojan War, taking the reader to the heart of the conflict through the eyes of Briseis. Briseis is a Trojan princess who is taken as a spoil of war by Achilles, one of the Greek army’s most powerful warriors.
Through Briseis’ eyes, we see the horrors of war, as she struggles to come to terms with her new life as a slave and the devastation of her home city. The book is beautifully written, with a vivid and evocative prose that captures the emotional depth of the characters.
Barker’s careful attention to detail and historical accuracy immerses the reader in the world of ancient Greece, bringing the story to life with vivid imagery and a rich sense of atmosphere.
The Silence of the Girls is an unabashedly feminist work that challenges the traditional narratives of the Trojan War.
Barker deftly deconstructs the myth of heroic male warriors, giving voice to the female characters who were so often dismissed or silenced by the retelling of their story. The novel is not perfect, however.
The pacing at times feels uneven, with sections that move too quickly and others that drag a bit. While the character development of Briseis is superb, other characters feel somewhat one-dimensional, and the plot structure can be a bit predictable.
Despite these limitations, The Silence of the Girls is a powerful and moving work that will leave a lasting impression on readers. It is a thought-provoking exploration of the cost of war and the impact it has on the lives of those who are caught in its orbit.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to readers who are interested in classical mythology, feminist literature, or explorations of the human toll of war. This book is an important work that sheds light on a hidden part of history and speaks to the ongoing struggles we face as a society today.
For these reasons, I give The Silence of the Girls a score of 4 out of 5 stars.
