Helpful Score: 5
Stealing Athena is a wonderful historical novel about two relatively unknown women from completely separate time periods. Mary Nisbet and Aspasia of Miletus may have lived more than 2200 years apart, but Karen Essexs new book shows the similarities between them, both in their lives and in their personalities. A slightly larger portion of the book is from Marys point of view, and we are first introduced to Aspasia when Mary begins reading Plutarchs Life of Pericles. Aspasia was the lover of Pericles, who commissioned the Parthenon Marbles. Marys life became forever intertwined with the Elgin Marbles, as they are also known, when her husband, Lord Elgin, set out on his quest to rescue the marbles from Athens for the glory of Britain. Stealing Athena spans the entirety of Marys marriage to Lord Elgin, including the years it took to obtain the Parthenon Marbles, and parts of Aspasias life with Pericles. Essexs book gives very interesting insights in the womens relationships and how they assist their partners in their endeavors, despite the prejudices against women in both eras. We also are given a window into the cultures and beliefs of their society, which made it easy to understand what motivated them and their peers. Overall, it is a great book to read, for either the relationships and character dynamics, or for the historical settings and culture. I personally believe if you like historical fiction or character driven novels, youll love this book.
