"Troy has fallen and the victorious Greeks are eager to return home with the spoils of an endless war--including the women of Troy themselves. They await a fair wind for the Aegean; it does not come, because the gods are offended. The body of King Priam lies unburied and desecrated, and so the victors remain in suspension, camped in the shadows of the city they destroyed as the coalition that held them together begins to unravel. Old feuds resurface and new suspicions and rivalries begin to fester. Largely unnoticed by her captors, the one time Trojan queen Briseis, formerly Achilles's slave, now belonging to his companion Alcimus, quietly takes in these developments. She forges alliances when she can, with Priam's aged wife, the defiant Hecuba, and with the disgraced soothsayer Calchas, all the while shrewdly seeking her path to revenge
Pat Barker
Pat Barker is an English author best known for her powerful and thought-provoking novels that often explore the psychological and emotional impact of war on individuals. Her most notable work is the Regeneration Trilogy, which includes the novels "Regeneration," "The Eye in the Door," and "The Ghost Road." These novels are set during World War I and examine the experiences of soldiers suffering from shell shock.
Barker's writing style is characterized by its stark realism, detailed character development, and exploration of complex themes such as trauma, memory, and the nature of war. Her work has had a significant impact on the genre of historical fiction, as well as on the way war and its aftermath are portrayed in literature.
Overall, Pat Barker's contributions to literature have been widely recognized, earning her numerous awards and accolades, including the Booker Prize for Fiction for "The Ghost Road" in 1995. Her work continues to be celebrated for its depth, insight, and emotional resonance.
Other related
Regeneration : The first novel in Pat Barker's Booker Prize-winning Regeneration trilogy
Middle of the Night
The next gripping and unputdownable novel from the master of the genre-bending thriller for 2024