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The Silence of the Girls: A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
A Washington Post Notable Book One of the Best Books of the Year: NPR, The Economist, Financial Times Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award Finalist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction Here is the story of the Iliad as we’ve never heard it before: in the words of Briseis, Trojan queen and captive of Achilles. Given only a few words in Homer’s epic and largely erased by history, she is nonetheless a pivotal figure in the Trojan War. In these pages she comes fully to life: wry, watchful, forging connections among her fellow female prisoners even as she is caught between Greece’s two most powerful warriors. Her story pulls back the veil on the thousands of women who lived behind the scenes of the Greek army camp—concubines, nurses, prostitutes, the women who lay out the dead—as gods and mortals spar, and as a legendary war hurtles toward its inevitable conclusion. Brilliantly written, filled with moments of terror and beauty, The Silence of the Girls gives voice to an extraordinary woman—and makes an ancient story new again.
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“[An] extraordinary collaboration between the Booker Prize-winning novelist Pat Barker and superb narrators Kristin Atherton and Michael Fox…Atherton, who carries most of the narrative, offers imaginative, vivid characterizations and narrates in a fervent, crisp, fierce voice as Briseis balances the demands of men and gods with the needs and terrors of captured women. Fox’s chapters in Achilles’ educated, vehement voice are a perfect counterpoint. This is a must-listen. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A BookPage Top Pick for September
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An Oprah’s Book Club Selection
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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A Vanity Fair Magazine Pick for Fall
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A Washington Post Pick of 3 Great New Audiobooks
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On the ALA Listen List for Outstanding Audiobook Narration
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Shortlisted for the 2019 Baileys’ Women’s Prize for Fiction
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A Guardian Pick of Best Books of the 21st Century
The Silence of the Girls Listener Reviews
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" A well-intentioned book, but so depressing. It takes an incident from the Iliad and examines it from the point of view of a female character. In so doing it depicts the hopelessness and powerlessness of women taken captive in war. This is consistent with what we know from the conduct of the Islamic State in their treatment of Yazidi women, Boko Haram kidnappings, and gender-based violence in Afghanistan and Yemen. (There are many other examples too). As such it is a worthy text, but dispiriting in the extreme. I could not finish it. Finally, I would also note the problem that authors face in choosing a narrative voice in historical fiction - Barker chooses contemporary colloquialisms which seem rather out of place. "
— milt, 1/20/2024
About Pat Barker
Pat Barker is an English novelist who has won the Guardian Fiction Prize and the Booker Prize. In 2000 she was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
About Kristin Atherton
Kristin Atherton is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.